Apthorpe v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited & Ors [2019] NSWDC 135

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Apthorpe v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited & Ors [2019] NSWDC 135 Hearing dates: 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 14 March 2019 Date of orders: 18 April 2019 Decision date: 18 April 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: Within 7 days of today's date the parties are required to bring in short minutes with draft orders that reflect the monetary effect of my findings in these reasons. Catchwords: TORTS – workplace injury on a domestic building site – plaintiff roofing labourer fell to ground from roof height after stepping on unsecured bridging planks between roof and a scaffolding platform – determination of liability of builder, scaffolder, fascia and guttering contractor and plaintiff's employer the tiling contractor – differing assessment schemes for employer's liability and occupier's liability; DAMAGES – assessment of claimed heads of damage – Workers Compensation Act 1987 and Civil Liability Act 2002 Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 3, s 5B, s 5D, s 5R, s 5S, s 16 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 60, s 67 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5, s 6 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151G, s 151Z Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak; Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Bou Najem (2009) 238 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479; [1987] HCA 7 Bevillesta Pty Limited v Liberty International Insurance Co [2009] NSWCA 16 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258 Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd v Redbro Investments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 46 Condos v Clycut Pty Limited [2009] NSWCA 200 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University (2005) 214 ALR 349; [2005] HCA 14 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Fabre v Lui [2015] NSWCA 157 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438; [1981] HCA 41 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340; [1961] HCA 48 Hall v State of New South Wales [2014] NSWCA 154 Hamilton v Nuroof (WA) Pty Ltd (1956) 96 CLR 18; [1956] HCA 42 Ilvariy Pty Ltd trading as Craftsman Homes v Sijuk [2011] NSWCA 12 Indigo Mist Pty Limited v Palmer [2012] NSWCA 239 Jones Lang LaSalle (NSW) Pty Ltd v Taouk [2012] NSWCA 342 Laresu Pty Ltd v Clark [2010] NSWCA 180 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox (2009) 240 CLR 1; [2009] HCA 35 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1; [1995] HCA 5 Miljus v Watpow Constructions Pty Ltd (2012) 82 NSWLR 572; [2012] NSWCA 96 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254; [2000] HCA 61 Parkview Constructions Pty Ltd v Abrahim [2013] NSWCA 460 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Perisher Blue v Nair Smith [2015] NSWCA 90 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 529; [1985] HCA 34 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] HCA 18; (2000) 200 CLR 121 Smith v Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (1957) 97 CLR 337; [1957] HCA 34 State of New South Wales v Mikhael [2012] NSWCA 338 State of New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16; [1986] HCA 1 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182; [2012] HCA 5 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 442; [2005] HCA 62 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kenneth Charles Apthorpe (Plaintiff) QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (First defendant) HTE (Aust) Pty Limited (Second defendant) Christopher Wright (Third defendant) Burtwin Pty Ltd (Fourth defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr G Petty SC with Mr P Kirby (Plaintiff) Mr S McCarthy (First defendant) Mr D Lloyd with Ms L Beange (Second defendant) Mr N Polin SC (Third defendant) Mr L Morgan (Fourth defendant)