Redbro Investments Pty Ltd v Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 73

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Redbro Investments Pty Ltd v Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 73 Hearing dates: 9 March 2015 Decision date: 27 March 2015 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; Simpson J at [94] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: APPEAL - challenge to findings of fact - findings based on testimonial evidence and demeanour of witnesses - whether trial judge grappled with conflicting documentary evidence - whether material errors in description of evidence - whether necessary to determine why employee had given different histories

CHOICE OF LAW - statutory contribution between tortfeasors - workplace accident in Perth - proceedings between employee and third party compromised in District Court of New South Wales - third party seeks statutory contribution from employer - absence of federal jurisdiction - characterisation of apportionment legislation - applicable choice of law rule for statutory claim for contribution

TORTS - statutory contribution - workplace accident - challenge to equal apportionment of liability between third party and employer - relevance of employer being a company whose sole director and shareholder was the employee - relevance of Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z - relevance of compromised proceedings resulting in a judgment for the employee with the parties bearing their own costs Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 44 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995 (Cth), s 8 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), ss 79, 80 Law Reform (Contributory Negligence and Tortfeasors' Contribution) Act 1947 (WA), s 7 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 10 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 9AA, 151Z Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (WA), s 20 Cases Cited: Agtrack (NT) Pty Ltd v Hatfield [2005] HCA 38; 223 CLR 251 Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd [2004] HCA 28; 217 CLR 424 Baldry v Jackson [1977] 1 NSWLR 494 Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; 60 CLR 336 Bunnings Group Ltd v Borg [2014] NSWCA 240 Chilton v Corporation of London (1878) 7 Ch D 735 Clodumar v Nauru Lands Committee [2012] HCA 22; 245 CLR 561 Commonwealth Financial Planning Ltd v Couper [2013] NSWCA 444 Coote v Kelly [2013] NSWCA 357 CSL Australia Pty Ltd v Formosa [2009] NSWCA 363; 261 ALR 441 Eberstaller v Poulos [2014] NSWCA 211; 313 ALR 165 FFSB Ltd v Seward & Kissel LLP [2007] UKPC 16 Fluor Australia Pty Ltd v ASC Engineering Pty Ltd [2007] VSC 262; 19 VR 458 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187; 66 NSWLR 186 Hickson v Goodman Fielder Ltd [2009] HCA 11; 237 CLR 130 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson [2000] HCA 36; 203 CLR 503 Keith v Gal [2013] NSWCA 339 Lee v Lee's Air Farming Ltd [1961] AC 12 Mitchell v Cullingral Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 389 MM Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council [2012] NSWCA 417 Nicol v Allyacht Spars Pty Ltd [1987] HCA 68; 163 CLR 611 Nominal Defendant v Bagot's Executor & Trustee Co Ltd [1971] SASR 346 Nominal Defendant v Green [2013] NSWCA 219 Peate v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1964] HCA 84; 111 CLR 443 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110 Shedlezki v Bronte Bakery Pty Ltd (1970) 72 SR (NSW) 378 Sweedman v Transport Accident Commission [2006] HCA 8; 226 CLR 362 Tarabay v Leite [2008] NSWCA 259 Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Corporation v Dingle [1994] SASC 4816 Texts Cited: A Briggs, Private International Law in English Courts, Oxford University Press, 2014 M Davies, A Bell and P Brereton, Nygh's Conflict of Laws in Australia, LexisNexis, 9th ed, 2014 J Wade, "Joint Tortfeasors and the Conflict of Laws" 6 Vand L Rev 464 (1953) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Redbro Investments Pty Ltd (Appellant) Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd (Formerly TNT Logistics (Aust) Pty Ltd) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Harben SC with A Combe (Appellant) G J Parker SC (Respondent)