Lapadat, Michael v Civil and Civic Pty Ltd

[1979] FCA 129

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TITLE OF ACTION

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C A T C i 3 W r ) R D S

Damages - Appeal on quantum upheld.

MICHAEL LAPADAT v. C I V I L AND C I V I C PTY. LIMITFD

F.C. No. 10 of 1978

Smithers, Connor and Frank1 JJ.

Canberra

2 9 November 1979

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA)

)

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY No. F.C. 10 of 1978

DISTRICT REGISTRY i

BETWEEN : MICHAEL LS.PAEAT

Appellant

AND	:	C I V I L AND C I V I C PTY.
-
LIMITED

Respondent

O R D E R

JUDGES MAKING ORDER: Smithers, Connor and Frank1 JJ.

DATE OF ORDER : 2 9 Uove~nher 1 '379 .

WHERE MADE : Canberra

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

l. Appeal upheld.

2. Order of Supreme Court of the Austral ian Capltal

Ter r i to ry var ied by the substitution of the sum

of $51,739.19 f o r the sum of $38,739.19.

Respondent t o pay t h e appe l l an t ' s cos t s of the

appeal.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA)

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY	No. F.C.	10 o f 1978
m I C T REGISTRY

BETWEEN: MICHAEL LAPADAT

A p p e l l a n t

AND:

CIVIL AND CIVIC PTY.

LIMITED

R e s p o n d e n t

Coram:	S m i t h e r s ,	C o n n o r	a n d	F r a n k i	<TJ.
C a n b e r r a

29 November 1 9 7 9

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

SMITHERS, CONNOR a n d FRANK1 JJ.:

This i s an appea l by Mlchael Lapadat l l n l t e d t o

t h e measure of damges . On 21 August 1374, t h e a p p e l l a n t ,

w h i l s t working f o r t h e respondent , was i n j u r e d when he

f e l l some $ 0 o r 13 f e e t t o t h e ground from a s c a f f o l d .

The l e a r n e d t r l a l judge found f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t on t h e

q u e s t i o n o f negl igence and awarded nlm the sum of $58,739.19

by way of damages.

The A u s t r a l i a i n 1961 and was a p p e l l a n t , who w a s born i n liournania, came t o

24 y e a r s of age a t t h e d a t e of

t h e t r i a l . He l e f t school a f t e r g e t t l n g t h e School

C e r t i f i c a t e a t t h e Albury North High School about 1970.

Ee went t o Canberra about 1973 and worked t h e r e a s a

b u i l d e r ' s l a b o u r e r . He had been employed i n t'nat c a p a c l t y

by t h e respondent f o r some months a t t h e t ime of	t h e
a c c i d e n t .

The l e a r n e d t r l a l judee, wi thout indicating h l s

method of c a l c u l a t i o n , s a i d :

" I n my vlew he i s e n t l t l e d t o

a v e r d i c t a s fo l lows:

1 .	Out of pocket	1,475.19
2.	Loss of wages t o December 1976 and

d p e r i o d ending

February 1977 16,264.00

3. Loss of ea rn ing

c a p a c l t y '12,000.00

4. Pnln , suffering and

l o s s of axen;tit7s 9,000.00

The f i g u r e f o r o u t o f ~?ockc t ; s 5.2s i:n , : ~ ~ t r c ? a:.:r~c!-.t. 11; 111 5

j ud~mel l t t112 t r l z l jildge c?? so .-ad:

"Fly concluz Lcnr, ~ r . c t!:?t t : ~ c p! z ~ n ~ l l r f

h a s s u f S ~ : ~ ~ ~ l 1 1 : j l ~ i ~ ~ c ~ : : C -~,LLII[; JI:LL;: a r ~ d

d l s a b , l l t l y P :~~-~ :C . :~LC,? \ : 111 t h e l,,ick

and a n k l e , t!?ri! do a]:.' ,. ~11 d.lsc~~.:i~."y

hirn frocl t h c :.,or.!: o f :l l . m ~ l ~ l < c r ' s :.:..l.~urc?

