RG & KM Whitehead Pty Ltd v Lowe [2013] NSWCA 117

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: RG & KM Whitehead Pty Ltd v Lowe [2013] NSWCA 117 Hearing dates: 11 April 2013 Decision date: 14 May 2013 Before: Barrett JA at [1]; Tobias AJA at [2]; Preston CJ of LEC at [67] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the verdict and judgment for the respondent made by Robison DCJ on 22 March 2012 and in lieu thereof enter a verdict and judgment for the appellant. 3. The respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the proceedings at first instance and of the appeal but to have with respect to the latter a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951, if otherwise qualified. [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 - motor vehicle accident - whether respondent's injury caused by fault of appellant within the provisions of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) - whether primary judge failed to categorise accident as "work accident" or "motor vehicle accident" - whether appellant at fault for failing to implement safe system of work - whether injury occurred in driving of front end loader per ss 3 and 3A of Act Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Insurance Commission of Western Australia v Container Handlers Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 24; (2004) 218 CLR 89 JA & BM Bowden & Sons Pty Limited v Doughty [2009] NSWCA 82; (2009) 52 MVR 552 Motor Accident Commission v ANI Corp Ltd (1997) 26 MVR 57 Nominal Defendant v GLG Australia Pty Limited [2006] HCA 11; (2006) 228 CLR 529 Portlock v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Limited & Ors [2005] NSWSC 775; (2005) 44 MVR 147 QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Smith [2005] NSWCA 130; (2005) 43 MVR 407 Suncorp Metway Insurance Limited v Sichter [2010] QSC 164; [2011] 2 Qd R 89 Category: Principal judgment Parties: RG & KM Whitehead Pty Ltd (Appellant) Anthony Lowe (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G J Parker SC (Appellant) P M Morris SC and R Harrington (Respondent) Solicitors: Turks Legal (Appellant) Stacks the Law Firm (Respondent) File Number(s): CA 2012/106484 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2012-03-22 00:00:00 Before: Robison DCJ File Number(s): DC 2010/381372