Duke, Michael v Pegg, Dale Elsie

[1981] FCA 283

I'

CATCHSJOKDS

Damages f o r personal i n j u r y - Appeal .

b

CL.? APPEAL	THE SUPXE:,IE COUKT OF THE AUSTK4LIAN CAPITAL
TEKRITORY.

Xo. A . C . T . G 1 2 of 1981.

C0iW.l: Bavies , Lockhart and K e l l y , 3 5 .

17 Cecerzber 1981.

I

Canljerra, . A . C . T.

' **

.r _. *

t	" . S
4 h -

a

S ' IN THE, F DERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA )

AUSTXALIAL? CAPITAL TEPLRITCRY	)
1 No. A.C.T. G 1 2 o f 1981
DISTRICT REGISTRY
GEL.IEPA DIVISIOS

ON APPEAL FROM THE SUPREflE C0UP.T OF TSE

AUSTPALIAi'J CAPITAL, TEmITOKY

BETMCEN: bII HkEL DUK

A p p e l l a n t

AM D : DALE ELSIE PEGG

Responden t

O R D E R

Cavies, Lockhart a n d K e l l y , J J .

DATE OF ORDER:	1 7 Decenber 1981
Canberra , A.C.T.

THE	COUIiT	0RDE:RS THAT:
1.	T h e a p p e a l Se u p h e l d and t h a t tile judgment o f t h e
S u p r e E e C o u r t c;f t h e A u s t r a l i a n C a p i t a l T e r r i t o r y b e
s e t a s i d e .
2.
3 .	T h e r e s p o n d e n t p a y t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c o s t s of the
a p p e a l , t h o s e c o s t s t o b2 t a x e d .

13 THE FEDERAL COUET OF AUSTMLIA	) )
AUSTMLIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

No. A . C . T . G . 1 2 of 1931

DISTRICT REGISTRY

1

GENE,RAL DIV~SION 1

ON APPEAL FROFl THE SUPKEi4E COURT OF THE

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

DETWEEN : PIICHAEL DUKE

A p p e l l a n t

At? D : DALE ELSIE PEGG

Respondent

C O M I ; ' : nav ies , L o c k h a r t a n d K e l l y , J J .

1 7 December 1981

IiCASONS FOR JUDGMENT

DAVIES, LOCIXART and KELLY, J J .

T h e a p p e l l a n t , who w a s bo rn on 26 Oc tobe r 1953, was

i n j u r e d i n a o l o t o r v e h i c l e a c c i d e n t o n 3 A p r i l 1979. He sued

t h e r e s p o n d e n t i n t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n C a p i t a l

T e r r i t o r y f o r d a m a g e s f o r a l l e g e d n e g l i g e n c e . L i a b i l i t y was n o t

c o n t e s t e d . The l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e g a v e j u d g m e n t i n h i s f a v o u r

f o r the components - for loss o f s u a of $ 3 0 , 0 7 5 . 4 5 . T h a t was made up o f t h e f o l l o w i n g

e a r n i n g c a p a c i t y , p a s t a n d for a s h o r t

- 2 -

tiine i n the f u t u r e , $5,963.45; s p e c i a l d a m a g e s $12 ,112 and

n o n - e c o n o n i c loss $ 1 2 , 0 0 0 . T h e p l a i n t i f f a p p e a l e d t o t h i s

C o u r t , c l a i m i n g t h a t t h a t s s e s s m e n t of t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s

non-economic l o s s was e r r o n e o u s i n a l l t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

B e c a u s e o f t l l e i r S r e v i t y i t i s c o n v e n i e n t o s e t o u t

the r e a s o n s fo r j u d g m e n t o f the l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e . He s a i d : -

" I n t h i s case t h e f a c t s are r e a l l y i a r g e l y , i f

n o t c o m p l e t e l y , u n d i s p u t e d a n d the m a j o r i s s u e i s

the amount of damages which s h o u l d be a w a r d e d i n

r e s p e c t of non-economic l o s s . A s a l w a y s , I f i n d

myse l f up a g a i n s t t h e r a l l y i n t r a c t a b l e

d i f f i c u l t y o f d e c i d i n g how f a i r l y t o p l a c e t h e

p a i n , s u f f e r i n g , i c o n v e n i e n c e , d i s t r e s s ,

d i s c o m f o r t a n d so on w h i c h t h e p l a i n t i f f has

s u f f e r e d a n d w i l l , t o some e x t e n t , i n t h e f u t u r e

s t i l l s u f f e r , i n a n y f o r a o f j u s t r e l a t i o n s h i p t o

a sum o f c o n e y .