o r o t h e r heavy 1:iL::urlr.r:. I r.oulc! k,eve

found t h a t i ~ t : !i:!d this ~ ~ r y ~ : > l l l t y c:~.:s.

tlnle i n 1975 h t I 2ccc;)r: l::.,- ~ ; :p I .~c :~-c~ol i

o f t h e a:/ard (c:.hlS:t ' 1 ) r.dc. on ; I t

Deccrnhcr 1976, a s rel::L-il:g T O t h e 1;orlr

o: a L u l l d e r t s l a b o u r c ~ . .

A man is n o t u s u a l l y a S l c t o p e r f c r x

heavy labourjnl; L ~ r k e!?:;i ?p f c r a l l

h i s woriclng l l i e ; eve r l t~~=: l ly 119 ~111

be obllgcci ts s e ~ k 1 7 E!-I L+:- (non-ski! l c d )

work accepting s rcuuccd ::age 11 ncccs sa ry .

F u r t h c r , I nr;, n o t s ~ t l r i l c d t h a t t5c

p l a l n t l f i ' hcz n;?..dc cl:lcerc cnd re?sz::nble

efforc:: t o o b c ~ 2 ; l r7,p;o'. L X C - ! i~h l : ? h s

c a p a t l l l ty cmrt o attcv>::t ;G re'c.3bll:t;ce

himself x i t h i n I-:S o:.n C L ~ S ~ C L b.;. Ec kas

becn L L I I ~ C I I E , 1 2 ?CP2:15. -.a a c c c v t

COT,:: ?ii:::~tlc:1 ?, . I , > : : , ; 135 ' 1 1 ~ for' cnne

p c r s n 01% or~r.r!:r:~x:cr, to .jnrc^n;e 21Pe l r s

f o r hl17. I uo ::it r e p ; - e t!~" rot::l pe r lod

o f f v20i.k a s a L L I ~ Z ~ t o er:r;: L I I ~ c zpdc~xj r .

E x h i b i t "E" h a s en r i .ard ~ z d c uxdcr t : ~ r . I.'nr!:;*~?~ S Z.-::y-:rr t? r n -

Ordinznce 1.151 on 111 5ccca:lt;r. 1376 cr,d inclkdcli t 5 c f lzldlng

t h a t :

"The P!:?licnnt l-2s been t n t a l ly i n c z p c c ~ t z t e l

f o r I:?!: 8 s n rc :? . l r of C ) ; : 5,:ltl zc,-:?i.n',

f r o n 2'1s-L F.iigds;;, 19'7; L ; c l ? t ~ e!~a C C I I ~ ~ I ; U F . L

a s ~ n c a p e c l t a t ~ d r o r v.ork."

Two r ? r c ~ z l l s t @rthopcc<i;c :;url;e>r::: 'ticre called on bekz l f

o? t h e a y p c l l n n i , onc a Cr . Ro~l~uc lc pract1:;lng i n Canberra

and t h e othcr* a !>I-. !<?rig pi->c t - s l ; ? ~ a t .?it;u:-;l. Rcpor t s from

- 3 -

consen t and i n r e ~ p e c t t o t n o s e t h z l ed rncd t1.121 j u d ~ ~ ' s a l d

I n h i s judgnerlt:

''1 heve e ~ p e r - l e n c c d L:)? d:f!lclil tj-

o t h e r s no C;L.LIZLL llzvt, f '31 t I n tr;l;n=

t o evaluaL2 r:y.lclel;ce . l ; i ch 1s

produced 111 t h e form o: a r c j > ~ r t . "

The t r i a l judge d l d n o t i n d l c , . t c l n d;.L;a11 t h e vie:^

h e took	o f	t h e s e i 7 c r a l r e p o r t s b u t hc d	~	lca;;c :: fxlndln,?	d
t h a t :

