Tolhurst v Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd & Anor [2008] NSWCA 181

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Tolhurst v Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd & Anor [2008] NSWCA 181

HEARING DATE(S): 24 and 30 April 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 12 August 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 26; Tobias JA at 145

DECISION: (1) Appeal allowed and cross-appeals dismissed; (2) Set aside Orders 1 and 2 made by the trial judge on 27 March 2007 and order in lieu: (a) Verdict and Judgment against the first defendant/first respondent (Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Limited) in an amount to be assessed; (b) Verdict and Judgment against the second defendant/second respondent (Endeavour Coal Pty Limited) in an amount to be assessed; (3) Remit the proceedings to the District Court for a new trial limited to the question of damages, including causation; (4) The first and second respondents are to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and his costs of their respective cross-appeals.

CATCHWORDS: Negligence - mine owner contracted out loading from stockpile - stockpile collapse injuring contractor's worker - use of unsafe method of loading - mine owner's duty of care owed to worker - effect of worker's knowledge that method was unsafe - subsequent injury - causation of worker's present condition - incorrect to ask if mine injury was defining event - whether should be new trial generally or only as to damages.

Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419; Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 186; Bankstown Foundary Pty Ltd v Braistina (1986) 160 CLR 301; Brown's Valve Service Pty Ltd v Cristina (1997) 1 VR 536; Caltex Tanker Co (Aust) Pty Ltd v Kerr [1999} NSWCA 115; Chimaze Holding Pty Ltd v Dyson (1995) WAR 487; Commissioner for Railways v Halley (1978) 20 ALR 409; Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Aboushabi [1999] NSWCA 396; (1999) Aust Torts Reps 81-531; J Blackwood & Son v Skilled Engineering [2008] NSWCA 142; Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; (2003) 214 CLR 552; Kolodziejczyk v Grandview Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 267; (2002) Aust Torts Rep 81-673; Liftronic Pty Ltd v Unver [2001] HCA 24; (2001) 179 ALR 321; McLean v Tedman (1984) 155 CLR 306; CASES CITED: Maricic v Dalma Formwork (Australia) Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 174; Pateman v Higgins (1957) 97 CLR 521; Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99; Purkiss v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 764; Quinn v Rocka Pipes Pty Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 586; Rockdale Beef Pty Ltd v Carey [2003] NSWCA 132; Shorey v PT Ltd [2003] HCA 27; (2003) 197 ALR 40; State Government Insurance Commission v Oakley (1990) Aust Torts Reps 81-003; Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1985) 160 CLR 16; Sydney Water Corporation v Abramovic [2007] NSWCA 248; (2007) Aust Torts Rep 81-913; TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47; (2003) 65 NSWLR 1; Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Sydney v Hogan [2001] NSWCA 381; (2001) 53 NSWLR 343; Vrahimis v Opat (1981) 27 SASR 54; Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 418; (2005) Aust Torts Reps 81-818.