I bear perr;;anent i n mind t h a t t h i s man w i l l have some

weakness of the h i p a n d l e g . lie w i l l

p r o b a b l y h a v e p a i n s l o w l y d i m i n i s h i n g o v e r f i v e

y e a r s . He w i l l h a v e , ~ r o b a b l y , l a n e n e s s f o r some

time which may b e f i v e y e a r s a n d h e will have

s c a r s . I t e a r i n mind t h a t h e i s a r e l a t i v e l y

young man o f 27 and so by f a r t h e m a j o r p a r t o f

h i s l i f e i s p r o b a b l y i n f r o n t o f him. I a l s o

h a v e t o bear i n mind t h a t I t h i n k h e has, i n the

t i n e s i n c e t h e a c c i d e n t , s u f f e r e d v e r y

c o n s i d e r a b l e p a i n a n d some i n c o n v e n i e n c e .

Taking a l l t h i s i n t o a c c o u n t a n d d o i n g the b e s t I

c a n with a judgment which i s r e g r e t t a b l y

s u b j e c t i v e , I t h i n k t h a t t h e r i g h t f i g u r e t o p u t

o n t h e n o n - e c o n o m i c l o s s i s $12,000 . . . . 1 1

D u r i n g t h e h e a r i n g o f t h e a p p e a l c o u n s e l f o r t h e

r e s p o n d e n t s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e was n o s u g g e s t i o n t ha t t h e

a p p e l l a n t h a d i n a n y way e x a g g e r a t e d h i s c o m p l a i n t s . When t h e

l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e s a i d t h a t ' ' the f a c t s a re r e a l l y l a r g e l y , i f

n o t c o r ~ p l e t e l y , u n d i s p u t e d " , h e i s t o be t a k e n i n all t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s as h a v i n g a c c e p t e d as w i t n e s s e s o f t r u t h the

p l a i n t i f f , h i s w i f e , a n d t h e d o c t o r s c a l l e d o n h i s b e h a l f . T h e

r e s p o n d e n t c a l l e d e v i d e n c e . n o No d i f f i c u l t y a r i s e s ,

t h e r e i o r e , on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e was i n a

- 3 -

b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o e v a l u a t e t h e e v i d e n c e t h a n i s t h i s C o u r t .

A s a r e s u l t o f t h e a c c i d e n t t h e a p p e l l a n t was t r a p p e d

u n d e r t h e door p i l l a r o f t h e v e h i c l e w h i c h the d e f e n d a n t was

d r i v i n g . He f e l t h i s l e g s s t a r t i n g t o swell i n t h e r e g i o n of

t h e h i p p o s i t i o n a n d n u n b n e s s i n t h e i r lower p a r t s . B e c a u s e o f h i s

h e u n d e r w e n t a g o o d d e a l o f p a i n w h i l e t r a p p e d , as h e

was f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h r e e q u a r t e r s o f a n h o u r . T h i s p a i n was

f i r s t r e l i e v e d by t h e m i n i s t r a t i o n s o f a m b u l a n c e o f f i c e r s a n d

s u b s e q u e n t l y by i n j e c t i o n s of p e t h i d i n e a t t h e h o s p i t a l w h e r e

h e was t a k e n .

He s u f f e r e d m u l t i p l e p e l v i c f r a c t u r e s , a n e x t r e m e l y

cor;;riinuted p e r t r o c h a n t e r i c f r a c t u r e i n v o l v i n g t h e u p p e r e n d o f

h i s l e f t f e n u r a n d f r a c t u r e s i n v o l v i n g t h e m i d - s h a f t o f h i s

l e f t t i b i a a n d f i b u l a . H e unde rwen t su rge ry on 9 A p r i l 1 9 7 9 .

I n t h e druhged i n t e r v e n i n g six d a y s h e was, as h e p u t i t , v e r y h i g h l y

and e x p e r i e n c e d a good d e a l of p a i n .

