Maynard v Rover Mowers Ltd

Maynard v Rover Mowers Ltd was a case before the Supreme Court of Queensland where the plaintiff, Ian Raymond Maynard, sought damages for personal injuries allegedly sustained while employed by the defendant, Rover Mowers Limited, on 27 March 1992. The plaintiff claimed that he injured his back while unloading painted motor mower discs from a moving line. The defendant denied liability, arguing that the injury did not occur in the workplace or, if it did, it was not due to any fault on their part. The court found that the plaintiff had indeed sustained a back injury at work, but it was not as a result of any unsafe system of work on the part of the defendant. The court accepted that the plaintiff experienced a painful episode while unloading discs, but it was unlikely that this involved twisting to avoid a pole as he had described. The court concluded that the system of work for unloading the discs was safe, and there was no evidence to suggest that the defendant failed in its obligation to provide a safe system of work.

In terms of damages, the court awarded the plaintiff $55,000 for pain and suffering and loss of the amenities of life, $12,997.67 for special damages, $57,532.68 for past loss of earnings, $72,150 for loss of future earning capacity, $16,840 for past gratuitous assistance, $16,440 for future care, $5,000 for lost superannuation benefits, and $2,500 for future expenses. After deducting the amount received from the Workers' Compensation Board, the total award was $200,834.48. The court found in favour of the defendant and ordered the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs.