Joldzic (bht Joldzic) v Patrick

[2021] NSWDC 55

District Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:

Joldzic (bht Joldzic) v Patrick [2021] NSWDC 55

Hearing dates:

16 - 20 November 2020, further written submissions by plaintiff (26 November 2020 and 5 March 2021), defendant (4 December 2020 and 4 March 2021)

Date of orders:

09 March 2021

Decision date:

09 March 2021

Jurisdiction:

Civil

Before:

Abadee DCJ

Decision:

See paragraph 276

Catchwords:

MOTOR ACCIDENT – assessment of damages – plaintiff suffers atypical psychotic disorder – pre-existing susceptibility to psychotic disorder – whether accident caused post-traumatic stress symptoms and/or aggravated existing anxiety – scope of liability – whether accident accelerated psychotic disorder

Legislation Cited:

Civil Liability Act2002 (NSW), ss 5D, 5E

Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 83

Cases Cited:

Brown v Lewis [2006] NSWCA 87

Carangelo v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 126

Commonwealth v McLean (1996) 41 NSWLR 389

Husher v Husher (1999) 197 CLR 138

Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352

Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638

McLoughlin v O’Brien [1983] 1 AC 410

Monaghan Surveyors Pty Ltd v Stratford Glen-Avon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 94

Mount Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383

Neall v Watson (1960) 34 ALJR 364

Newell v Lucas [1964-5] NSWR 1597

Oram v BHP Mitsui Coal Pty Ltd [2014] QSC 230

Parker v Commonwealth of Australia (1975) 49 ALJR 221

Pham v Shui [2006] NSWCA 373

Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208

Tabet v Gett (2001) 240 CLR 537

Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375

Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158

Wilsher v Essex Area Health Authority [1988] AC 1074

Wilson v Peisley (1975) 7 ALR 571

Texts Cited:

American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th ed)

American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed)

H Luntz, Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death (revised 4th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2016)

N Mullany & P Handford, Tort Liability for Mental Harm (3rd ed, Thomson Reuters, 2016)

Category:

Principal judgment

Parties:

Ms D Joldzic by her tutor Mr M Joldzic (Plaintiff)
Ms M Patrick (Defendant)

Representation:

Counsel:
Mr G Bateman for the plaintiff
Mr B Kelleher for the defendant

Solicitors:
Shine Lawyers for the plaintiff
Moray & Agnew Lawyers for the defendant

File Number(s):

2014/137178

Publication restriction:

Nil

Judgment

INTRODUCTION

1. This is a sad case about a young woman whose life has, in all important facets, been derailed by the onset, at least from about February 2016, of what reputable psychiatrists accept is an atypical psychotic disorder. Since late 2019, she has been in receipt of a disability support pension. Her prospects of employment, in the short and medium term, are very clouded. She is highly isolated in a social sense. Her parents, who are currently doing their best to look after her, and particularly her mother, are understandably bewildered and distressed.

2. Accepting, as the parties to this dispute do, that she currently suffers from an atypical…