On 9 A p r i l 1 9 7 9 , Xr V a n c e , a n o r t h o p a e d i c s u r g e o n ,

c a r r i e d o u t o p e n r e d u c t i o n w i t h i n t e r n a l f i x a t i o n b y p i n a n d

p l a t e o f t h e p e r t r o c h a n t e r i c f e m o r a l f r a c t u r e a n d m a n i p u l a t e d

the f r a c t u r e d t i b i a and f i b u l a , e n c l o s i n g t h o s e f r a c t u r e s i n a

l o n g l e g p l a s t e r .

T h e a p p e l l a n t was i n h o s p i t a l u n t i l 15 i iay 1979.

Twice a t l e a s t i n t h a t p e r i o d t h e p l a s t e r was changed. Dur ing

t h e c h a n g e s h o s p i t a l he s u f f e r e d a g r e a t a m o u n t o f p a i n . tie l e f t

s t i l l w e a r i n g p l a s t e r w h l c h was changed late i n J u n e .

P l a s t e r was f i n a l l y r e m o v e d on 18 J u l y 1979. The a p p e l l a n t

s a y s h e c o n t i n u e d t o wear the p las t e r u n t i l A u g u s t b u t i n t h i s

he scems t o have b e e n m i s t a k e n . iJhen the p l a s t e r was changed

l a t e i n J u n e i t was f o u n d t h a t he had a f a i r l y e x t e n s i v e

-4 -

p r e s s u r e s o r e o v e r the t a c k o f his l e f t h e e l . T h e s k i n was

n e c r o t i c . H e was r e f e r r e d t o Mr J a n e s , a p l a s t i c s u r g e o n . i v i r

Janes saw t h e a p p e l l a n t f i r s t on 1 0 J u l y 1 9 7 9 a n d a d m i t t e d hin

t o h o s p i t a l d e b r i d e d o n 1 2 J u l y 1 9 7 9 when the u l c e r o n the heel was

i n a n a t t e m p t t o p r o m o t e g r a n u l a t i o n t i s s u e g r o w t h

t h r o u g h the t e n d o n . A f t e r a p p r o x i m a t e l y t e n d a y s t h e a p p e l l a n t

was d i s c h a r g e d , b e i n g t h e r e a f t e r e v i e w e d a t w e e k l y i n t e r v a l s

u n t i 1 , h e u n d e r w e n t a n o p e r a t i o n f o r s k i n g r a f t .

B e f o r e h i s a c c i d e n t h e p l a i n t i f f u s e d t o jog each

a f t e r n o o n f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y th ree q u a r t e r s o f a n h o u r . 'rfe

p l a y e d g o l f , n o r n a l l y a b o u t o n c e a m o n t h ; h e p l a y e d s q u a s h

u s u a l l y twice e a c h week, f o r a n h o u r at a t i n e . Eie d i d n o t t r y

t o r u n a g a i n u n t i l a f t e r t h e p l a t e a n d p i n were r e n o v e d o n 22

A p r i l 19SO. The p r e s e n c e o f t h e p l a t e a n d p i n h a d c a u s e d hi12

d i s c o m f o r t	b e c a u s e	o f	h i s	t e n d e n c y	t o	s l e e p	o n	h i s	l e f t	h a n d
s i d e .

When the a p p e l l a n t r e s u m e d e x e r c i s e a f t e r the r e n o v a l

of the ? i n a n d p l a t e h e f o u n d t h a t h e c o u l d r u n a p p r o x i n a t e l y

t w o h u n d r e d y a r d s o n l y , b e c a u s e h e h a d t o o many problems w i t h

h i s h i p . G i v i n g e v i d e n c e o n 1 5 A p r i l 1 9 8 1 , t h e a p p e l l a n t

s t a t e d t h a t h e s u f f e r e d p a i n i n h i s h i p w i t h a n y l o n g d i s t a n c e

w a l k i n g , t l l a t he needed t o t ake a b r e a k of some t w e n t y m i n u t e s

i n t h e m i d d l e o f a game o f g o l f , t h a t o w a r d s t h e e n d o f a

rouncri of e i g h t e e n holes he s t a r t e d t o f ee l p a i n a n d t h a t he had

t r o u b l e s l e e p i n g o n t h e i g h t a f t e r p l a y i n g g o l f . He

a t t r i b u t e d t h e t r o u b l e t o p a i n i n his h i p t h r o u g h d i s t a n c e

w a l k i n g . He f o u n d h i s r i g h t l e g t o b e a l o t s t r o n g e r t h a n h i s

l e f t l e g . Eecause of t h i s h e s t i l l had a t t h e t i n e o f h i s

g i v i n g e v i d e n c e some prob lems wi th h i s b a l a n c e . When t h e

- 5 -

p l a s t e r was r e m o v e d t h e r e was a good d e a l of w a s t i n g a p p a r e n t i n

h i s l e f t l e g b u t g r a d u a l l y i t b u i l t up u n t i l a t t h e t i n e o f t h e

h e a r i n g t h e t e was a was t ing by compar i son with the r i g h t l e g of

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2cm only . He r e s u m e d p l a y i n g s q u a s h , t r y i n g t o

p l a y

o n c e

a

week

b u t

h i s

p l a y i n g

t i n e

p e r

game

was

r e d u c e d

t o

,

h a l f a n h o u r . He g a v e v i d e n c e of the e x i s t e n c e of e x t e n s i v e

b r u i s i n g s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e a c c i d e n t b u t t h i s d o e s no t a p p e a r t o

h a v e c a u s e d h i m a n y p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m s .

F o l l o w i n g the s k i n g r a f t i n September 1979 he found

t h a t h e c o u l d n o t wear c o n v e n t i o n a l s h o e s as t h e y h a d a t e n d e n c y

t o d i g i n t o the back of h i s h e e l . On o n e o c c a s i o n he f o u n d t h a t

a smal l amount of s k i n o n t h e s i t e of t h e g r a f t h a d worn away

w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t t h e area b e c a m e i n f e c t e d . He was d u e t o

unde rgo a f u r t h e r s k i n g r a f t the week a f t e r t h e h e a r i n g when i t

was a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t h e w o u l d b e i n h o s p i t a l f o r a f u r t h e r two

w e e k s , s p e n d i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y a f o r t n i g h t a t h o n e r e c u p e r a t i n g .

The a p p e l l a n t c o m p l a i n e d t h a t h i s l e f t f o o t h a d a

t e n d e n c y t o t h r o w i n as though he were p i g e o n t o e d i n t h a t

f o o t . The tendency was s a i d t o be n o t i c e a b l e a n d t o c a u s e o t h e r

p e o p l e t o comment o i t , t h u s m a k i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t

s e l f - c o n s c i o u s . H e g a v e e v i d e n c e t h a t he had a s l i g h t l i u p b u t

t h a t t h a t d i d n o t c a u s e him a n y d r a m a t i c p r o b l e n s . P e o p l e

c o n r ; e n t e d o n t h e f a c t o f h i s l i m p .

iie g a v e e v i d e n c e o f a l a r g e s ca r r u n n i n g f r o m h i s h i p

t o a p o i n t a b o u t f o u r i n c h e s a b o v e t h e k n e e a n d of a n o t h e r scar

some f i v e i n c h e s b y t h r e e i n c h e s l o c a t e d a b o v e t h e k n e e . It was

c a u s e d b y t h e e x c i s i o n o f s k i n f o r t h e g r a f t o n t h e h e e l . Z e

s a i d t h a t h e was s e l f - c o n s c i o u s a b o u t the scars a n d t r i e d t o

k e e p t h e n c o v e r e d .

- 6 -

H e s t a t e d t h a t he d i d n o t have c o n s t a n t p a i n i n h i s

h i p . T h e p a i n was b r o u g h t o n b y s t r e n u o u s a c t i v i t y . He g o t

p a i n a l s o in h i s h i p d u r i n g c o l d weather a n d , i t would seem i n

s u c h w e a t h e r , a t the s i t e of t h e f r a c t u r e s of the t i b i a a n d

f i b u l a . C o m u e n t i n g o n the r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h s of h i s l e g s h e

s a i d the r i g h t was a l o t s t r o n g e r t h a n the l e f t , t h a t he found

he c o u l d n o t s u p p o r t h i m s e l f p r o p e r l y when t r y i n g t o l i f t a n y

w e i g h t s a n d t h a t i f he b e n t down he found t h a t he h a d p r o b l e m

when t r y i n g t o l i f t h i m s e l f up on h i s l e f t l e g .

He was t h e n a s k e d i f he h a d p a i n i n a n y o t h e r p a r t o f

h i s b o d y . H e r e p l i e d , "I d i d f o r sotie time have p a i n i n the

l o w e r p a r t o f my S a c k . I went t o p h y s i o t h e r a p y a n d w e

g r a d u a l l y w o r k e d o u t a c o u r s e o f e x e r c i s e s t o t r y a n d r e l i e v e

t h o s e p r o t l e x s i n tha t a r e a . If I keep up t h o s e x e r c i s e s , I

do n o t c r o s s - e x a a i n e d c o n c e r n i n g h a v e a n y g r e a t p r o b l e m s w i t h my b a c k . " IIe was n o t

t h e p a i n i n h i s b a c k .

Asked a b o u t h i s p r e s e n t a 3 t l i t y t o do h e a v y t a s k s

& . b o u t t h e t l o u s e , h e r e p l i e d t ha t he was u n a b l e t o move a

r e f r i g e r a t o r o r a n y t h i n g of a b o u t t h a t w e i g h t b u t h e d i d n o t

h a v e s n y g r e a t p r o b l e m s w i t h g e n e r a l d u t i e s . By g e n e r a l d u t i e s

h e a p p e a r s t o h a v e rLeant g a r d e n i n g a n d s i n i l a r t a s k s .

F i n a l l y , lle s t a t e d t h a t i f he s a t a t a d e s k for a

2 r o l o n g e d p e r i o d o f , s a y , up t o t h r e e h o u r s , h e h a d t o g e t up

t o wall< a r o u n d a n d e x e r c i s e h i s l e g b e c a u s e p a i n w o u l d

g r a d u a l l y s t a r t o b u i l d u p . O t h e r w i s e h e h a d n o p a r t i c u l a r

p r o b l e m a t work .

T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s w i f e gave e v i d e n c e w h i c h c o r r o b o r a t e d

h i s .

Mr V a n c e g a v e e v i d e n c e . He a d h e r e d t o a n o p i n i o n

- 7 -

eGr l i e r e x p r e s s e d t h a t "from a l o n g t e rn p o i n t o f view he c o u l d

well nave some p e r m a n e n t w e a k n e s s i n h i s l e f t l e g , p e r h a p s some

p e r a a n e n t l o s s of a o v e n e n t i n h i s l e f t h i p ' ' . He t h o u g h t the

a p p e l l a n t ' s i n a b i l i t y t o j o g f o r rcuch beyond two hundred ya rds ,

t h e l i m i c h t i o n o n h i s a . S i l i t y t o p l a y s q u a s h a n d the d i f z i c u l t y

he e x p e r i e n c e d i n p l a y i n g u p t o e i k h t e e n h o l e s o f g o l f were

c o n s i s t e n t w i t h what he had s e e n of the a p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d i t i o n .

lie was t h e n a s k e d i n c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n a n u n b e r o f q u e s t i o n s .

They and t he answers t o t he i l l a r e s e t o u t h e r e u n d e r : -

l 1 D o c t o r , I want t o a s k y o u a b o u t t h i s low back

a c h i n b . Uhen d i d you l a s t see ;,ir Duke?. . .On 1 7

December 1980.

And had you reconmended some p h y s i o t h e r a p y i n

r e s p e c t of t h a t s y u p t o m ? . . .I r e c o n r e n d e d sane

p h y s i o t h e r a p y i n A u g u s t , y e s .

S u t , of c o u r s e , t h e r e p o r t t h a t I am l o o k i n g a t

i s Augus t 1980 and t h a t i s b e f o r e t h a t

p h y s L o t h e r a p y was c a r r i e d o u t ? . . .Yes . "

I n tile r e p o r t o f 1 5 Aict;ust 1983 ;.lr V a n c e h a d s t a t e d t h a t tiie

a p p e l l a n t h a d c o n p l a l n e d , when s e e n on 11 Augcs t 1983, o i

c o n s i d e r a b l e low b a c k & c h e w h i c l l h a d b e c o n e n o r e r a r k e d o v e r the

l a s t two n o n t h s . tie had e x p e r i e n c e d no p r e v i o u s t r o u b l e w l t h

conp la inec? of sci,;e g a i n o n e x t e n s i o n . lie i n d i c a t e d t h e

l u n b o - s a c r a l l e v e l as t l l e s i t e o f p a i n . Tilere was no t e n d e r n e s s .

i.lr Vance agreed t h a t the a p p e l l a n t h a d aaae h 7 b . t c o u l d

b e s a i d t o b e a very good r e c o v e r y i n r e s p e c t of his o r t h o p a e d i c

i n j u r i e s .

