Optus Administration Pty Limited v Glenn Wright by his tutor James Stuart Wright [2017] NSWCA 21

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Optus Administration Pty Limited v Glenn Wright by his tutor James Stuart Wright [2017] NSWCA 21 Hearing dates: 29 March 2016 Decision date: 17 February 2017 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Hoeben JA at [99]; Gleeson JA at [104] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal and set aside the orders made in the Common Law Division on 20 March 2015, other than the order setting aside orders pronounced on 6 March 2015. (2) In place thereof, give judgment for the first defendant against the plaintiff and otherwise dismiss the amended statement of claim filed 24 July 2012. (3) Dismiss the cross-claims between Optus Administration Pty Ltd and IPA Personnel Pty Ltd and Drake Australia Pty Ltd. (4) Order that the plaintiff pay the first defendant's costs of the trial (excluding any costs associated with the cross-claims). (5) Order that the first respondent pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. (6) Grant the first respondent a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) with respect to his costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – duty of care – liability for mental harm – whether recognised psychiatric illness reasonably foreseeable in the circumstances of the case – whether plaintiff established existence of duty owed by defendant – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 32

TORTS – negligence – non-delegable duty – vicarious liability – attribution to employer of knowledge of non-supervisory employees – no finding of duty as to mental harm on part of any employee – no finding of negligence on part of any employee – whether employer liable Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5B, 27, 30, 31, 32; Pt 3; Sch 1, Pt 3, cl 6(1) Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 (NSW), Sch 1, Pt 5 Civil Liability Act 1936 (SA), s 33 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5 Liquor Act 1982 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1(a) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Ashrafi Persian Trading Co Pty Ltd (t/as Roslyn Gardens Motor Inn) v Ashrafinia (2002) Aust Torts Rep 81-636; [2001] NSWCA 243 Bankstown Foundry Pty Ltd v Braistina (1986) 160 CLR 301; [1986] HCA 20 Basha v Vocational Capacity Centre Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 409 Bilta (UK) Ltd (in liquidation) v Nazir (No 2) [2015] UKSC 23; [2015] WLR 1168 Calvo v Ellimark Pty Ltd (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 197 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Haleluka [2012] NSWCA 343 Commonwealth of Australia v Gretton [2008] NSWCA 117 Costa v The Public Trustee of NSW (2008) 1 ASTLR 56; [2008] NSWCA 223 Director General, Department of Education and Training v MT (2006) 67 NSWLR 237; [2006] NSWCA 270 Doherty v The State of New South Wales [2010] NSWSC 450 Fozza v Tooth & Co Ltd [1964] 112 CLR 316; [1964] HCA 29 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540; [2002] HCA 54 Graham v R (1998) 157 ALR 404; [1998] HCA 6 Gray v Richards (2014) 253 CLR 660; [2014] HCA 40 Gulic v Boral [2016] NSWCA 269 Hamilton v Nuroof WA Pty Ltd (1956) 96 CLR 18; [1956] HCA 42 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Jackson v Mazzafero [2012] NSWCA 170 King v Philcox (2015) 320 ALR 398; [2015] HCA 19 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery (2007) 230 CLR 22; [2007] HCA 6 Lepore v State of New South Wales [2001] 52 NSWLR 420; [2001] NSWCA 112 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254; [2000] HCA 61 Nicol v Whiteoak (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 1486 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1; [2015] NSWCA 90 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180; [1999] HCA 36 Pioneer Mortgage Services Pty Ltd v Columbus Capital Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 78 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 Romeo v Conservation Commission (NT) (1998) 192 CLR 431; [1998] HCA 5 Scott v Davis (2000) 204 CLR 33; [2000] HCA 52 Shaw v Thomas (2010) Aust Torts Reps 82-065; [2010] NSWCA 169 State of New South Wales v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511; [2003] HCA 4 Tame v State of New South Wales; Annetts v Australian Stations Pty Ltd (2002) 211 CLR 317; [2002] HCA 35 Tesco Supermarkets Ltd v Naltrass [1972] AC 153; [1971] UKHL 1 TNT (Australia) Pty Limited v Christie (2003) 65 NSWLR 1; [2003] NSWCA 47 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller [2015] NSWCA 320 Wallace v Kam (2012) 250 CLR 375; [2013] HCA 19 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wicks v State Rail Authority (NSW) (2010) 241 CLR 60; [2010] HCA 22 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 515; [2004] HCA 16 Wright by his tutor Wright v Optus Administration Pty Limited (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 288 Texts Cited: Furzer Crestani Handbook Category: Principal judgment Parties: Optus Administration Pty Limited (Appellant) Glenn Wright by his tutor James Stuart Wright (First Respondent) IPA Personnel Pty Limited (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: GM Watson SC / DF Villa (Appellant) RA Cavanagh SC / J Callaway (First Respondent) L King SC (Second Respondent)