Ortlipp v Employers Mutual NSW Limited as agent for the Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer [2014] NSWDC 157

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ortlipp v Employers Mutual NSW Limited as agent for the Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer [2014] NSWDC 157 Hearing dates: 13, 19 September 2013; 4 February; 16 April 2014 Decision date: 17 April 2014 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: (1) The plaintiff's notice of motion is dismissed. (2) The plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the notice of motion. (3) In the event that no submissions are received by 4pm on 1 May 2014 opposing dismissal of the proceedings or costs, the proceedings will be dismissed with the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings. If submissions are received, the matter will be re-listed. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE - work injury damages - workers compensation lump sum compensation benefits - election - whether damages proceedings a nullity - pre-filing defence - whether proposed amended defence materially different - need to plead election - was material concerned reasonably available - effect of long delay - 24 years since accident - failure to receive legal advice Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 56, s 57, s 58, s 64, s 65 Interpretation Act 1987, s 30 Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 151A, s 151B, s 151D Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Pt 19, r 14.11, r 14.14 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998, s 318 Cases Cited: Afarin v Excelior Pty Ltd [2013] NSWDC 65 ASB-Tech Services Pty Ltd v Doeland [2003] NSWCA 167 Attileh v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (2005) 62 NSWLR 439; [2005] NSWCA 64 Australian Winch and Haulage Company Pty Ltd v Collins [2013] NSWCA 327 Brennan v Brennan (1953) 89 CLR 129 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; [1996] HCA 25 Certain Lloyd's Underwriters v Cross [2012] HCA 56; (2012) 248 CLR 378 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394; [1990] HCA 39 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Zammitt [2014] NSWCA 104 East West Airlines Ltd v Turner (2010) 78 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCA 53 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76 Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott [2002] NSWCA 104 Khoury v Linfox Australia Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 51 Klimovska v George Weston Foods Limited [2012] NSWDC 246 Maricair v Principal & Councillors of Wesley College (2000) 19 NSWCCR 368 Metropolitan Oils Pty Ltd v Beringer (1986) 71 ALR 327 North Broken Hill Ltd v Vockins (1999) 19 NSWCCR 193 Parsons v Doukas (2001) 52 NSWLR 162 Saad v J Robins & Sons Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 87 Salido v Nominal Defendant (1993) 32 NSWLR 524 Wilson v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (2010) 78 NSWLR 704; [2010] NSWCA 198 Texts Cited: Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Patricia Anne Ortlipp (plaintiff) Employers Mutual NSW Limited as agent for the Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (defendant) Representation: 13 September 2013 Mr S Brennan (plaintiff) Mr A B Parker (defendant)