Vannini v Worldwide Demolitions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 324

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Vannini v Worldwide Demolitions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 324 Hearing dates: 8 November 2018 Decision date: 17 December 2018 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Barrett AJA at [113] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal.

(2) Direct the appellant to file a notice of appeal in the form contained in the White Book within 7 days.

(3) Appeal dismissed.

(4) Appellant to pay the first respondent's costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – jurisdictional error – where appellant worker suffered lower back injury – dispute about degree of permanent impairment – where approved medical specialist (AMS) made no deduction for any proportion of impairment due to prior injury and pre-existing condition – appeal by employer on ground of demonstrable error – Appeal Panel revoked certificate and issued new certificate – where 50 percent deduction for proportion of impairment due to prior injury and pre-existing condition – appellant claimed Panel substituted decision of AMS without finding the certificate of assessment contained demonstrable error – Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), s 327(3)(d) – whether primary judge erred in finding that Panel identified demonstrable error contained in certificate of AMS – whether Panel needed to expressly say certificate contained demonstrable error – whether error found by Panel was "demonstrable error" Legislation Cited: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101(2)(r) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151H Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2001 (No 2) (NSW) Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2010 (NSW), Sch 2 [14] Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 319, 321, 322, 322A, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Aldi Foods Pty Ltd (ACN 086 210 139) v Morrocanoil Israel Ltd [2018] FCAFC 93; (2018) 358 ALR 683 Bindah v Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Australia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 264 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424; [2001] FCA 1833 Bunnings Group Ltd v Hicks [2008] NSWSC 874 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2004] NSWSC 1129 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Cole v Wenaline Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 78 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] HCA 34; (2018) 359 ALR 1 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Mahenthirarasa v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2008] NSWCA 101; (2008) 6 DDCR 61 Merza v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission [2006] NSWSC 939 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW [2018] HCA 30; (2018) 92 ALJR 713 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Pitsonis v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission (2008) 73 NSWLR 366; [2008] NSWCA 88 Plaintiff S157/2002 v The Commonwealth (2003) 211 CLR 476; [2003] HCA 2 Riverina Wines Pty Ltd v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission of NSW [2007] NSWCA 149 SAS Trustee Corporation v Miles [2018] HCA 55; (2018) 92 ALJR 1064 Siddik v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2008] NSWCA 116 Versace v Australia's Best Tyres & Auto Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1540 Vitaz v Westform (NSW) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 254 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 19 June 2001 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aaron Vannini (Appellant) Worldwide Demolitions Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Workers Compensation Commission of New South Wales (Second Respondent) The Medical Appeal Panel of the Workers Compensation Commission of New South Wales constituted by Arbitrator Deborah Moore, Dr Drew Dixon and Dr Gregory McGroder (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Hooke SC / N Read (Appellant) J Kirk SC / P Herzfeld (First Respondent)