Hassan v Noa (No 2)

[2021] VSC 339

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

AT MELBOURNE
COMMON LAW DIVISION
PERSONAL INJURIES LIST

S CI 2017 00417

ZAHRA HASSAN BY HER ADMINISTRATOR STATE TRUSTEES	Plaintiff
v
DAVID NOA	Defendant

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JUDGE:	Ierodiaconou AsJ
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	18 May 2021
DATE OF RULING:	17 June 2021
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Hassan v Noa (No 2)
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2021] VSC 339

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LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – Transport accident – Personal injuries – Application for extension of time during which action may be brought – Delay – Delay between accrual of cause of action and application – Reasons for delay – Prejudice – Whether extension of time should be granted – Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic) ss 5(1)(a), 23A – Transport Accident Commission v Murdoch (2020) 92 MVR 1 – Application granted.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiff	Mr A. D. B. Ingram QC with Ms M. Pilipasidis	Slater & Gordon Ltd
For the Defendant	Mr C. J. Blanden QC with Ms A. Bannon	Transport Accident Commission

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Evidence............................................................................................................................................... 1

Background......................................................................................................................................... 6

Plaintiff’s submissions................................................................................................................... 13

Length of and reasons for the plaintiff’s delay....................................................................... 13

Prejudice....................................................................................................................................... 14

Other circumstances................................................................................................................... 16

Submissions in reply................................................................................................................... 16

Defendant’s submissions............................................................................................................... 17

General prejudice of delay......................................................................................................... 17

Specific prejudice of delay......................................................................................................... 18

Causation...................................................................................................................................... 19

Duration of disability................................................................................................................. 20

Whether there was prompt action by the plaintiff................................................................. 22

Prejudice to the plaintiff is irrelevant....................................................................................... 22

Applicable principles...................................................................................................................... 23

Analysis.............................................................................................................................................. 24

Length of and reasons for the plaintiff’s delay....................................................................... 24

Prejudice to the defendant......................................................................................................... 25

Extent the defendant took steps to make available to the plaintiff means of ascertaining facts which were or might be relevant to her cause of action.......................................................... 30

Duration of any disability of the plaintiff arising on or after the date of accrual of the cause of action................................................................................................................................... 30

Extent to which the plaintiff acted promptly and reasonably once she knew the acts or omissions of the defendant, to which her injuries were attributable, might be capable at that time of giving rise to an action for damages............................................................................... 31

Steps, if any, taken by the plaintiff to obtain medical, legal or other advice and the nature of the advice he received............................................................................................................. 32

Other circumstances................................................................................................................... 32

Synthesising competing considerations.................................................................................. 32

Conclusion......................................................................................................................................... 33

HER HONOUR:

1. The plaintiff’s life has been very challenging.  She has suffered from homelessness, illness and addiction issues.  The plaintiff was injured in a transport accident in 2005.  She did not take any steps to obtain legal advice until almost nine years’ later.  Legal proceedings were then instituted on her behalf.  The plaintiff wants to pursue an action for damages.  However, the period in which she could do so expired almost ten years ago.  The plaintiff has now made an application to extend time so that she can pursue her damages claim.  The defendant opposes the application, chiefly on the ground that he has been prejudiced by the plaintiff’s delay in bringing her application.

1. The issue for determination in this ruling is whether time should be…