"There i s no evl$cnce ' h l c h I acc.?pt

t h a t any psy<.i,i; tric cc r d i t l c n

s u f f e r e d by :.ne p:arr,t: ff i1111

c o n t i n u e r f t ~ r t h e l l x l ; ? t l c n ; and

some evide:lcc z s s e r t s 11: t,as a t

some sta,ce !-?.!.ln~;e1'1:1;. I i ~ o t e

t h e ev ldecce t:!2t, i n c i f c c x , h e

e x a g s c r a t e s h ls 11~:). "

The t r i a l judge fo~m-F 1;!:at t h e ~ - : ~ p c l l z n t k1r.d no l:noT:,n

p h y s i c a l d e f l c i e n c l e s up t o the t lmc of t h e a c c l d e ~ i t . lie

a l s o f o u ~ d :

\

" In t h e act-drnt t h c p l a ~ c t i f f

sufic-red zn ni;drrpl .?c~ri P o ' i ~ ' s

f r a c L u r e of l e f t 2 :':le and a

conLL~?s1311 t o the l e f t :.;.ec. Also

h e {:as dxi:,c::,:d a s 112~111,: i.

concht i o n knz .-n as s ~ ~ r . ~ ~ ~ v l o l l s t : l . ~ . c , : s

which i t s ~ ! f 1s ~2~~2'21; of ;;:'0d~~illl;

p a l n and is i rduced 11: h l s c a s e a

c o n & c n l t a l ci,::,.!:tlon . P ; .- ~ . - z ~ . c ~ ~ . d by

t h e f a l l cn 2 1 iiu~~1s-L. l .;'(b. 'l

The t r i a l judge 'illcr. dea1.t f u r t h e r with t h e s e

t h r e e c o r d i t l o n s . In rc l? . t ion t o t h c l e f t sn l t l e he

found tkt ther.2 ;./as n fr3ct.~:-c o f t1.e r ; , ~d l r l l ::a1 leolu:;

b u t a p p a r e n t l y :,;lthout di.-plnc:~;.!cnt X J I ~ t h a t lt a l s o

seemed t h e r e was a c l l g l ~ t l : ~ dlcpl,?cr:i L'?: c t u r c 02 t l lc

a n t e r i o r p a r t of tile lo!:cr ci?d o f t h e t l b i n b u t t h z t n f Le?

some d e l a y t h e f r a c t u r e s ~ l l i t e d s a t i r F r c t o r l l y . Dr.. Rochucl:,

? , 0

i n h i s ev idence , s a j d t h 3 t hc h:id :iet::~ t!le ? l a i r ~ t : . , ~ on

s e v e r a l occzs lons b~ 'c>%~e?n 2 A p r i l 1975 arid 6 Apr i l 1978

and t h a t ss a t t h i s l a t t e r ?.ate t h e p l n l n t l f f 11ld about

30% t o 40% of t h e n o r r z l r,i:,,;c o f KCVC: i-n':s rirld Lnat h ~ . s

c o n ~ p l a i n t o f I1s t i f f r . css" I n t l lc a n k l e jolr-.t wa:, r c a s o n a t l c

i n t h e c i r c u i s t a n c c s . Ke a l s o conslde: ed t h a t the d c ~ r e e

of restriction of ~ , o v e z e n t !.auld be p(.:-r::lnent b u t t h a t ,

a p a r t from stiffness, t h i s !:ould n o t l c a d t o p r o b l c ~ i ~ s i n

the f u t u r e . D r . I:e:lg s a l d t h a t t h e p l ~ l r ~ t l f f could

develop a r t h r i t i s i n t h e a!llil? I n h15 l z t c f i f t i e s and t h a t

t h i s cou ld come e a r l ~ e r i f t h e sppcl l .nnl \ . z s ir,volvcd i x

heavy	l a b o u r .
I n r e l a t l o n t o t h e l c i t 1:ncc t h e trl:il judgc found

t h r t as a r e s u l t o f t h e accicix?t, 3" as a n age i*~- ; a t l on

produced by t h e accident, t h e p l a i n t , i f f s u f f c r c d a

c o n d i t l c n 1tl?oT,:n 2s chor.drcr?.~.;1~xi ~ ) a t e l l a e f o r :.i:ici~ k.c

