Blaxter v The Commonwealth

In the Federal Court of Australia, Blaxter sued the Commonwealth over a maritime collision involving HMA Ships Voyager and Melbourne in 2009. The collision resulted in Blaxter sustaining psychological injury and economic loss. Blaxter's primary contention was that the collision adversely affected his earning capacity in civilian life. The court had to determine whether the Commonwealth was liable for damages attributable to the psychological injury and economic loss suffered by Blaxter.

The legal issues that the court needed to resolve included whether Blaxter's injuries were caused by the collision, whether these injuries had a causal link to the economic loss, and if the Commonwealth was liable for the damages. The court also had to consider the extent of Blaxter's psychological injury and its impact on his earning capacity in civilian life. The Commonwealth argued that the injuries and economic loss were not directly attributable to the collision and that it was not liable for the damages.

The court found that Blaxter's injuries were indeed caused by the collision, and that there was a causal link between the psychological injury and the economic loss. The court determined that the psychological injury did affect Blaxter's earning capacity in civilian life. The court held the Commonwealth liable for the damages, concluding that Blaxter's injuries and economic loss were directly attributable to the collision. The court awarded Blaxter damages for his psychological injury and economic loss.