Briggs v State of New South Wales [2015] NSWDC 235

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Briggs v State of New South Wales [2015] NSWDC 235 Hearing dates: 7, 8, 9, 10 September, & 9 October 2015 Date of orders: 23 October 2015 Decision date: 23 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Levy SC DCJ Decision: (1) Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $969,136;

(2) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of the s 151D motion on the applicable scale;

(3) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered;

(4) The exhibits may be returned;

(5) Liberty to apply on 7 days' notice if further or other orders are required. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – work-related injury – police officer suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by nature and conditions of his work – grant of leave to proceed pursuant to s 151D of Workers Compensation Act 1987 – whether negligence of the employer has been established – whether contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff has been established – whether plaintiff failed to mitigate his damage; DAMAGES – assessment of claimed heads of damage Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, s 3B, s 5D Crown Proceedings Act 1988, s 5 Evidence Act 1995, Pt 2 cl 4(2), s 60, s 136 Police Act 1990, s 145 Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 151D, s 151L Workplace Injury Management Act 1998, Ch 3 Cases Cited: Bankstown Foundry Pty Ltd v Brastina [1986] HCA 20; (1986) 160 CLR 301 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; (1996) 186 CLR 541 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Fox v Wood [1981] HCA 41; (1981) 148 CLR 438 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340 ITEK Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott [2002] NSWCA 104; (2002) 54 NSWLR 207 Koehler v Cerebos (Australia) Ltd [2005] HCA 15; (2005) 222 CLR 44 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5, (1995) 182 CLR 1 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; (2000) 205 CLR 254 Mt Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey [1970] HCA 60; (1970) 125 CLR 383 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330 S v State of NSW [2009] NSWCA 164 Smith v Grant [2006] NSWCA 244; (2006) NSWLR 735 State of NSW v Fahy [2007] HCA 20; (2007) 232 CLR 486 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ryan Briggs (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Roberts SC with Mr T Ower (Plaintiff) Mr L Morgan (Defendant) Mr B Quillan (Solicitor for the defendant in place of Mr Morgan on 9 October 2015)