I t seems d e s i r a b l e t o s e t o u t a n u h e r o f q u e s t i o n s

a s k e d by t h e l e a r n e d t r l z l J u d g e and t he answers t h e r e t o g i v e n

b y i,ir Vance: -

-8-

1 1 D o c t o r , h e now s a y s t ha t t h e p a i n t h a t he has

i s s u f f i c i e n t o c a u s e t h e d i s a b i l i t i e s a b o u t

r u n n i n g a n d p l a y i n g s q u a s h ; i n o t h e r w o r d s , the

p d i n i s b r o u g h t on by a c t i v i t y a n d i t i s a l s o ,

h e s a i d , w e a t h e r t o some e x t e n t b r o u g h t o n by c o l d

a n d a l s o t o a l i t t l e e x t e n t b r o u g h t on

b y c o n t i n u o u s s i t t i n g . I n t h a t case it i s

r e l i e v e d w i t h a b i t o f e x e r c i s e a f t e r t h r e e

h o u r s i t t i n g a t his d e s k . N O W , t h a t k i n d of

p a i n a n d p r o b a b i l i t y s t i f f n e s s t h a t h e h a s , what i s the

a b o u t the pe r lmnence of t h a t would

you Se ab le to say?. . . I thFnlc i t i s l i k e l y t o

g r a d u a l l y d i m i n i s h o v e r t h e n e x t f e w y e a r s . I

t h i n k i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t he n a y h a v e d i s c o a f o r t

a f t e r e x e r t i o n i n d e f i n i t e l y , b u t I t h i n k t h e

d e g r e e o f p a i n i s l i k e l y t o d i m i n i s h .

And he a l s o s a y s t h a t he l i n p s somewhat and t h a t

h2 has a t e n d e n c y to t u r n i n the lezt f o o t when

he walks. Wt;at i s t h e p r o b a b i l i t y of t h e

perraa1;ence o f t h a t ? . . I n o t e d when I l a s t

exsrc ined h im 2nd repor ted t3a t h e h a d a l i t t l e

loss of r m v e n e n t i n h is a n k l e a n d I f e l t t h a t i f

ne r e g a i n e d that l u l l movement t h a t t h i s

t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s t u r n i n g i n w o u l d p r o b a b l y g o ,

a n d t h i s i s what I think i s l i k e l y t o h a p p e n .

And would t l i a t b e a z a t t e r o f y e a r s , a a a c t e r o f

a o n t h s o r - - -? . . T h i s i s c o ~ ~ ~ p l i c a t e d a l i t t l e

b i t , y o u r X o n o u r , t h e S y s k i n g r a f t i n g

p r o c e d u r e s which h a v e Seen r e q u i r e d by t h e

p r e s s u r e a r e a on the b a c k o f h i s h e e l , and t h o s e

o p e r a t i o n s a r e 1;ot y e t f i n i s h e d , I u n d e r s t a n d .

So t h a t I t h i n k h e m i g h t h a v e t h i s t e n d e n c y f o r

S O G ~ time t o come y e t , b u t I t h i n k i n the l o n g

ter;; i-le w i l l g r a d u a l l y g e t o v e r i t . "

?$r J a m s g a v e v i d e n c e a l s o . T h e u l c e r on t h e r i g h t

heel :;as a Lccr;. f u l l t h i c k n e s s u l c e r w i t 1 1 e x p o s u r e o f t h e

t i i a t t!le a p p e l l a n t v o u l d r e q u i r e a s k i n g r a f t t o h e a l t h e a r e a

a n d p o s s i b l y a l u r t i l e r g r a f t a t a l a t e r d a t e i n o r d e r C O t h i c k e n

u i s a b i l i t y a s a r e s u l t of t'rle l e s i o n a n d o n c e t h e zrea had

h e a l e d f e l t t:lzt t1;sre should be no r e s t r i c t i o n o n h i s

a c t i v i t y . lie r ev iewed the a p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d i t i o n o n 22 August

1960. T h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t c o a p l a i n e d of t e n d e r n e s s i n t h e s c a r

