Miljus v Watpow Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 96

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Miljus v Watpow Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 96 Hearing dates: 28 November 2011 Decision date: 20 April 2012 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1] McColl JA at [2] Whealy JA at [3] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) The appellant to pay the respondent's costs of this appeal. [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: NEGLIGENCE - Appeal - duty of care - whether an occupier of a building site owes a duty to provide safe means of access to sub-contractors of independent contractors on a public road - relevance of Codes of Practice to finding common law duty of care - Leighton Contractors v Fox - Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd.

NEGLIGENCE - Appeal - breach of duty of care - discharge of a duty of care by retaining a competent independent contractor - meaning of "access" in clause 73(2) Construction Safety Regulations 1950 - how breach of a regulation bears on breach of a duty of care.

NEGLIGENCE - Appeal - damages - method of assessing lost earnings. Legislation Cited: - Code of Practice - Pumping Concrete 1994 - Construction Safety Act 1912 (NSW) - s 3 - Construction Safety Regulations 1950 (NSW) - Reg 73(2) - Factories, Shops and Industries Act 1962 (repealed) - Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW) - s 44A, s 46(2) - Roads Act 1993 (NSW) - Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) - s 75A(7) - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) - r 51.36 Cases Cited: - ACI Metal Stamping & Spinning Pty Ltd v Boczulik (1964) 110 CLR 372 - Akins v National Australia Bank (1994) 34 NSWLR 155 - Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 26, 221 CLR 568 - Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd v Luna (1969) 123 CLR 305 - Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; 162 CLR 479 - Ballina Shire Council v Daley [1991] NSWCA 18 - J. Blackwood & Son Steel & Metals Pty Ltd v Nichols [2007] NSWCA 157 - Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins [2003] HCA 51; 215 CLR 317 - Ilvariy Pty Ltd v Sijuk [2011] NSWCA 12 - Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd [2011] HCA 11, 243 CLR 361 - Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; 240 CLR 1 - Normoyle Pty Ltd, F & D v Transfield Pty Ltd t/as Transfield Bouygues Joint Venture and Anor; Transfield Pty Ltd t/as Transfield Bouygues Joint Venture and Anor v Z Vranjkovic & Ors [2005] NSWCA 193; 63 NSWLR 502 - Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 346; (2001) 53 NSWLR 116 - Phoenix Commercial Enterprises Pty Ltd v City of Canada Bay Council [2010] NSWCA 64 - Portelli v Tabriska Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 17 - Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 - Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 - Sydney Water Corp v Abramovic [2007] NSWCA 248 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Damien Miljus (Appellant) Watpow Constructions Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B.J. Gross QC, C.J. Callaway (Appellant) S.G. Campbell SC, M.K. Scott, B.C.A. Bradley (Respondent) Solicitors: Schreuder Partners (Appellant) Gadens Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2008/287026 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Miljus v CSR Ltd (No 4) [2010] NSWSC 1325 Date of Decision: 2010-12-14 00:00:00 Before: Davies J File Number(s): 2008/289579