was given c o r t i s o n e i n j e c r l o - s . D r . RC cbuclc i n evi?er:ce

s a i d h e thought t h c a p p e l l z n t tiould _ut30bni;ly' deve lo r

a ~ ~ t h r i t l s of + h z t ccs.pal-tme:~t of t1.e !:E;.-. j o i n t ultj.m,.itcly

r e q u i r m z rc,noval of t h e lcn-e c22 b ~ t h i s t t ~ o ~ ~ l d , t i n

e f f e c t , f r c e 111m o f a r t h r ~ t l c pain Lut t:auld lea-;? some

\~fcakncss and s t l f f n c s z l w t !I? c!id n o t t!linli any. s i = i f l c n n t

p a i n I V O U ~ ~ remaln.

- 5 -

I n r e l a t i o n t o t h e back t h e t r l a l judjic f o ~ n d t h a t t h e

a p p e l l a n t had a conr l l t lon of s p o n ~ l y l o l l : - . t : 1 ~ ~ 1 . s whlch may have

been of long s t a n d l n g , b u t whlch was aggravated by t h e i n j u r y .

That c o n d i t l o n , h e found, would be a ~ g r a v a t e d by hard work and

it could account f o r t h e p a l n s a l d t o have been f e l t by t h e

a p p e l l a n t i n h l s back. D r . Keng eq)la;ned t h a t i n t h l s c o n d i t l o n

of s p o n d y l o l i s t h e s l s t h e r e was separation of t h e v e r z e b r a l body

of t h e n e u r a l a r c h and t h a t people s u f f e r l n c from t h l s condition

would n o t be f i t f o r heavy l a b c u r l n g work. D r . Roebuck s a i d

i n gene ra l t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i n Apr l l 19'78 was f l t f o r most

k inds of work o t h e r t han heavy labouring.

I n dec ld ing whether t o a l low t h l s aypeal t h e Court i s n o t

e n t l t l e d merely t o s u t s t l t u t e i t s own view b ~ i t must t e w n l n e

t h e t o t a l sum awarded f o r gene ra l damages and dec lde whether ,

t c u s e t h e words of Alckln J . (w l th whose reasons f o r judgment

Barwlck C . J . and Stephen J. ag reed ) i n Gsmser v . Thc Nominal

Defendant (1977) 51 A.L. J . R . 315 a t pp. 371-322 t h a t award

f o r gene ra l damages is "cu t o f a l l reaso11" o r "wholly d l s p r o p o r t l o n a t e

t o t h e c ~ r c u m s t a n c e s " . Gibbs J . a t p . ?lr / c l t e d a passage from

Davies v. Powell Duffryn Associa ted C o l l l e r l e s Ltd. b 9 4 a A . C .

601 a t pp. 616-617 whlch w a s c l t e d wi th approval by Dlxon C . J.

and K l t t o J. I n M l l l e r v . J e r i l n g s (1954) 92 C.L:R. 190 a t

pp.195-195. The passage Included t h e following:

"It 1s d l f f l c u l t t o l a y dx.m any precise

r u l e which w l l l cover a l l c a s e s . b u t e

good gene ra l gulde is glven by k r e e r L . . J .

I n F l l n t v . Love l l , 0 9 3 3 l K.B.

