SAS Trustee Corporation v O'Keefe [2011] NSWCA 326

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: SAS Trustee Corporation v O'Keefe [2011] NSWCA 326 Hearing dates: 10 August 2011 Decision date: 26 October 2011 Before: McColl JA at 1, Basten JA at 2, Handley AJA at 42 Decision: (1) Appeal allowed with costs. (2) Set aside the decision of the District Court of 11 June 2010 and in lieu thereof substitute an order that the appeal to that court be dismissed, with no order as to costs. (3) The respondent to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW). [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - changes in assessment of compensation - effect of amendments commencing on 1 January 2002 - application of transitional provisions - Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 4, 16, Sch 6, Pt 18C, cl 3

WORKERS COMPENSATION - incapacity due to police officer being hurt on duty - entitlement under Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act 1906 (NSW) - injury arising from nature and conditions of work - effect of amendments commencing on 1 January 2002 - gratuity quantified not by reference to dates on which the injury occurred but date of claim Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 142N Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act 1906 (NSW), ss 1, 10, 10B, 12C, 12D, 21 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 4, 9A, 15, 16, 17, 66, 67; Div 3, Pt 3, Pt 18C, cll 3, 3A Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2001 (NSW), Sch 3, Sch 4 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 4, 322, 323 Cases Cited: Alto Ford Pty Ltd v Antaw (1999) 18 NSWCCR 246 Australian Conveyor Engineering Pty Ltd v Mecha Engineering Pty Ltd (1998) 45 NSWLR 606 Commissioner of Police v Kennedy [2007] NSWCA 328 Commissioner for Railways v Bain [1965] HCA 5; 112 CLR 246 Day v SAS Trustee Corporation [2009] NSWCA 222 GIO Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd v GIO General Ltd (GIO) (1995) 12 NSWCCR 187 Murray v Commissioner of Police [2004] NSWCA 365 P&A Berkeley Challenge Pty ltd v Alfonzo (Berkeley) (2000) 49 NSWLR 481 Rail Services Australia v Dimovski [2004] NSWCA 267; 1 DDCR 648 Saad v Commissioner of Police (1995) 12 NSWCCR 70 SAS Trustee Corporation v Pearce [2009] NSWCA 302 Stone v Stannard Bros Launch Services Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 277; 1 DDCR 701 Tysoe v Commissioner of Police (2002) 23 NSWCCR 417 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Appellant: SAS Trustee Corporation Respondent: John Paul O'Keefe Representation: Counsel: