CGU Insurance Ltd v Davies [2015] NSWCA 5

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: CGU Insurance Ltd v Davies [2015] NSWCA 5 Hearing dates: 7 August 2014 Decision date: 11 February 2015 Before: Beazley P at [1]; McColl JA at [2]; Basten JA at [3]; Macfarlan JA at [14]; Meagher JA at [15] Decision: 1.Appeal dismissed.

2.Appellant pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: WORKERS COMPENSATION – employer's liability – occupational diseases – when liability of employer taken to arise – construction of s 151AB Workers Compensation Act 1987 – whether 'disease' in s 151AB(1)(a) refers only to the injury or harm which is the subject of the claimed liability – where claimed liability is for injury or disease caused by exposure to silica dust during particular period – whether liability taken to arise when worker last employed in that period – distinction between 'divisible' and 'indivisible' harm or injury – decision in Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Pomfret [2015] NSWCA 4 applied Legislation Cited: Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1944 (NSW), s 2 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151AB Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (NSW), Sch 1 [4]) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Pomfret [2015] NSWCA 4 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76; [2009] Aust Torts Rep 82-005; 254 ALR 504 Orica Ltd v CGU Insurance Ltd [2003] NSWCA 331; 59 NSWLR 14 Sienkiewicz v Greif (UK) Ltd [2011] UKSC 10; [2011] 2 AC 229 Chubb Australia Limited [2000] NSWCA 221; 20 NSWCCR 614 Category: Principal judgment Parties: CGU Insurance Ltd (Appellant) June Davies (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Little SC with T Bors (Appellant) D F Jackson QC with S Tzouganatos (Respondent) Solicitors: Curwoods Lawyers (Appellant) Turner Freeman (Respondent) File Number(s): 2013/382663 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW Citation: [2013] NSWDDT 10 Date of Decision: 12 December 2013 Before: Kearns DCJ File Number(s): DDT208/2011