a t -360. I n e f f e c t t h e c o u r t , be fo re

lt i n t e r f e r e s wl th an award o f damages,

should be s a t l s f l e d t h a t t h e judge

has ac t ed on a wrong principle c f

law, o r has mlsapprehendea t h e f a c t s ,

o r has f o r t h e s e o r o t h e r reasons made

a wholly erroneous e s t l c a t c of t h e

damay;? sui.'.'errci. I t . is nnt cnouryh

t h z t i,!l~;'; l!, 2 1)t.l L: KC(, 0 3 ' ~0T)1111@!1

o r p r e i e r e ~ c e . Th? s c , i ~ i . ,>u::t go

do!m l leav l ly .:r,:lr,: t t : l c f,!l;~?c

tit tac1:cd i f tile . ppcl l ?. tc. c c ~ u r t LS

t o in te l - f e r e , :.!I? ;!lap 211 -i.l;c: grnul:J

o f excess o r 111rjuf L ' I C ~ L ' I I C Y . I f

We cc:l~e no'& t o ex:>l:linc t h e as:,esr.::.,cr,t o f d::ilagcs r;h;ch

w a s mxie. D c l l i n g f l ~ s t \;it11 l t c : ~ 2 it seems difficult

?l . .-

t o d e c i d e ,<,hether :the el:ar(l o f I 1C,26!1 v x s t o cover l o s s

o f wages f r a , , ~ t h e date of the a c c l d c r L t to Deccr:bt r 1976 o r

i s t h e e.-..;ct f l z . ~ r e wlllch i s a l - s l - ~ e d a t os t h e np-c-ed

amount t h e a p p e l l a n t v.nuld hsvc ~..>:-:ii-d i f he had v:orlrcd

as a b u i l d e r ' s l a b o u r e r f o r t h e p ~ = l o d from tlie a c c l d e n t

t o 1 4 December 1976. It secxs t l ~ t rLc f l&ure of $16,25/t

i s i n r e s p e c t o f t h e perzod c ~ d c d on I'J December 1976.

The	f indln,;	nlede	under	xhe	: ' ~ r : ~ v ~ > - . ~	z 'Jr,.fi-~?nca?io~i	C-dl!~,o.nce
---------

t h a t t o t a l l n c s p a c i t y c ~ i s t c d up t o 14 Geccnber 1976 nay

e x p l a i n t h e 1-cfer;.nce t o lfD(xct.:n';lcr 197611 b u t ho:;cver one

i n t e r p r e t s i t em 2 any l o s s o f earnzng c ~ p a c i t y m r c l a t l c n

t o t h e p e r i o d e l t h c r from Dccc:rSer 1976 o r from F e b r u ~ r j r

1977 t o t h e d a t e o f judg:,:ent i n iidy 1979 can o n i y f l n i

a p l a c e , i f a t a l l , i n i t e n 3 w!?crc t h e " l o s s o f earning

c a p a c i t y n !:as e s t l ~ a t c ? a t ?12,OC3. It was agreed t h a t ,

i f t h e p l a i n t ] . f r hcd n 0 t. b C e n injlx-ecl a n d ha,:

been e a r n j r ? ~ a n e t v!acc o f $175 p c r \;*?e;i a t the d a t e o f

t h e t r l a l , 22J a t '14 Dec?:ih?r 1975 the c :or respond~ng

f i g u r e was agreed t o be :,165. A r x n r e c e i v i n g $165

a week and c o r k i n e f o r n y c z r v:ould r e c a v c i n excess o f

$8,500. The l ~ a r n c d t r i a l . .iuc',;:c. d-(1 ncl t indlc : , tc i n any

way how h e r e a c ~ i e d t h e r ' l ca rc o i ;:12,(>',,3 f o r tilt. l o s s o f

e a r n m g c a p c l t p i,ut bcal- L!],- In : r l l .J t!:<l L I n nl:, jutll:l?ent

i n Nay 1970 th? t r i a l j u d ~ c s c l d tl,-..t t l l ? p l a l r l t i f f l r ,

i n j u r i e s ". . .do 2nd w i l l disc!uallfy 1.m 11-cm t h e work o f a

b u i l d e r ' s l a l x u r ~ : ~ . o r o t i i c r heavy Inbo~l:-i~?:;" and t h e

f i n d l n g o f t h e :I'orkers Con::~c~~:r,ntlcn Tr.ibunnl t h a t - iota1

incapacity e::lstcd on 1 4 Eccen?bcr 1?'16 it i s c l l f i ~ c u l k . t o

s e e how t h e f i l w r e f o r t l ?? l o s s o f eEri?lnk: c32::clty fro;n

e i t h e r C-.cember l976 o r February 1977 could L e prope!,ly

a s s e s s c d a t $12,C03.

