Murdock v Lipman [2012] NSWSC 983

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Murdock v Lipman [2012] NSWSC 983 Hearing dates: 3 August 2012 Decision date: 24 August 2012 Before: McCallum J Decision: Application under s 60C of the Limitation Act 1969 for an order extending the limitation period for the cause of action against the first and second defendants granted Determination of application for leave under s 151D(2) of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 to commence proceedings against the insurer standing in the shoes of the deregistered employer deferred pending further hearing Catchwords: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - personal injury claim - whether just and reasonable to extend limitation period - where presumptive prejudice largely ameliorated by availability of statements obtained during WorkCover investigation

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - recovery under s 601AG of the Corporations Act - where insurer substituted for deregistered insured as defendant in personal injury proceedings after expiration of second bar - whether jurisdiction to extend limitation period as against insurer

WORKERS COMPENSATION - application for leave to bring proceedings for damages out of time - whether fair and just to grant leave - whether employer precluded from recovering contribution from other tortfeasors - whether prejudice arising due to claims by employer for indemnity under s 151Z(1)(d) being statute-barred Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Limitation Act 1969 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Almario v Allianz Australia Workers Compensation (NSW) Insurance Ltd [2005] NSWCA 19; (2005) 62 NSWLR 148 AMP Capital Investors Ltd & Ors v Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Ltd & Ors [2010] NSWSC 129 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; (1996) 186 CLR 541 Carey v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2012] NSWCA 176 Charlton v Dickie (1987) 13 Ch D 160 Creevey v Barrois [2005] NSWCA 264 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott [2002] NSWCA 104; (2002) 54 NSWLR 207 J Blackwood & Son Ltd v Skilled Engineering Ltd [2008] NSWCA 142 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; (2009) 240 CLR 1 at [20]. South Sydney Area Health Service v Gadiry [2002] NSWCA 161; (2002) 54 NSWLR 495 State of New South Wales v Judd [2004] NSWCA 355 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 7(1986) 160 CLR 16 Stone v ACN 000 337 940 Pty Ltd (2008) 68 ACSR 242 Sydney City Council v Zegarac (1998) 43 NSWLR 195 Taouk v Maroun Taouk & Anor [2010] NSWCA 372 Tekno Ceramics Pty Ltd v Milat [2003] NSWCA 254 Turagadamudamu v PMP Limited [2009] NSWCA 120; (2009) 75 NSWLR 397 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Harold Murdock (plaintiff) Lipman Pty Limited (first defendant) Australis Group (Underwriting) Pty Limited (second defendant) Gallagher Bassett Services New South Wales Pty Ltd (proposed third defendant) Representation: R Sheldon SC, D Stanton (plaintiff) C Purdy (first defendant) K Burke (second defendant) S Flett (proposed third defendant) Slater & Gordon Lawyers (plaintiff) Moray & Agnew (first defendant) Colin Biggers & Paisley (second defendant) File Number(s): 2010/143429 Publication restriction: None