Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer v Adnan Al Othmani [2012] NSWCA 45

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer v Adnan Al Othmani [2012] NSWCA 45 Hearing dates: 17 November 2011 Decision date: 22 March 2012 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; McColl JA at [99]; Handley AJA at [100] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed with costs. [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: WORKERS COMPENSATION - Workers' Compensation Commission - Arbitrator's decision - Review of decision by Presidential member - Nature of review - Whether Presidential member bound to apply the principle in Fox v Percy.

WORKERS COMPENSATION - Workers' Compensation Commission - Arbitrator's decision - Review of decision by Presidential member - Whether breach of procedural fairness by Presidential member.

WORKERS COMPENSATION - Workers' Compensation Commission - Arbitrator's decision - Review of decision by Presidential member - Error of law - Whether error of law material to decision of Presidential member.

WORKERS COMPENSATION - Whether 'worker' within definition in Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act. Legislation Cited: Compensation Court Act 1984 s 36 Residential Tenancies Act 1987 s 26 Supreme Court Act 1970 s 75A Workers Compensation Act 1987 ss 11A, 154A Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 ss 4, 294, 352, 353, 354, 355, Sch 1 Cases Cited: Abalos v Australian Postal Commission [1990] HCA 47; (1990) 171 CLR 167 Akora Holdings Pty Limited v Ljubicic [2008] NSWCA 339 Allesch v Maunz [2000] HCA 40; (2000) 203 CLR 172 Amaca Pty Limited v Doughan [2011] NSWCA 169 Australian Gas Light Co Limited v Samuels (1993) 9 NSWCCR 616 Boston Clothing Co Pty Ltd v Margaronis (1992) 27 NSWLR 580 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61; (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Brandy v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission [1995] HCA 10; (1995) 183 CLR 245 Cockatoo Dockyard Pty Limited v Atamian (1995) 12 NSWCCR 114 Cook v Midpart Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 151; (2008) 6 DDCR 316 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission [1993] HCA 78; (1993) 177 CLR 472 Duinker v St Vincent de Paul Society Aged and Special Services Ltd (Lewisham Nursing Home) [2008] NSWCA 127; (2008) 6 DDCR 266 Escobar v Spindaleri (1986) 7 NSWLR 51 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2007) 214 CLR 118 House v The King [1936] HCA 40, 55 CLR 499 In Re B [2009] AC 11 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd [2010] HCA 32; (2010) 241 CLR 390 Litynski v Albion Steel Pty Limited (1994) 10 NSWCCR 287 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20, 169 CLR 638 New South Wales Police Force v Winter [2011] NSWCA 330 Ormwave Pty Limited v Smith [2007] NSWCA 210; (2007) 5 DDCR 180 Sapina v Coles Myer Ltd [2009] NSWCA 71; (2009) 7 DDCR 54 Seltsam v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208; (2005) 3 DDCR 1 Siddik v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2008] NSWCA 116; (2008) 6 DDCR 228 State Transit Authority v Chemler [2007] NSWCA 249; (2007) 5 DDCR 286 Tan v National Australian Bank Ltd [2008] NSWCA 198; (2008) 6 DDCR 363 Tasty Chicks Pty Limited v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2011] HCA 41; (2011) 85 ALJR 1183 Warren v Coombes [1979] HCA 9; 142 CLR 531 Watson v Hanimex Colour Services Pty Ltd (1992) 8 NSWCCR 190 Wigan v Evans (1973) 47 ALJR 586 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Workers' Compensation Nominal Insurer (Appellant) Adnan Al Othmani (First Respondent) Raymond Tannous Massoud (Second Respondent) Antoine Massoud (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel SG Campbell SC and P R Stockley (Workers' Compensation Nominal Insurer) JP Gormly SC (Adnan Al Othmani) Solicitors DLA Phillips Fox (Workers' Compensation Nominal Insurer) Koutzoumis Lawers (Adnan Al Othmani) File Number(s): 2011/4833-002 Decision under appeal Citation: Al Othmani v Massoud and Anor [2010] NSWWCCPTD 129 Before: Acting Deputy President Lorna McFee File Number(s): A1-007269/2009