Campton v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 1799

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Campton v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 1799 Hearing dates: 24-27 February 2014; 17-21 March 2014 Decision date: 17 December 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hall J Decision: The proceedings are to be re-listed on 13 February 2015 for the purpose of providing the parties with an opportunity to check calculations, deductions and adjustments required by law and otherwise in accordance with this judgment. [NOTE: At handing down of judgment, the date for re-listing was amended to 20 February 2015] Catchwords: TORTS - negligence

WORKERS COMPENSATION - employment - mining industry - plaintiff injured in workplace accident at a coal mine in 2010 - plaintiff suffered spinal injury - liability admitted during the hearing -defence of contributory negligence withdrawn during the hearing

DAMAGES - consideration of the quantum of the plaintiff's claim - principles to be applied in determining partial or total incapacity for work - determination that the plaintiff is unable to return to any form of work -whether damages for future loss of earnings should be awarded on the basis of a retirement age greater than 65 years - determination of the plaintiff's likely retirement age - assessment of plaintiff's future needs - determinations made in accordance with the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act having regard to Sch 3 Part 18 Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Motor Accidents Act 1988 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Arthur v Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter (1968) 122 CLR 649 Berkeley Challenge Pty Limited v Howarth [2013] NSWCA 370 Bridge Printery Pty Ltd v Jose Mestre [1999] NSWCA 342 De Beer v The State of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 364 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 Dykstra v Head (1989) Aust Torts Rep 80-280 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438 Franklins Limited v Burns [2005] NSWCA 54 Gordon v Truong [2014] NSWCA 97 Government Insurance Office v Lazar [1991] NSWCA 123 Jandson Pty Ltd v Welsh [2008] NSWCA 317 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Knight v Anderson (1997) 26 MVR 105 Mead v Kerney [2012] NSWCA 215 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1 Morgan v Costello [2004] WASCA 260 Najdovski v Crnojlovic [2008] NSWCA 175; 72 NSWLR 728 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 Rabay v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 199 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427 Strike v Fiji Resorts Limited [2012] NSWSC 1271 Thatcher v Charles (1961) 104 CLR 57 Woolworths Limited v Lawlor [2004] NSWCA 209 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ian Barry Campton (Plaintiff) Centennial Newstan Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: B Dooley SC; P O'Rourke (Plaintiff) M Joseph SC; D Stanton (Defendant) Solicitors: Whitelaw McDonald (Plaintiff) Sparke Helmore (Defendant) File Number(s): 2012/70316