Erect Safe Scaffolding (Australia) Pty Limited v Sutton [2008] NSWCA 114

Reported Decision: 173 IR 412

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Erect Safe Scaffolding (Australia) Pty Limited v Sutton [2008] NSWCA 114

HEARING DATE(S): 27 February 2008; 3 March 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 6 June 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Basten JA at 17; McClellan CJ at CL at 100

DECISION: 1. Direct the parties to deliver to the Associate of Giles JA, within seven days, short minutes to give effect to these reasons 2. Liberty to apply in the event of disagreement in the first instance by approaching the Associate to Giles JA.

CATCHWORDS: TORT - negligence - workplace injury - large and complex construction site - coordination of subcontractors and work safety committee - failure to report defect - whether employer liable - non-delegable duty of employer - whether employer entitled to rely on work safety committee to ensure defect was rectified - CONTRACT - indemnity and insurance clauses - whether subcontractor required to indemnify head contractor - whether liability of head contractor arose out of performance of subcontract works - failure to obtain insurance in joint names - whether subcontractor required to obtain insurance for independent negligence of head contractor - DAMAGES - whether award excessive - calculation of non-economic loss and past and future economic loss - WORKERS COMPENSATION - s 151Z(2) Workers Compensation Act 1987 - calculation of award

LEGISLATION CITED: Workers Compensation Act 1987

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GFS Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 26; 221 CLR 568 Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles [2004] HCA 28; (2004) 217 CLR 424 Ankar Pty Ltd v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 549 Australian Paper Plantations Pty Ltd v J & EM Venturoni [2000] VSCA 71 Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd v Gordian Runoff Ltd [2006] NSWSC 223 Canberra Formwork Pty Ltd v Civil & Civic Limited (1982) 67 FLR 66 Celik v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] ACTSC 27 Cervellone v Besselink Bros Pty Ltd (1984) 55 ACTR 1 Chan v Cresdon Pty Ltd (1989) 168 CLR 242 Coghlan v S H Lock (Australia) Ltd (1987) 8 NSWLR 88 Darlington Futures Ltd v Delco Australia Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 500 Davis v The Commissioner for Main Roads (1967) 117 CLR 529 Dickinson v The Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust (1987) 163 CLR 500 Dover Navigation Co Ltd v Craig [1940] AC 190 F & D Normoyle Pty Ltd v Transfield Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 193; 63 NSWLR 502 Ferraloro v Preston Timber Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 627; 56 ALJR 872 Government Insurance Office (NSW) v R J Green & Lloyd Pty Ltd (1965) 114 CLR 437 Grljak v Trivan Pty Ltd (1994) 35 NSWLR 82. Johnson v The Australian War Memorial [2005] ACTSC 122 CASES CITED: Jones v Bartlett [2000] HCA 56; (2000) 205 CLR 166 Kavanagh v The Commonwealth (1960) 103 CLR 547 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672 Kooee Communications Pty Ltd v Primus Telecommunications Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 5 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery [2007] HCA 6; (2007) 230 CLR 22 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Smith [2000] NSWCA 55 Libreri v Ironidol Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 198 Lyons v Fondi Investments Pty Ltd (1998) 10 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-421 Murray v Favelle Mort Ltd [1974] 2 NSWLR 230 Nestle Australia Ltd v McDougall (Court of Appeal, 24 June 1998, unreported) New South Wales v Lepore [2003] HCA 4; (2003) 212 CLR 511 Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris [1997] HCA 39; (1997) 188 CLR 313 Peppers Hotel Management Pty Ltd v Hotel Capital Partners Ltd [2004] NSWCA 114 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Palmer [2003] NSWCA 58 Smith v Australian Woollen Mills Ltd (1933) 50 CLR 511 Speno Rail Maintenance Australia Pty Ltd v Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd [2000] WASC 408; (2000) 23 WAR 291 State of New South Wales v Tempo Services Ltd [2004] NSWCA 4 Steele v Twin City Rigging Pty Limited (1992) 114 FLR 99 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1985-1986) 160 CLR 16 Texcrete Pty Limited v Khavin [2003] NSWCA 337