Gulic v Boral Transport Ltd [2016] NSWCA 269

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Gulic v Boral Transport Ltd [2016] NSWCA 269 Hearing dates: 6 June 2016 Decision date: 22 September 2016 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [67]; Garling J at [68] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed with costs.

2. Notice of cross-appeal by the second respondent against the first respondent dismissed with no order as to costs.

3. Notice of cross-appeal by first respondent against the second respondent dismissed with no order as to costs. Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - employee of subcontractor injured in the course of performing cartage operations - scope of duty of care of principal contractor to employee of subcontractor - whether non-delegable - nature of relevant risk - whether foreseeable risk of injury caused by posts on truck "not insignificant" - breach not established - whether primary judge erred in finding causation not established COURTS AND JUDGES – duty to make findings – when necessary to make contingent findings on non-decisive points – plaintiff failed at first instance on causation – no findings made on breach or damages – disposition of appeal hampered Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adelaide Stevedoring Company Ltd v Forst (1940) 64 CLR 538; [1940] HCA 45 Bevillesta Pty Ltd v Liberty International Insurance Co [2009] NSWCA 16 Chapman v Hearse (1961) 106 CLR 112; [1961] HCA 46 Coregas Pty Ltd v Penfold Australia Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 350 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672; [1984] HCA 61 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Kuru v State of New South Wales (2008) 236 CLR 1; [2008] HCA 26 Laresu Pty Ltd v Clark [2010] NSWCA 180 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery (2007) 230 CLR 22; [2007] HCA 6 Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission v May (2016) 90 ALJR 626; [2016] HCA 19 Nevin v B & R Enclosures Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 339 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1; [2015] NSWCA 90 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16; [1986] HCA 1 Wolfenden v International Theme Park Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 78 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Marinko Gulic (Appellant) Boral Transport Ltd (First Respondent/Cross-Respondent) Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (Second Respondent/Cross-Appellant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C T Barry QC/Mr J Dodd (Appellant) Mr J Sexton SC/Mr J Catsanos (First Respondent/Cross-Respondent) Mr D Hooke SC/Mr S Torrington (Second Respondent/Cross-Appellant)