Edwards and Ors v Endeavour Energy and Others; Precision Helicopters Pty Limited v Endeavour Energy and Ors; Endeavour Energy v Precision Helicopters Pty Limited and Anor (No. 4) [2013] NSWSC 1899

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Edwards and Ors v Endeavour Energy and Others; Precision Helicopters Pty Limited v Endeavour Energy and Ors; Endeavour Energy v Precision Helicopters Pty Limited and Anor (No. 4) [2013] NSWSC 1899 Hearing dates: 7 May 2012, 8 May 2012, 9 May 2012, 11 May 2012, 14 May 2012, 15 May 2012, 17 May 2012, 22 May 2012, 23 May 2012, 24 May 2012, 25 May 2012 Decision date: 19 December 2013 Before: Johnson J Decision: Parties to bring in short minutes to give effect to this judgment Catchwords: CIVIL LIABILITY - helicopter undertaking aerial power line inspection at St Albans for Endeavour Energy - helicopter owned and operated by Precision Helicopters - wire strike with disused Telstra catenary wire - helicopter lands but rolls over - Endeavour Energy observer suffers head injury and brain damage - observer not wearing helmet - whether observer a "passenger" for purposes of Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) - held he was not a "passenger" - liability of Endeavour Energy as employer - whether Telstra and Precision Helicopters liable to injured man - s.151Z Workers Compensation Act 1987 - claim by Precision Helicopters against Endeavour Energy for breach of contract - cross-claim by Endeavour Energy claiming indemnity under contract - s.151Z apportionment of responsibility as between Endeavour Energy (90%) and Precision Helicopters (10%) - Precision Helicopters successful in contract claim - claim in contract by Endeavour Energy rejected Legislation Cited: Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) Civil Liability Act 2002 Evidence Act 1995 Limitation Act 1969 Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) Workers Compensation Act 1987 Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (Cth) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Limited v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; 239 CLR 420 Agtrack (NT) Pty Limited v Hatfield [2003] VSCA 6; 7 VR 63 Agtrack (NT) Pty Limited v Hatfield [2005] HCA 38; 223 CLR 251 Air Link Pty Limited v Paterson [2005] HCA 39; 223 CLR 283 Andar Transport Pty Limited v Brambles Limited [2004] HCA 28; 217 CLR 424 Bader v Jelic [2011] NSWCA 255 Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare [1992] HCA 27; 176 CLR 408 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Limited [1994] HCA 13; 179 CLR 520 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Limited v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258; 75 NSWLR 649 Chapman v Hearse [1961] HCA 46; 106 CLR 112 Clout Industrial Pty Limited (In Liquidation) v Baiada Poultry Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 89; 61 NSWLR 111 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Limited [1991] HCA 54; 174 CLR 64 Council of the City of Greater Taree v Wells [2010] NSWCA 147 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; 79 ALJR 839 Disley v Levine [2001] EWCA Civ 1087; [2002] 1 WLR 785 English v Rogers [2005] NSWCA 327 Evans v The Queen [2007] HCA 59; 235 CLR 521 Fellowes (or Herd) v Clyde Helicopters Limited [1997] AC 534 Florida Hotels Pty Limited v Mayo [1965] HCA 26; 113 CLR 588 Gaskin v Ollerenshaw [2012] NSWCA 33 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Limited v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; 211 CLR 540 Grant v Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney [1999] NSWCA 250; 47 NSWLR 263 Harmer v Hare [2011] NSWCA 229 Hughes v Lord Advocate [1963] AC 837 J Blackwood & Son v Skilled Engineering [2008] NSWCA 142 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Koehler v Cerebos (Australia) Limited [2005] HCA 15; 222 CLR 44 Kondis v State Transport Authority [1984] HCA 61; 154 CLR 672 Laroche v Spirit of Adventure (UK) Limited [2009] EWCA Civ 12; [2009] QB 778 Latham v Johnson (1913) 1 KB 415 Leonard v Smith (1992) 27 NSWLR 5 Lipman v Clendinnen [1932] HCA 24; 46 CLR 550 McLean v Tedman [1984] HCA 60; 155 CLR 306 Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 v San Sebastian Pty Limited (1983) 2 NSWLR 268 Mount Beauty Gliding Club Inc v Jacob [2004] VSCA 151; 10 VR 312 Neindorf v Junkovic [2005] HCA 75; 80 ALJR 341 Novakovic v Stekovic [2012] NSWCA 54 Oxley County Council v MacDonald [1999] NSWCA 126 Pester v Marsland (1997) 7 Tas R 233 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Limited [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Limited [2008] NSWCA Prichard v Trius Constructions Pty Limited [2011] NSWSC 749 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Robinson v Harman (1848) 154 ER 363 Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; 205 CLR 434 Sheather v Country Energy [2007] NSWCA 179 Shire of Gin Gin v Coombe [2009] WASCA 92; 52 MVR 382 State Wide Developments Pty Limited v Higgins [2011] NSWCA 35 Sullivan v Moody [2001] HCA 59; 207 CLR 562 Tame v New South Wales [2002] HCA 35; 211 CLR 317 Thornton v Sweeney [2011] NSWCA 244 United Airlines Inc v Sercel Australia Pty Limited [2012] NSWCA 24 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 418 Williams v Twynam Agriculture Group Pty Limited [2011] NSWSC 1098 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; 146 CLR 40 Texts Cited: --- Category: Principal judgment Parties: In Matter 2008/289264