Smith v Ulan Coal Mines Limited (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 416

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v Ulan Coal Mines Limited (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 416 Hearing dates: 14.10.2019; 15.10.2019; 16.10.2019; 18.10.2019; 10.12.2019 Decision date: 21 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hoeben CJ at CL Decision: (1) Verdict for the defendant. (2) Plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE ­– LIABILITY – injury to contractor in a coal mine – position of contractor analogous to that of an employee – plaintiff suffered high pressure fluid injury to hand – credit difficulties confronting plaintiff – analysis of evidence – whether plaintiff established that an unknown person found a leak in a hydraulic hose and ignored it – whether plaintiff's version of facts established on balance – whether plaintiff's injury reasonably foreseeable – problems with plaintiff's evidence – whether an unknown person intervened to repair hydraulic fitting – whether plaintiff failed to establish how accident occurred – consequences of failure by plaintiff to establish how accident occurred – whether plaintiff successful in establishing a failure to guard – error in plaintiff's hindsight approach to that question – application of Civil Liability Act 2002 – failure of plaintiff to establish liability – verdict for defendant. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – ss 5B, 5C Coal Mine Health and Safety Act 2002 (NSW) Coal Mine Health and Safety Regulation 2006 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – ss 254(b)(iii), 546D(1) Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) – s 32 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 Cases Cited: Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Limited v Ryan & Ors [2002] HCA 54; 211 CLR 540 Hallmark Construction Pty Ltd v Brett Harford; Copeland Building Services Pty Ltd v Hallmark Construction Pty Ltd; Hallmark Construction Pty Ltd v Harford Transport Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 41 Liftronic Pty Limited v Unver [2001] HCA 24; 75 ALJR 867 Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] HCA 63; 223 CLR 486 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holding [2000] HCA 18; 200 CLR 121 Smith v Ulan Coal Mines Limited [2019] NSWSC 1263 Tame v New South Wales [2002] HCA 35; 211 CLR 317 TNT Australia v Christie and Ors [2003] NSWCA 47 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Steven Smith – Plaintiff Ulan Coal Mines Limited – First Defendant Trade Services Pty Ltd – Second Defendant Representation: Counsel: P Webb QC/DR Benson – Plaintiff M Scott/A Cameron – First Defendant