PRITCHARD v TRIUS CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LIMITED & Ors [2011] NSWSC 749

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: PRITCHARD v TRIUS CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LIMITED & Ors [2011] NSWSC 749 Hearing dates: 4/7/2011, 5/7/2011, 6/7/ 2011, 7/7/ 2011 Decision date: 20 July 2011 Before: HOEBEN J Decision: Liability in tort apportioned 60 percent against Trius and 40 percent against Oceanic. Oceanic's claim in contract against Trius fails. Catchwords: TORT - negligence - workplace injury - employee of sub-contractor injured at colliery - responsibility of employer - responsibility of owner of colliery - apportionment of liability - CONTRACT - identifying terms of contract - what terms were implied in contract - whether implied terms breached - if breach of implied term whether damage too remote - whether standard terms and conditions of colliery owner formed part of contract - incorporation of terms in unsigned contract - indemnity clauses - whether sub-contractor required to indemnify owner of colliery - meaning of indemnity clauses. Legislation Cited: Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Andar Transport Ltd v Brambles Ltd [2004] HCA 28; (2004) 217 CLR 424 at [17] - [23] Atkinson v Gameco (NSW) Pty Limited [2005] NSWCA 338 at [19] Barrymores Pty Ltd v Harris Scarfe Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (Receivers and Managers Appointed) & Ors [2001] WASC 210 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Limited v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Burke v Hassett & Ors (1999) 1VR 189 at [41] - [42] Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) HCA 24; (1995) 185 CLR 410 at 422 Chattis Nominees Pty Ltd v Norman Ross Homeworks Pty Ltd (Receiver Appointed) (in Liq) (NSWSC, unreported, Cohen J, 3 August 1992) Climax Management v Scansash [2002] NSWCA 167 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; (2005) 79 ALJR 839 at [12] Hardwick Game Farms v S.A.P.P.A. (1969) 2 AC 31 Eggleston v Marley Engineers Pty Limited and BK and JG Mewett (1970) 21 SASR 51 Erect Safe Scaffolding (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sutton [2008] NSWCA 114 Florida Hotels Pty Limited v Mayo (1965) 113 CLR 588 at 598 Hawkins v Clayton (1988) HCA 15; (1988) 164 CLR 539 at 573 Hays Personnel Services (Australia) P/L v Motorline P/L [2008] QCA 375 Leighton Contractors Pty Limited v Fox [2009] HCA 35; (2009) 240 CLR 1 at [48] Oceanic Sun Line Special Shipping Company Inc v Fay (1988) 165 CLR 197 said at 228-229 O'Connor v Commissioner of Government Transport (1965) 100 CLR 225 at 229-230 Oxley County Council v MacDonald & Ors; Brambles Holdings Limited v MacDonald & Ors [1999] NSWCA 126 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel (1985) 59 ALJR 492 at [494] Remath Investments No 6 Pty Ltd v Chanel (Australia) Pty Ltd [1992] NSWCA 208 Sinclair v William Arnott Pty Limited (No 2) (1953) 64 SR (NSW) 88 at 91-2 per Walsh J Smith and Ors v South Wales Switchgear Limited [1978] 1 All ER 18 State of New South Wales v Tempo Services Ltd [2004] NSWCA 4 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52, (2004) 219 CLR 165 Wilson v Tyneside Window Cleaning Co (1958) 2 QC 110 at 121-2 per Pearce LJ Category: Principal judgment Parties: Terrence Stephen Pritchard - Plaintiff Trius Constructions Pty Limited - First Defendant Oceanic Coal Australia Pty Ltd - Second Defendant Oceanic Coal Australia Pty Ltd - Cross-Claimant Trius Constructions Pty Limited - Cross-Defendant Representation: Mr J Sleight - Cross-Claimant Mr D Lloyd - Cross-Defendant MRM Lawyers - Cross-Claimant Wotton & Kearney - Cross Defendant File Number(s): 2010/00064178