Case studies

Employer not liable for shoulder injury after opening door

Read the case summary on why wind-related resistance on fire doors was deemed an insignificant risk and how the court assessed quantum and pre-existing conditions.

Plaintiff failed to prove any breach of duty

This is an important decision for any organisation providing social work services, although particularly in residential care situations.

Print machine operator fails to establish employer liability in hand injury claim

Nemet v Hally Labels Pty Limited [2025] QDC. The Plaintiff in this case failed to establish that the defendant had breached its duty of care, and her claim was dismissed.

Judgement ruled in favour of Plaintiff in PTSD case

The Plaintiff was a 27-year-old former aged care worker, who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of a sexual assault at work in 2019.

Plaintiff alleged the absence of proper training led to inability to assess and mitigate risks

Ritchie James Edward Lowe v Greenmountain Food Processing Pty Ltd [2024] QDC 204. The Plaintiff failed to establish any negligence or insufficient training by the defendant, and his case and the claim was dismissed.

Utility worker claimed negligence against her employer for requiring her to perform her normal duties over a period of 6 months

The Plaintiff alleged she suffered bilateral tennis elbow injuries as a result of her work as a kitchen utility worker over a period of time. She did not suffer any “accident” and simply says the forceful and repetitive nature of her duties caused her injury.

Contributory negligence found against Plaintiff for left shoulder injury

Contributory negligence was found against the Plaintiff for the injuries she suffered when her left arm became caught between the mattress and the end of the bed.

Employer found liable for a lumbar spine injury

The plaintiff suffered an injury to her lumbar spine while lifting a load from a low pallet to a sheft on 28 April 2019.

Employer found liable for a shoulder aggravation injury

The plaintiff suffered a shoulder aggravation injury on 5 January 2017 when working as a chef in the kitchen of a nursing home in Townsville.

Baggage handler unsuccessful in claiming negligence for requirement “repetitively” step up and down from a curb

The Plaintiff alleged that on 29 February 2016, he was required to repetitively step up and down from a standard painted curb in order to transport arriving FIFO workers’ bags from his trailer onto a footpath.