O’Reilly v Komatsu Forklift Australia Pty Limited [2015] NSWDC 130

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: O'Reilly v Komatsu Forklift Australia Pty Limited [2015] NSWDC 130 Hearing dates: 17-18 June 2015 Date of orders: 18 June 2015 Decision date: 18 June 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Neilson DCJ Decision: Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant for $727,686 Catchwords: TORT – Negligence – Work injury damages – Whether plaintiff acted contrary to employer's work practice directions – No practice direction given to plaintiff, direction not enforced – Vicarious liability for negligence of another employee

TORT – Negligence – Work injury damages – Whether contributory negligence – Momentary inadvertence/inattention/distraction

DAMAGES – Vicissitudes – Pre-existing back injuries – Previous injury might require same surgical intervention as subject injury – Present injury accelerated need for further surgical intervention Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Cases Cited: Cotter v Huddart Parker Ltd (1941) 42 SR(NSW) 33 71 Kallouf v Middis [2008] NSWCA 61 Naismith v London Film Productions [1939] 1 All ER 794 Texts Cited: Glass, McHugh and Douglas, The Liability of Employers, (2nd ed) 1979, Law Book Company Limited Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sheridan O'Reilly (Plaintiff) Komatsu Forklift Australia Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Lidden SC (Plaintiff) Ms E Welsh (Plaintiff) Mr D Benson (Defendant)