Michael Perigo v Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer and Anor (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 830

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Michael Perigo v Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer and Anor (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 830 Hearing dates: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 July 2011, 5 August 2011 Decision date: 16 July 2012 Before: McCallum J Decision: Verdict for the plaintiff apportioned as follows: 25% against the first defendant; 75% against the second defendant. Plaintiff held not to have been contributorily negligent. Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - duty of care - principal and subcontractor - existence of duty and content of duty - application of Leighton v Fox - standard of care - assumption by principal of responsibility to devise and supervise system of works - knowledge of defect in system - whether breach of duty established - TORTS - adjustment of liability between principal and employer - non-delegable duty of employer owed to employee - TORTS - contributory negligence - experienced scaffolder - tedious, repetitive and physically demanding work - DAMAGES - apportionment. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946, s 6(4), s 5 Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 151Z(1)(d) Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak; Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Bou Najem [2009] HCA 48 Autodesk Inc v Dyason [1993] HCA 6; (1992) 176 CLR 300 Calliden Insurance Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; (2009) 240 CLR 1 Commissioner of Railways v Ruprecht (1979) 142 CLR 563 Fitzgerald v Penn (1954) 91 CLR 268 at 277; [1954] HCA 74 Hamilton v Nuroof (WA) Pty Ltd (1956) 96 CLR 18 Jeffs v Rio Tinto Ltd & Anor [2010] NSWSC 1046 Jigsaw Property Group Pty Ltd v Barahona; Pacific Steel Constructions Pty Ltd v Barahona [2009] NSWCA 406 Kuhl v Financial Services Australia Ltd [2011] HCA 11; (2011) 276 ALR 375 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; (2009) 240 CLR 1 March v Stramare (E & M H) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 at 515; [1991] HCA 12 McLean v Tedman [1984] HCA 60; (1984) 155 CLR 306 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2005] HCA 61; (2005) 205 CLR 254 New South Wales Bar Association v Smith, NSW Court of Appeal, 4 July 1991 (unreported) Price v State of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 341 Roche Mining Pty Ltd v Jeffs [2011] NSWCA 184 Rockdale Beef Pty Ltd v Carey [2003] NSWCA 132 Sungravure Pty Ltd v Meani (1964) 110 CLR 24 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 The Council of the Shire of Wyong v Shirt & Ors [1980] HCA 12; 146 CLR 40 Tolhurst v Cleary Brothers (Bombo) Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 181 Unilever Australia Ltd v Pahi; Swire Cold Storage Pty Ltd v Pahi [2010] NSWCA 149 Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 341 Wynbergen v Hoyts Corporation Pty Ltd [1997] HCA 52; (1997) 149 ALR 25 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Perigo (plaintiff) Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (first defendant/cross claimant) Waco Kwikform Pty Limited (second defendant/cross defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Wheelahan with D L Del Monte (plaintiff) D Kelly (first defendant/cross claimant) J Chapman (second defendant/cross defendant) Solicitors: Maurice Blackburn (plaintiff) Gillis Delaney Lawyers (first defendant/cross claimant) Yeldham Price O'Brien Lusk (second defendant/cross defendant) File Number(s): 2009/297523 Publication restriction: None