In the case of Bilson v Vatsonic Communications Pty Ltd; Vatsonic Communications Pty Ltd v Bilson [No 2] [2024] QCA 220, the Supreme Court of Queensland navigated the complex allocation of liabilities and costs between Leigh Bilson, Vatsonic Communications Pty Ltd, WorkCover Queensland, and the Townsville City Council. The primary judgment held Vatsonic responsible for 70% of the damages concerning Bilson's injury, while the Council covered the remaining 30%. These damages relate to a workplace injury, with costs and apportionments shaped by the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 and relevant regulations. The court's task included amending a previous erroneous order to reflect an accurate liability arrangement. Both Vatsonic and the Council were ordered to bear costs at varying stages of the proceedings and appeals, influenced heavily by prior settlement offers and statutory provisions. The decisions emphasized indemnification principles, legal precedence in cost allocation, and the interplay of statutory regulation with common law liabilities.
Full text: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/150423