Vitaz v Westform (NSW) Pty Limited and Ors [2010] NSWSC 667

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Vitaz v Westform (NSW) Pty Limited and Ors [2010] NSWSC 667

HEARING DATE(S) : 12 March 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 22 June 2010

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

1. The Further Amended Summons is dismissed. DECISION : 2. The Plaintiff is to pay the costs of the First Defendant. 3. No order as to costs is made in respect of the submitting parties to the proceedings, namely the Second, Third and Fourth Defendants.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - claim for prerogative relief - workers compensation statutory scheme - decision by approved medical specialist - appeal to Appeal Panel - whether error of law or jurisdictional error by approved medical specialist in approach to s.323 of Act - whether failure by approved medical specialist to give reasons - whether denial of procedural fairness - whether error of law or jurisdictional error by Appeal Panel - no error established - proceedings dismissed

Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act 1970 Workers Compensation Act 1987

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Zuanic v Gypro-Tech (Australia) Pty Limited (In Liq) [2006] NSWSC 739; 66 NSWLR 206 McBeatty v O'Gorman [1976] 2 NSWLR 560 Saffron v Director of Public Prosecutions (1989) 16 NSWLR 397 Roos v Director of Public Prosecutions (1994) 34 NSWLR 254 Craig v South Australia [1995] HCA 58; 184 CLR 163 Hanna v Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] NSWCA 275 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; 206 CLR 323 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission (NSW) [2010] HCA 1; 239 CLR 531 Attorney-General for New South Wales v Quin [1990] HCA 21; 170 CLR 1 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; 185 CLR 259 Abebe v Commonwealth of Australia [1999] HCA 14; 197 CLR 510 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission [2000] HCA 5; 199 CLR 135 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Cross v McHugh [1974] 1 NSWLR 500 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Limited (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; 170 CLR 321 Absolon v New South Wales TAFE [1999] NSWCA 311 YG v Minister for Community Services [2002] NSWCA 247 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; 67 NSWLR 372 Buck v Bavone [1976] HCA 24; 135 CLR 110 CASES CITED : Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163 Cole v Wenaline Pty Limited [2010] NSWSC 78 Matthew Hall Pty Limited v Smart [2000] NSWCA 284 Polglaze v Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW and Anor [2009] NSWSC 347 Jones v The Registrar WCC [2010] NSWSC 481 Bjoko v ICM Property Service Pty Limited [2009] NSWCA 175 Makita (Australia) Pty Limited v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; 52 NSWLR 705 Carlson v King (1947) 64 WN(NSW) 65 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon [2005] HCA 57; 221 ALR 402 Ackling v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited and Anor [2009] NSWSC 881 Zurich Australia Insurance Limited v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW & Ors [2010] NSWSC 214 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission [1986] HCA 54; 161 CLR 141 Annetts v McCann [1990] HCA 57; 170 CLR 596 Commissioner for Australian Capital Territory Revenue v Alphaone Pty Limited [1994] FCA 1074; 49 FCR 576 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; ex parte Palme [2003] HCA 56; 216 CLR 212 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] HCA 63; 81 ALJR 515 J v Lieschke [1987] HCA 4; 162 CLR 447 Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; 159 CLR 550 Russell v Duke of Norfolk [1949] 1 All ER 109 Symbion Health Limited v Hrouda & Anor [2010] NSWSC 295 Vekic v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission [2009] NSWSC 552 Bukorovic v The Registrar of the WCC [2010] NSWSC 507