Davies v Nilsen

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE

COMMON LAW DIVISION

PERSONAL INJURIES LIST

S CI 2014 06259

DIANNE DAVIES	Plaintiff
v
JUDITH NILSEN	Defendant

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JUDGE:	MACAULAY J
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	24, 25, 29 February 2016, 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 and 24 March 2016
DATE OF JUDGMENT:	19 September 2016
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Davies v Nilsen
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2016] VSC 557

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DAMAGES — Negligence — Personal Injury — Plaintiff involved in a motor vehicle accident 21 years ago — Defendant admitted liability for having negligently caused some of the plaintiff’s injuries — Court to determine the true extent of the injuries caused and sum of damages to be awarded — Causation.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiff	Mr A Ingram with Ms M Pilipasidis	Slater + Gordon Lawyers
For the Defendant	Ms R Annesley QC with Ms R Kaye	Solicitor to the Transport Accident Commission

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 1

Background......................................................................................................................................... 3

Credit findings.................................................................................................................................... 8

Diane Davies.................................................................................................................................. 8
Mrs Davies (mother)................................................................................................................... 11
Importance of objective evidence............................................................................................. 13

Which injuries were caused by the motor vehicle accident?................................................... 13

Relevant legal principles........................................................................................................... 13
Records made before the 1995 motor accident......................................................................... 19
St Helena’s clinical notes.................................................................................................. 19
Michael Oldmeadow........................................................................................................ 20
St Helena’s notes (continued).......................................................................................... 21

22 November 1995 motor vehicle accident............................................................................. 21
Records made after the 1995 motor accident........................................................................... 24
Authorship of the St Helena’s clinical notes.................................................................. 24
November 1995–July 1996: St Helena’s clinical notes.................................................. 25
27 June 1996: Work stress statement............................................................................... 27
August 1996: 3 medical reports relating to stress......................................................... 30
September 1996: report of Mr Brearley.......................................................................... 35
September 1996–February 1997: St Helena’s clinical notes......................................... 36
February and March 1997: Wilks and McPherson reports.......................................... 37
March – May 1997: McPherson report............................................................................ 39
May 1997 – March 1998: St Helena attendances............................................................ 41

Summary for 1995, 1996 and 1997............................................................................................. 42
March 1998 – November 1999.......................................................................................... 44
19 November 1999: Report of Associate Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld...................... 49
23 November 1999 – 16 June 2000................................................................................... 50
Dr John Lloyd report 16 June 2000.................................................................................. 51
June 2000 – 23 February 2001........................................................................................... 52
February and March 2001: reports of Dr Stewart and Dr Vivian................................ 53

Analysis and conclusions to 2004............................................................................................. 55
Medical reports after 2004......................................................................................................... 57
Mr Kiellerup....................................................................................................................... 57
Dr John Merory.................................................................................................................. 57
Mr Brazenor........................................................................................................................ 58
Dr Pastore........................................................................................................................... 58
Dr Paul Verrills.................................................................................................................. 59
Dr Ian McPherson.............................................................................................................. 60
Dr Penny Gaskell............................................................................................................... 63
Dr Leonard Rose................................................................................................................ 65
Dr Peter Blombery............................................................................................................. 65
Mr Roger Westh................................................................................................................. 67
Mr Andrew Hardidge....................................................................................................... 67
Mr Ian McLean................................................................................................................... 67
Mr Brownbill...................................................................................................................... 70
Dr Robert Hjorth................................................................................................................ 71
Mr Russell Miller............................................................................................................... 73
Dr Kevin Fraser.................................................................................................................. 79

Evidence of psychiatric injury.................................................................................................. 81
Associate Professor Peter Doherty.................................................................................. 81
Dr Hickingbotham............................................................................................................. 83
Dr Michael Epstein............................................................................................................ 84
Dr Nathan Serry................................................................................................................. 87

Conclusions.................................................................................................................................. 90

Would any pre-existing condition have produced the claimed harm anyway?................... 94

Did the accident-caused injuries result in any loss of earning capacity?.............................. 95

What sum of damages should be awarded?................................................................................ 97

Assessment of damages for accident-caused injuries........................................................... 97

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The plaintiff, Davies, sued the defendant, Nilsen, in the Supreme Court of New South Wales over a motor vehicle accident that occurred 21 years ago. The defendant admitted liability for causing some of the plaintiff's injuries but contested the extent of the injuries and the appropriate amount of damages. The court was tasked with determining the true extent of the injuries caused by the defendant's negligence and the sum of damages to be awarded to the plaintiff.

The primary legal issues before the court were establishing the precise extent of the injuries caused by the defendant and assessing the appropriate damages for those injuries. The court had to determine whether the plaintiff's injuries were a direct result of the defendant's negligence and the extent to which the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions or other factors contributed to the claimed injuries. The court also needed to consider the impact of the passage of time on the plaintiff's ability to provide evidence of their injuries and the potential for the plaintiff to have recovered from or compensated for some of the injuries over the years.

The court examined the evidence presented by both parties and concluded that the plaintiff had suffered significant injuries as a result of the defendant's negligence. The court found that the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions did not preclude a finding of causation for some of the injuries. The court assessed the evidence regarding the plaintiff's ongoing pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages, and determined the appropriate amount of compensation. The court awarded the plaintiff a sum of damages that reflected the true extent of the injuries caused by the defendant's negligence.

Continue reading Davies v Nilsen

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established