TJ Galluzzo and SJ Galluzzo t/as Riverwood Chemworld Chemist v Dianne Little [2011] NSWSC 1581

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: TJ Galluzzo and SJ Galluzzo t/as Riverwood Chemworld Chemist v Dianne Little [2011] NSWSC 1581 Hearing dates: 25 October 2011 Decision date: 19 December 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt J Decision: For the reasons given, notwithstanding the views which I have reached as to the proper construction of the Act and the Guides, the appeal must be upheld, the decision quashed and the matter referred back to the Medical Appeal Panel. The usual order is that costs should follow the event. The parties may approach if they wish to be heard on costs. Otherwise they should file agreed minutes of the orders to be made Catchwords: APPEAL - Workers Compensation - whether Appeal Panel was in error - refusal of an oral hearing - failure to give reasons - whether there was error on the face of the record - jurisdictional error - whether the Appeal Panel - properly considered the grounds of the appeal

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION - construction of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 and the WorkCover Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment - construction of s 323 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 - whether s 322(4) grants a discretion to a Medical Specialist - appeal upheld Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Interpretation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Crazzi [2006] NSWSC 1090; 68 (2006) NSWLR 266 Ah-Dar v State Transit Authority of New South Wales [2007] NSWSC 260; (2007) 69 NSWLR 468 Bull v Attorney-General (NSW) (1913) 17 CLR 370 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; (2006) 67 NSWLR 372 Fletcher International Exports Pty Ltd v Barrow [2007] NSWCA 244 Kingston v Keprose Pty Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 404 Lukacevic v Coats Hire Operations Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 112 Lauda Enterprises Pty Ltd v Akkannen [2010] NSWWCCPD 91 Nash v Sunshine Porcelain Potteries Ltd (1959) 101 CLR 353 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Public Transport Commission of New South Wales v J Murray-More (NSW) Pty Ltd [1975] HCA 28; (1975) 132 CLR 336 Samad v District Court of New South Wales [2002] HCA 24; (2002) 209 CLR 140 Siddik v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2008] NSWCA 116 Symbion Health Ltd v Hrouda [2010] NSWSC 295 Thiering v Daly [2011] NSWSC 1345 Thompson v Goold & Co [1910] AC 409 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v Brown [2003] HCA 54; (2003) 201 ALR 260 Ward v Williams (1955) 92 CLR 496 Category: Principal judgment Parties: TJ Galluzzo and SJ Galluzzo t/as Riverwood Chemworld Chemist (Plaintiff) Dianne Little (First Defendant) An Appeal Panel of the Workers' Compensation Commission constituted pursuant to section 328(1) of the Workplace Injury Management Act 1998 (Second Defendant) The Registrar of the Workers' Compensation Commission (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C Jackson (Plaintiff) Mr D Hooke SC with Mr L Morgan (First Defendant) Ms Elizabeth Welsh (WorkCover Authority of NSW) Solicitors: Leigh Virtue & Associates (Plaintiff) Beilby Poulden Costello (First Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/84012 Publication restriction: None