-9-

t i s s u e a r o u n d the g r a f t e d area o n t h e heel. This t e n d e r n e s s

p r e v e n t e d him f r o r w e a r i n g n o r n a l shoes a l t h o u d h he c o u l d wall.,

s a t i s f a c t o r i l y a n d h a d r e c o m m e n c e d s p o r t i n g a c t i v i t i e s . On

e x a m i n a t i o n t h e r e was a 2cm X 2cm d e p r e s s e d area on the h e e l ,

t h e s i t e o f t n e s k i n g r a f t , s u r r o u n d e d bg a lcrn t l l i ck h a r d

s c a r . R e p o r t i n g on 9 Septeraber 1980 PIr Jaraes e x p e c t e d t h a t i n

t i n e t h a t scar t i s s u e w o u l d s o f t e n , b e c o n e m o r e c l o b i l e a n d l z s s

t e n d e r . 'rle t h o u g h t t h a t i f t h a t d i d n o t o c c u r scar e x c i s i o n a n d

f u r t l l e r g r a f t i n g i r i i g h t b e n e c e s s a r y t o o b t a i n the bes t

f u n c t i o n a l r e s u l t , 3 u t d i d n o t e x p e c t t h a t a d e c i s i o n on t h a t

c o d i d b e n a d e f o r a t l e a s t o n e y e a r .

L i v i n g e v i d e n c e on 15 lLpri.1 1581, ;.ir J a d e s said t i m t

he f e l t h a t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s hee l w o u l d r e q u i r e f u r t h e r s k i n

c o v e r i n o r d e r t o s t a b i l i s e tile a rea and he plaur,eci t h a t

g r o c e u u r e , as t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d i n c l i c a t e d i n h i s e v i d e n c e , l o r

Lhe n e a r F u t u r e . !!e went on t o s a y , "He may i n f a c t r e q u i r e two

p r o c e d u r e s t o t h i c k e n u p t h e skin s u f f i c i e n t l y t o g i v e i t a

s t a b l e a rsa there" . 'ile c o n s i d e r e d t h a t a t h i r d s k i n g r a f t i n g

p r o c e d u r e was l i k e l y t o be n e e d e d . Each p r o c e d u r e w o u i d r e q u i r e

t h e t a k i n g of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 c n X 4cm o f s k i n , p r o b a b l y from the

u p p e r p a r t o f the t h i g h . S i n c e t h e t a k i n g 02 s k i i l f r o x tibove

tile k n e e f o r tlie f i r s t s k i n G r a f t ;;ad l e f t s c a r r i n g i t seer;s

rcasonable to assuide that eac l r of the s e c o n d a n d t h i r d s k i n

z r a i - t s w h i c h were l i k e l y t o be n eded would a l s o leave

s c a r r i n g . The s c a r p r e s e n t f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s k i n g r a f t a n d t h e

s ca r s Iwhich m i g n t b e e x p e c t e d f r o m t h e , u r t h e r p r o c e d u r e s x o u l u

o b v i o u s l y n o t be g r o s s l y d i s f i g u r i n g , f o r ;.lr James a g r e e d t h a t

tL-,e f i r s t s k i n g r a f t s c a r \;as a l m o s t i n v i s i b l e w i t h a l i t t l e b i t

o f c e p i g r ; e n t a t i o n of t he a rea w h i c h v o u l d b e p e r z a n e n t . i i e

-10-

a g r e e d t h a t i t was n o t a n o b v i o u s t h i n g . H e a l s o s t a t e d t h a t

t h e p r o g n o s i s f o r t e n d e r n e s s a n d p a i n i n t h e h e e l was good and

h e e x p e c t e d ' t h a t w i t h i n f ive y e a r s t h e p l a i n t i f f w o u l d have a

p a i n	f r e e	area t h e r e .
C o u n s e l f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t c r i t i c i s e d t w o t h e f

f i n d i n g s made by t h e l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e . T h e s e were t h a t the

a p p e l l a n t w o u l d p r o b a b l y h a v e p a i n s l o w l y d i m i n i s h i n g o v e r f i v e

y e a r s a n d t h a t he' would have l a m e n e s s f o r some t i m e which might

b e f i v e j u s t i f i e d . y e a r s . We are n o t s a t i s f i e d t ha t these c r i t i c i sms a re

