Hossain v Unity Grammar College Ltd and Ors [2019] NSWSC 1313

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hossain v Unity Grammar College Ltd and Ors [2019] NSWSC 1313 Hearing dates: 23; 24; 25; 26; 27 July 2018; 1; 3 August 2018 Date of orders: 01 October 2019 Decision date: 01 October 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: See [256] Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – Severe personal injury – gas explosion at place of work – second stage gas regulator negligently installed – gasfitting at school – Dangerous Goods (Gas Installations) Regulation 1998 (NSW) (Repealed)

CIVIL LIABILITY – Common Law duty – whether duty of principal contractor can give rise to a non-delegable duty – whether duty will always be discharged by appointment of independent contractor – requirement of certain factors – held circumstances can exist between principal contractor and plaintiff giving rise to non-delegable duty.

CIVIL LIABILITY – Statutory duty – whether breach gives rise to private right of action – whether contrary to legislative purpose of Regulation – whether clause is penal in nature – whether plaintiff included in class of individuals to whom a duty is owed – statutory breach made out.

DAMAGES – Joint liability – law of negligence – proceedings for recovery of damages for personal injury – multiple parties – action may be brought against each tortfeasor – subject to statutory modifications – not to recover more than full

satisfaction for loss against one or more of the tortfeasors – whether any of the active parties legally responsible for Mr Hossain's injuries. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B(1)(f), 5A, 5D, 16 Corporations Act 2001 (CTH), s 601AG Dangerous Goods (Gas Installations) Regulation 1998 (NSW) (Repealed) Dangerous Goods Regulation 1978 (NSW) (Repealed) Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 NSW, ss 190H,(5), 109M Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss (3)(b), 69(2) Gas Supply Act 1996 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Avropiling Pty Ltd v Boveski [2018] NSWCA 146 Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 409; [1992] HCA 27 Bevillesta Pty Ltd and Liberty International Insurance (2009) NSWCA 16 Burrows v March Gas & Coke Co. (1872) LR7 Ex 96 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 COWP 63; 98 ER 969 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; [1994] HCA 13 Burrows v March Gas & Coke Co. (1872) LR7 Ex 96 Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410; [1995] HCA 24 Caltex Refiners (Qld) Pty Ltd v Stavar (2009) 75 NSWLR 649; [2009] NSWCA 258 Croston v Vaughan [1938] 1 KB 540 CSR Timber Products Pty Ltd v Weathertex Pty Ltd (2013) 83 NSWLR 466; [2013] NSWCA 49; Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; 79 ALJR 839 Davie v New Merton Board Mills [1959] AC 604; Endeavour Energy v Precision Helicopters Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 357 Fangrove Pty Ltd v Todd Group Holdings Pty Ltd [1998] QCA 404; [1999] 2 Qd R 239 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Grant v Sun Shipping Co. Ltd [1948] AC549 HIH Casualty & General Insurance Limited v Pluim Constructions Pty Ltd [2000] NSWCA 281 Huddart Parker Ltd v Cotter (1942) 66 CLR 624; [1942] HCA 34 I & J Foods Pty Ltd v Bergzam Pty Ltd (1997) 14 NSWCCR 486; Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Canny (1981) 148 CLR 218; [1981] HCA 52 Ku-ring-gai Council v Chan [2017] NSWCA 226; 224 LGERA 330 Laresu Pty Ltd v Clark [2010] NSWCA 180 Laundess v Laundess (1994) 20 MVR 156; Aust Torts Reports 81-316 Leichardt Municipal Council v Montgomery (2007) 230 CLR 22; [2007] HCA 6 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox (2009) 240 CLR 1; [2009] HCA 35 McDonald (T/as B.E. McDonald Transport) v Girkaid Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 294; (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-768 Najdovski v Krnojlovic [2008] NSWCA O'Connor v SP Bray Ltd (1936) 56 CLR 467; [1937] HCA 18 Public Transport Commission of New South Wales v J MacLenan v Segar [1917] 2KB 325 Public Transport Commission of New South Wales v J Murray-Moore (NSW) Pty Ltd (1975) 132 CLR 336 McDonald (T/as B.E. McDonald Transport) v Girkaid Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 297; [2004] Aust. Torts Rep. 81 – 768 Murray-Moore (NSW) Pty Ltd (1975) 132 CLR 336; [1975] HCA 28 South West Helicopters Pty Ltd v StePHenson [2017] NSWCA 312; (2017) 327 FLR 110 Rylands v Fletcher (1868), LR 3HL 330 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Brown [2006] NSWCA 220 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16; [1986] HCA 1 TNT v Christie (2003) 65 NSWLR 1; [2003] NSWCA 47 Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR; [1963] HCA 15 Texts Cited: Glass McHugh Douglas, The Liability of Employer's, second edition (1979) Hart & Honoré, Causation in the Law, second edition (1985) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Delwar Hossain (Plaintiff) Unity Grammar College Ltd (First Defendant) Binah Projecs Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Five Star (Sixth Defendant) Elgas Limited (Seventh Defendant) Cohen and Associates Pty Ltd (Third Cross Defendant on first cross-claim) Representation: Counsel: A Black SC with E E Welsh (Plaintiff) D A Lloyd (First Defendant) M Fordham SC with N Condylis (Third Defendant) R Cavanagh SC with J Tat (Sixth Defendant) P Morris SC (Seventh Defendant) R N O'Neill (Third Cross Defendant on first cross-claim)