There !:&S no e v l d m c e be fo r< , t h e Court o f t h e

a v a l l n b i l i t y o f t h e t y p e 3f ,<orl: : .I~lch thc. ; ) l a ln t l l ' f

could 20, o r i n i c c d o f t h e m g e , '..hicil t l ,e p l a l n t ~ f i rnq;ht

have expected Lo r ece ly ; e icr suck a:rk 2 - t the t lme r,f t h e

t r i a l . Vnsr^tls:'actor)- as this 1s +i;e tr.121 ju-I{;e s - i ~ l l has

t o do t h e L e s t he can !-l;!: t h e r :~a t~ , r i a i va1;able. (Fee

g e n e r a l l y - PJ::t--?:>:l Zrn- t:-:,~~.r.+-s " t ; ~ . I . t r l . v . -- G j 1.1 e s (1975)

49 A.L.J.R. 3 4 0 ) .

The lczrn-?d t r l a l judge said t h a t he xias n o t

s a t l s f l c d tcz t T!?? p l a l n t ~ f f '12d !(,-:CL(. s ~ ~ c e r c 2nd reasor ,zble

e f f o r t s t o obi-alri e:~lo::.~r..nt ;~ ! l t h~ r l 1:ls ca ; ah l l i t y o r t o

a t t e i ~ p t t o rc -h : lb l l~ t? ' i e n]:~.:z.:lf l:, L~I?:: !l>?, o : , ~ cacnci t ; -

and h e a l s o :.?i,> 4.?i~at !i? di2 " rv t r.c;;,:rt! b:,c. t r ; ta l p c r l c d

o f f so!-;: as a , r . l ~ d c tL, ~,-.l-nlrls ~31~-;clt::.Il

Doing t l : ~ kcs-. we :.:.l !:;h the cv.l.r:, l:cc zrlr! i>::arir~r:

i n r1111d Ln p:<:'; r * i~ l . : r :

- P -

1 . t h e 2ge of t h e ~ p p c l l c n t ,

2.	i h c l a c k	o f	e d u c a t i c n a l	q u n l ~ f i c n t l c : ~ ~	of	z t e
a p p e l l a n t ,

3. t h a t t h e o n l y v:o~.l.. l;he a p p c l l a n : ~ had cvcr d i f l c

had been l s b s u r i n g work,

4. t h e n a t u r e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s lnjL:.r1~s,

5 . t h e f u t ~ r o l l k e l y condi t lo r . of t h e .~ppell.;lnt

a s a r e z u l t o f Ele i n j u r l c s , ar:d tl;cr he k.as

l o s t e l t i r e l y and pcrxancntl;: h z s c, p a c ~ t - , ~ t o

perform heavy l a b 3 u r l n g work,

6. t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w 2 s m1i l :c ly XG be ablr . t o

compete on equa l t e r : ~ s agz lnr , t men t!!lo d l d ~ o t

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

(See g r r ~ e r a l l y v . > . 1 1 ~ 9 ~ i 3 (i3'iG) 50 i1.L.J.R. E L : 3 ) ,

7. t h a t a p 3 r t from tl:e accif icnt t : ~ e cipp-2!l.cnt r:t;ht

reasona'2ly ha.\.,- c;+i.c t c ? t o perfa:-a h w v y 1: l tour l l~g

work f o r & , ~ ~ t k ~ r 23 y t s r s

and t e k i n g i a t o c~ccount ~h. - v l c i s : ; ~ t:lc:, cf l i f e we a r e of t h e

op in lon t h 2 t t h ? m o u n t G : $12,003 1s !.;holly d i s ~ ; ~ o ; ~ r t l o n e t z

t o t h e c i r c c n i r t ~ . ~ ~ c c s and c o n s i d e r t!:2!: 2 I ' i ~ p r e ~f $30,C03

is a p p r o p r i a t e . 7szz;rlnin:; 'i!lls f i p r q s I n t h e li:!lt o f U/J

t a b l e s f o r , s a y 25 year:;, one f i n d s t h a t t h l s \:o\:ld b e t h e

