Smith v Brambles Australia Ltd [2011] NSWSC 963

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v Brambles Australia Ltd [2011] NSWSC 963 Hearing dates: 23 May 2011, 24 May 2011, 25 May 2011, 26 May 2011 Decision date: 26 August 2011 Before: Schmidt J Decision: For the reasons given, I find for the plaintiff and propose to make orders against the defendants, in accordance with the terms of this judgment. The usual order as to costs would be that they follow the event. If the parties wish to be heard on costs, they should approach. Various calculations still need to be undertaken, to give effect to the judgment. The parties should confer and bring in short minutes of the orders reflecting this judgment. They have liberty to approach in the event of disagreement as to those calculations. Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - serious workplace injury - employee experienced crane operator - collapse of crane - crane modified for former owner and operator of crane - modification created risk of collapse of crane - serious risk of injury resulted for anyone operating crane once damaged - extension of time to bring proceedings against former employer - expert evidence - analogies drawn with a car - whether company who modified crane owed a duty of care - whether duty breached - whether causation proven - whether former owner and operator of crane owed a duty of care - whether duty breached - whether causation proven - whether former employer breached duty of care - whether causation proven - Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 regulations - contributory negligence - whether employee's oversight an act done without reasonable care for own safety- contributory negligence not found - cross claims - whether former owner and operator can claim full indemnity - whether former employer owed a duty of care by former owner and operator and company that made modifications - duty of care found - no full indemnity for former employer - all defendants proportionately liable - employees injuries - 15% whole person assessment - back pain result of injuries - employee mitigated his damages - s 151Z of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 applied - DAMAGES - non economic loss - economic loss - past economic loss - future economic loss - future medical expenses - paid domestic assistance Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Sale of Goods Act 1923 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Workers Compensation Act 1987 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak; Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Bou Najem [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Bankstown Foundry Pty Ltd v Braistina [1986] HCA 20; (1986) 160 CLR 301 J Blackwood & Son Ltd v Skilled Engineering Ltd [2008] NSWCA 142 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd [1994] HCA 13; (1994) 179 CLR 520 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; (2005) 214 ALR 349 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; (2011) 277 ALR 611 Davie v New Merton Board Mills Ltd [1959] AC 604 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330 Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 Erwin v Iveco Trucks Australia Ltd [2010] NSWCA 113; (2010) 267 ALR 752 Fox v Wood [1981] HCA 41; (1981) 148 CLR 438 Ghunaim v Bart [2004] NSWCA 28 Grljak v Trivan Pty Ltd (In liq) (1994) 35 NSWLR 82 Imperial Furniture Pty Ltd v Automatic Fire Sprinklers Pty Ltd [1967] 1 NSWR 29 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott [2002] NSWCA 104; (2002) 54 NSWLR 207 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kallouf v Middis [2008] NSWCA 61 Kondis v State Transport Authority [1984] HCA 61; (1984) 154 CLR 672 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd [2011] HCA 11; (2011) 276 ALR 375 Lanza v Codemo [2001] NSWSC 845 Laundess v Laundess (1994) Aust Torts Reports 81-316 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox; Calliden Insurance Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; (2009) 240 CLR 1 McLean v Tedman [1984] HCA 60; (1984) 155 CLR 306 McPherson's Ltd v Eaton [2005] NSWCA 435; (2005) 65 NSWLR 187 Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris [1997] HCA 39; (1997) 188 CLR 313 J & V Pesl v Ray Smith Tractors [2007] NSWCA 74 Rabay v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 199 Rhoden v Wingate [2002] NSWCA 165 Rogers v Whitaker [1992] HCA 58; (1992) 175 CLR 479 Scott v Davis [2000] HCA 52; (2000) 204 CLR 333 Stojan (No 9) Pty Ltd v Kenway [2009] NSWCA 364 Sweeney v Boylan Nominees Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 19; (2006) 226 CLR 161 Sullivan v Moody [2001] HCA 59; (2001) 207 CLR 562 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie; Crown Equipment Pty Ltd v Christie; Manpower Services (Aust) Pty Ltd v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47; (2003) 65 NSWLR 1 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 9; (2002) 208 CLR 460 Woolworths Ltd v Strong [2010] NSWCA 282 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40 Zanner v Zanner [2010] NSWCA 343 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Craig Lionel Smith (Plaintiff) Brambles Australia Limited (First Defendant) Baden Cranes Pty Limited formerly GM Baden Pty Limited (Second Defendant) Gillespies Cranes Nominees Pty Limited t/as Gillespies Crane Services (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr H Kelly SC with Mr T McKenzie, counsel (Plaintiff) Mr M Joseph SC (First Defendant) Mr G Curtin SC with Mr D Macfarlane (Second Defendant) Mr S Kettle, counsel (Third Defendant) Solicitors: Taylor & Scott Lawyers (Plaintiff) McCabe Terrill Lawyers (First Defendant) Riley Gray-Spencer Lawyers (Second Defendant) Hicksons (Third Defendant) File Number(s): 2006/267240