Alcan Gove Pty Ltd v Zabic

[2015] HCA 33
Judgment date
Case number
D5/2015
Before
French CJ, Kiefel, Bell, Keane, Nettle JJ
Catchwords

Limitation of actions – When cause of action accrues – Negligence – Damage – Statute abolished cause of action unless accrued before 1 January 1987 – Whether compensable damage suffered upon changes to mesothelial cells following exposure to asbestos – Whether mesothelioma inevitable – Relevance of hindsight – Whether "trigger" for development of disease endogenous or exogenous.

Torts – Negligence – Damage – Dust diseases – Mesothelioma – Whether changes to mesothelial cells compensable damage.

Words and phrases – "compensable damage", "endogenous", "exogenous", "hindsight", "mesothelial cell changes", "trigger".

Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (NT) – ss 52(1), 189(1).

Files
33.rtf (227.35 KB)
33.pdf (167.71 KB)