" , F

p ~ . e s c n i v a l u e of kn eczl?s;llc ?-c:;s c f c71:sut : ; 'J p e r ~ e c ! ~ .

k i3c:fcr t o tl-?sc t t b l e c a s no I : ~ L ' C th:11 I I C C ~ V ~ ~ ' : ,C~[ :~ -CIUE~

ma tc--ir:l anr. a r e :; , lndful i'?z-L the. l re ry :Lil;..ited C ~ o ~ i t o f

e ~ l d i i l ~ e I n t h ~ s caze r , , - l r - c ... I.., ;L e:.:t;-c,in!.y c l~fZ: r ,u l t tc

atte,-.:!i c:ny p r i ' c l r c anzly,;l:; of t!?? ; > @ ~ l t i c . l ~ . .

The o n l y ot!icr I tc.:! of p n e r c i l d~,:n..r;es i r ~ c l ~ d c d L:I

t h e t o t a l v e r d l c t is the f l g u r u o f i 7 , 0 8 ~ 3 f c r ;;am,

s u f f e r l n g and l o s s o f n ~ e n l l ~ c n . : , c co rL ln~ r o t h c

a p p e l l n n t ' s evicicrcc, z f t z t h e nccldcl l t hlk, ]PI: was i n

p l a s t e r f o r sonlc l:-o months and hc s t ! I Icrcd cu~ l s l c i e r ab i c

p a i n . IIe t r i e d t o i.sr:: 1~ 1:ovcriber ' i ' 3 ' i ' l l ?.ut 11c s a i d

he could n o t co:ltlr;uc L?r,,?usc of pr, -:I c ~ d , 111 i k y 1:)';'5, he

went t o P. lb~~i-y, !r!?,?rc 111s p(lr,ml;s 11; .~d, and 211 l:lr.c!l

1976 wss adfiiitt& t a 'no:;pit,tl v-hel-c h i s l e g iios il; t r s c t i o n

f o r two or- t h r e e we5ts . ?I - ior t o t h c a c c l d c n t t n e a p p e l l a n t

s a i d t h a t h l s nl?ln i~c'c.bl?s v e r c s\!;nl-iin~, runping 2nd

a t h l e x l c s and	t h a t he h2d	r!:&,~gcd i n zoiile i:ci&!lt	lifting
aild j u d ~ .

S incewe 12-:vc rc?c?.c? - ccn? lu - i o : ~ t h a t ?hi3 a:loun-t

awarded f o r l o s s o f i a~~l i . : : C r k i , - ( 1'4 !!:.S iriode.;u:-..cc it i s

a p p r a p r i s t e t o ci:aa,ne '.: i r,.>unt 2. .21*dd Tor pe?.r,, s u f f e r i n g

and l o s s c f a?!eni l l c s ,: :L!. cl,!cclj- t h m would

other i : l se be t h e cn-e. We a r e i i t i ~ t e : z ~ l r . ? i c l : t h a t t h e a ~ o u n t

of 59,OC'O was n o t t c c ':?--:;I. IT r,.!,-i renr-!nbcrcd t h z t

up t o t h e d a t e 31 '1,- tr.!71 ihe ' I : ~ . ~ - ! ~ F ~ L ha.; ;uffe~.t;c!

consldera:>-Le p.jl.2 ?...l1 z I-?-'UP L. L:.'. i n the a c ' c i v l t l e ~ i n t ~ h l c h

tr: couid cllgage. 'I'!ILS c ? c-?.:.l.:r 2 r , ~ b s LL?n+,l;4l e l f e c r

on h i s enjrJ;.;r.:nr o f t?.,: ?.,-:r>~l?tl"~ P* LIc. 'Innere 1s

evi<:ycc t!?a~ 5,. ,.; 11 : ,;:I;, 7. - c .,l.? v' I l 1 tl.::i C !sc~llll",~rt, some measure