When r e g a r d i s h a d t o t h e e v i d e n c e w h i c h was

c o n c e r n e d w i t h b o t h p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d p r o b a b i l i t i e s , t h e

f i n d i n g s o n t h e t w o p o i n t s w h i c h a re c r i t i c i s e d a r e , w e t h i n k ,

f i n d i n g s w h i c h were r e a s o n a b l y a v a i l a b l e t o t h e l e a r n e d t r i a l

J u d g e . If t h e r e was e r r o r i n t h o s e f i n d i n g s i t was n o t s u c h as

t o warrant o f i t s e l f a n y i n t e r v e n t i o n b y t h i s C o u r t . So much w e

t h i n k w a s c o n c e d e d b y c o u n s e l f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t when h e s a i d , "I

do n o t s i g n i f i c a n t o r s u b s t a n t i a l s u g g e s t t h a t o f t h e m s e l v e s , t h e s e t h i n g s a r e n e c e s s a r i l y

matters".

T h e r e are two n a t t e r s w h i c h d o n o t ,seem t o h a v e b e e n

c o n s i d e r e d s u f f i c i e n t l y o r a t a l l by t h e l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e

when a s s e s s i n g d a m a g e s . F i r s t , h e n a d e no r e f e r e n c e t o t h e two

o p e r a t i o n s w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t was l i k e l y t o b e r e q u i r e d t o

unde rgo s o t h a t h i s h e e l m i g h t ' b e r e s t o r e d a n d o n e of which was

t h e s u b j e c t p o s s i b i l i t y o f d e f i n i t e i n t e n t i o n . We t a k e some a c c o u n t of t h e

w h i c h m u s t , w e t h i n k , e x i s t , h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e

t o t a l e f f e c t of t h e e v i d e n c e of Mr J a n e s , t h a t t h e f u r t h e r s k i n

g r a f t s rsay n o t a c h i e v e t h e i r o b j e c t . We t h i n k t h a t two

o p e r a t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e s u b s t a n t i a l r e a s o n s for a w a r d i n g

a p p r o p r i a t e d a m a g e s t o t h e a p p e l l a n t .

-11-

S e c o n d l y , r e g a r d s h o u l d h a v e b e n h a d t o the

a p p e l l a n t ' S b a c k o n d i t i o n . U i t h o u t s u g g e s t i n g t h a t the

q u e s t i o n s p u t b y c o u n s e l f o r the r e s p o n d e n t t o Ffr Vance on t h i s

s u b j e c t were u n i a i r , i t i s p l a i n t h e y a s s u m e d t h a t h e r e h a d

b e e n a c o m p l e t e r e s l i s s i o n o f any symptoms i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e

a p p e l l a n t ' s b a c k . \;e are n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a t there was a

c o m p l e t e r e m i s s i o n . I n d e e d , as w e u n d e r s t a n d t h e v i d e n c e , i t

seems t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s b a c k c o n t i n u e s t o g i v e t r o u b l e b u t

t h e t r o u b l e i s a m e l i o r a t e d b y e x e r c i s e . T h e q u e s t i o n of how

l o n g t h a t b a c k c o n d i t i o n E i g h t b e e x p e c t e d t o c o n t i n u e was n o t

e x p l o r e d b u t , h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t he f a c t t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n was

a t t r i b u t e d i n e x a m i n a t i o n in c h i e f t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s g a i t and

t h a t h e a p p e l l a n t i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e t o be laze t o s o n e

d e g r e e f o r a t l e a s t f i v e y e a r s , w e t h i n k t h a t t h e l e a r n e d t r i a l

J u d g e p a i d i n s u f f i c i e n t r e g a r d t o t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s b a c k c o n d i t i o n .

\Je a re s a t i s i - i e d t h a t t h e a w a r d i n f a c t made

d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t d e g r e e o f e r r o r w h i c h a t t r a c t s v a r i a t i o n

upwarus by a n a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . i?e t h i n k t h a t t h e a m o u n t w h i c h

shou ld be awarded the a p p e l l a n t f o r n o n - e c o n o m i c loss i s

$ 1 8 , ~ 0 0 . 0 0 .

I t f o l l o w s t h a t we a l l o w t h e a p p e a l a n d s u b s t i - t u t e f o r

t h e a;;ourlt axarded by the l e a r n e d t r i a l J u d g e t h e sum of

$ 3 6 , 0 7 5 . 4 5 . Ttie r e s p o n d e n t m u s t p a y t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c o s t s of'