Cullen v Woodbrae Holdings Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1416

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cullen v Woodbrae Holdings Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1416 Hearing dates: 11 September 2015; further written submissions on 14 September 2015 and 18 September 2015. Date of orders: 28 September 2015 Decision date: 28 September 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: (1) The decision of the Second Defendant dated 3 February 2015 be set aside. (2) The decision of the Third Defendant dated 12 March 2015 be set aside. (3) The First Defendant pay the Plaintiff's costs of the proceedings. (4) There be no order as to the Second and Third Defendants' costs. Catchwords: WORKERS COMPENSATION – decision of Medical Appeal Panel – application of s 323 of the Workplace Injury Management Act 1998 – worker suffered from osteoarthritis – worked for same employer from 1978 to 2004 – whether had a "pre-existing condition" – whether panel assumed or found development of osteoarthritis during course of employment meant he had pre-existing condition – error established – decision set aside. Legislation Cited: - Supreme Court Act 1970 – s 69 - Workers Compensation Act 1987 – s 15, s 16, s 66(1) - Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 – s 294, s 323, s 328 Cases Cited: - Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) [2001] FCA 1833; 117 FCR 424 - Cole v Wenaline Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 78 - D'Aleo v Ambulance Service of New South Wales [1996] NSWCCR 139 - Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd v Valentina Lakovska [2013] NSWSC 1489 - Ingham Enterprises Pty Ltd v Lakovska [2014] NSWCA 194 - Insurance Australia Ltd v O'Shannessy [2015] NSWSC 1047 - Mathew Hall Pty Ltd v Smart [2000] NSWCA 284; 21 NSWCCR 34 - Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; 185 CLR 259 - New South Wales Police Force v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission [2013] NSWSC 1792 - Siddik v Work Cover Authority of New South Wales [2008] NSWCA 116 - Vitaz v Westform (NSW) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 254 - Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak [2013] HCA 43; 252 CLR 480 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kevin Wayne Cullen – Plaintiff Woodbrae Holdings Pty Ltd (Harden Abattoirs) – First Defendant Medical Appeal Panel of the Workers Compensation Commission of NSW – Second Defendant Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission of NSW – Third Defendant Representation: Counsel: J.W. Dodd – Plaintiff S. Blount – First Defendant