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

r ea sonzb lc t o cor,c:.:'r: ;:i.lt, ~ > c , ; ~ u c : G C t k e ? l . n l t ? t l o n l n

t h e a c t i v i ',leas c?:, , i-G li .r., I I J :-i F ; , b r t~~* , i . t y q en,!cy t '?c

meni t l c : ; of 11:',2 I?,?: t :cn :.I ' ,~-II ri::A'~ily rt.,*11:;~il ~ Z C ~ U S C

I U

. -

o f t h e a c c ~ d e n t . Tn a l l t h c CII'CLI.;::~ iilCC:: w e i , . . r ~ h ~ L e ~

a f i g u r e of I>?,C,S3 was t 0 3 lo!, zr,c L! c I. ,?-I ~ ! ; o ~ r , t cl

Q614,C30 i s ajly~i-o;x-lat? for. o:.t:ri, s~:Ll'c L it , .; ~ n d l o s s o f

ameni t~c-S . Thc c - < c a l l f i l -u re f o r r t ; : l ~ r a l c ! a r , y ~ s , i.:h~c'll

L

would r e s u l t f r o 3 ?;orkl,l;; ur~on tli;. 1.2-1s t!!::~ z11 a p p : - o ~ ~ r l z t e

amount f o r t h ? ~ C L S o f cr!i-nln& c:>:.c:r~t:. IS '1132,590 21?d

an z p p r o p r i a t e z,:owl-'; f o r pain, s ~ I f c , _ . l r : g ,'.i:c! i o s s cl' t h e

a m e n i t i e s o f l l f e I: r14,CC;O ~!culci b c :'LI),C,CO. Cn t:his

basis t h e t o t a l a::3ra f o r dL~1.-ages % . c a l cl be :':G1 ,739..

F i n a l l y , t r e a t ~ n g th;s f ~ p r e a s a s ~ n g l e slx! of

money, an2 S e a r l ~ : ; i n mind t h e nccd t o kwcrd a p l n s t any

flovcrl ,?npingll , WE .re a n s i d e r t h 2 t t h e f i m r e o f ,739.13

r e p r e s e n t s a f n i ? i:nd r ea sonab le c o n p ~ n r n t l o n f o r t h e

-

i n j u r i e s received.

It i s asp-c;) l , late t o aLc! t k c t t h l s view does n o t

d i s r e g a r d t h e ficd;:lg o f -,h2 l i ~ w r . c C t r i a l J L ! ~ ~ F t h a t h e

was not s a t l s l l c d ?!:at t i i c ?..;;p?llsn: had r;aci.e sil:r.er-e axd

r e a s ~ n a b l e c f f c r t s t o o b ~ z l n c:~plojrn~r:~t ~ i t h i n h i s

c a p a c i t y , o r t3 re!!;kiiltate hlr :scl l ' v:it!lin 111s aim

capacity, b u t he c:? n o t re:;?.rl t h 3 t : .S a f ?niir:; t:.at

f u r t i l s r ef Lot-:.; by i h ~ -]:p-llctll~ : : l , lc l I x v a resul:c?i :c

h i i.1 c lb ta lning :.~ltzbl~- c.:::?.s;..nent :i31- th;t slncc..r 2 ar,::

re3:biwS:~ ~f T o r t s i n i.ltu:-e l j y tile !)lnlc?tl:f ~ ; ~ u i d

ellai>le ;11,:1 L 2 ,LP, - 71 2 ~ ! 1 < 2 ~ , j e c71;>:07,nt-. ;?.

Accordingly t h e appea l i s al lowed w i t h c o s t s and it is

ordered t h a t t h e respondent pay t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c o s t s of t h e

appea l and t h a t t h e o r d e r o f t h e Supreme Court of t h e A u s t r a l i a n

Capital Territory be varied by the substltation of the sun of

$61,739.19 for the sum of $38,739.19.