Humphries v Shoalhaven City Council [2012] NSWDC 216

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Humphries v Shoalhaven City Council [2012] NSWDC 216 Hearing dates: 13, 14, 15/11/2012 Decision date: 23 November 2012 Before: Levy SC DCJ Decision: 1.Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $753,369.59; 2.The defendants are to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered; 3.The exhibits may be returned; 4.Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required. [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: TORTS - negligence - workplace injury sustained by employee of labour hire company - plaintiff an employee carrying out lifting task assigned to him by non-employer defendant client of labour hire company - whether liability of defendant established - s 5B of Civil Liability Act 2002 - whether employer would have been liable if sued - s 151Z of Workers' Compensation Act 1987 - whether contributory negligence of plaintiff established - whether causation of damage established - s 5D of Civil Liability Act 2002; DAMAGES - assessment of conflicting medical opinions where no oral evidence was called from the experts to clarify the reports - assessment of claimed heads of damage Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5B, s 5D, s 5E, s 15, s 16 District Court Act 1973, s 51(2) Evidence Act 1995, s 60 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Sch 7 cl 5 Workers' compensation Act 1987, s 151Z Cases Cited: Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21, (2011) 243 CLR 588 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 K & M Prodanovski Pty Ltd v Calliden Insurance Ltd [2012] NSWCA 117 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 McLean v Tedman [1984] HCA 60; (1984) 155 CLR 306 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 Purkess v Crittenden [1965] HCA 34; (1965) 114 CLR 164 Richards v Cornford [2010] NSWCA 99 Strinic v Singh [2009] NSWCA 15 TNT v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442 Watts v Rake [1953] HCA 18; (1953) 89 CLR 200 Texts Cited: Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th Ed, WB Saunders, 2000 Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 26th Ed, Williams & Wilkins, 2000 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kevin Humphries (Plaintiff) Shoalhaven City Council (Defendant) Representation: Mr B McManamey (Plaintiff) Mr R Sheldon SC (Defendant) Slater & Gordon (Plaintiff) DLA Piper Australia (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/83900 Publication restriction: None