Bailey v The Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (previously sued as Hardy Bros Mining & Constructions Pty Ltd) [2017] NSWDC 57

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bailey v The Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (previously sued as Hardy Bros Mining & Constructions Pty Ltd) [2017] NSWDC 57 Hearing dates: 5, 6, 7 and 9 December 2016 Date of orders: 22 March 2017 Decision date: 22 March 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Pursuant to s 151D Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), extend time for the plaintiff to commence proceedings to 29 April 2016. (2) Judgment for the defendant. (3) Plaintiff pay defendant's costs. (4) Liberty to apply in relation to costs. (5) Exhibits retained until further order. Catchwords: TORT – personal injury - leave to commence proceedings more than three years after injury – adequacy of explanation for delay – extension of time granted – plaintiff claims psychiatric injury following confrontations with supervisor – credibility of plaintiff's evidence – foreseeability and psychiatric injury in the workplace - challenge to plaintiff's expert evidence on workplace bullying under s 318 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) – causation and damages issues – judgment for defendant Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79(1) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 6(4) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 65A, 151 and 151D(2) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 313 and 318 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Ltd v Sim (2012) 10 DDCR 325 Australian Winch & Haulage Co Pty Ltd v Collins [2013] NSWCA 327 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University (2009) 214 ALR 349 Jackson v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 162 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Koehler v Cerebos (2005) 222 CLR 44 Kubovic v HMS Management Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 315 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 McKay v Palmers Removalists & Storage Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 83 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Naidu (2007) 71 NSWLR 471 Patrick Stevedores Operations (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hennessy [2015] NSWCA 253 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 Ridolfi v Hammond [2012] NSWCA 3 State Transit Authority of New South Wales v Chemler (2007) 5 DDCR 286 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182 Sydney South West Area Health Service v Stamoulis [2009] NSWCA 153 Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd [2011] EHWC 1884 (QB) Vosebe Pty Ltd v Bakavgas; Vosebe Pty Ltd v Vapore [2009] NSWCA 117 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Wilkinson v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 250 Woolage v NSW [2001] NSWCA 256 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Andrew Bailey Defendant: The Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (previously sued as Hardy Bros Mining & Constructions Pty Ltd) Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr C Hart Defendant: Mr P Stockley