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Sullivan v Gordon

Sullivan v Gordon

Case [1999] NSWCA 338 22 September 1999

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Reported Decision: 47 NSWLR 319
(1999) Aust Torts Reports 81-524

New South Wales

Court of Appeal

CITATION: Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338

FILE NUMBER(S): CA 40456/96

HEARING DATE(S): 18/05/98
10/06/99
Considered on the papers

JUDGMENT DATE:
22 September 1999

PARTIES :

Paula Hinemoa Sullivan
Anthony Lance Gordon

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Mason P at 2; Powell JA at 16; Beazley JA at 17; Stein JA at 92

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION: Supreme Court - Common Law Division

LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 500178/90

LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER: Newman J

COUNSEL: Appellant: J S CoombsQC/ P J Doherty
Respondent: D Nock SC/ L Babb (18/05/98)/ D Banwell (10/06/99)

SOLICITORS: Appellant: Messinger & Messinger
Respondent: Turner Freeman

CATCHWORDS: Motor vehicle accident; damages; Griffith v Kerkemeyer damages; Burnicle v Cutelli; loss of capacity; damages for care; inability to care for children; impairment of ability to lead a normal life; reduction of damages for vicissitudes; Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) ss 72(2), 79, 80

ACTS CITED: Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW)
Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

CASES CITED:
Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161
Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26
Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454
Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340
Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245
Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327
Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Planas [1984] 2 NSWLR 671
Haines v Higgins (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 16 December 1988)
Samrout v Alameddine (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Grove J, 24 April 1996)
Kealy v Fairfield Hospital (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Dunford J, 18 April 1997)
Sturch v Willmott [1997] 2 Qd R310
Daly v General Steam Navigation Co Ltd (The "Dragon") [1981] 1 WLR 120
Cummings v Canberra Theatre Trust (1979) 25 ACTR 33
Hodges v Frost (1984) 53 ALR 373
Waters v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224
Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321
Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105
Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1
Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642
Johson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351
McKew v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All ER 1621
Steamship Baron Vernon v Steamship Metagama [1928] SC (HL) 21
March v E&MH Stramare (1991) 71 CLR 506
Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1
Chappell v Hart (1998) 156 CLR 517
Kavanagh v Akhtar (1988) 45 NSWLR 588
Re Jane (1988) 85 CLR 409
Matthews v Dean [1990] Aust Torts Rep 81-037
Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427
Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528
NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509
Moran v McMahon [1985] 3 NSWLR 700
Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation (1995) 184 CR 485
Hobell v Leonard (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 29 May 1990)
Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Pelosi (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 2 February 1996)
Nestle Australia…

Grounds of appeal

[14] The appellant contends that the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent had discharged the onus of establishing the matters required under the relevant provision.

[15] It was submitted that his Honour failed to give adequate weight to the evidence of the second witness, and that the findings of fact were not reasonably open on the material before the Court.

[16] The respondent, for its part, submits that no error is disclosed, and that the conclusions reached were well within the range of outcomes available to the primary judge.

Consideration

[17] It is convenient to deal first with the question of construction, as the resolution of that issue informs the remaining grounds advanced by the appellant.

[18] For the reasons that follow, we are of the view that the appeal should be allowed in part and the matter remitted for further determination.

Continue reading Sullivan v Gordon

Details

AGLC: Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338
Case: [1999] NSWCA 338
Decision Date: 22 September 1999

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Sullivan, the appellant, brought proceedings against Gordon, the respondent, for damages arising from a motor vehicle accident. The primary dispute concerned the assessment of damages, specifically relating to the appellant's loss of capacity and the provision of gratuitous care for her children, as well as the general impairment of her ability to lead a normal life. The matter was heard in the Court of Appeal of New South Wales.

The central legal issues before the court were whether the trial judge had erred in assessing damages for the appellant's loss of capacity, particularly in relation to her inability to care for her children, and whether the damages awarded for the impairment of her ability to lead a normal life were appropriate. The court was also required to consider the application of the vicissitudes principle in reducing the awarded damages, in light of the provisions of the *Motor Accidents Act 1988* (NSW), specifically sections 72(2), 79, and 80.

The Court of Appeal, in allowing the appeal, found that the trial judge had made errors in the assessment of damages. The court applied principles established in cases such as *Griffith v Kerkemeyer* and *Burnicle v Cutelli* concerning the assessment of damages for gratuitous care and loss of capacity. The court determined that the damages awarded for the appellant's loss of capacity, including her inability to care for her children and the impairment of her ability to lead a normal life, were not correctly calculated and that the reduction for vicissitudes was also inappropriate.

Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the orders of the trial court were set aside.

Orders

Orders of the court

Appeal Allowed

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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Actions

Citations

Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338

Most Recent Citation

Abel v Amaca Pty Ltd [2010] SADC 98

Cases Citing This Decision

APC v Mr B (No. 3) [2025] NSWSC 142
Citation 1 (Para 73)

…; [1996] HCA 37. This extended to the care she would otherwise have provided to other members of her family: Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338.”: December judgment at [337].…
APC v Mr B (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 1608
Citation 2 (Para 337)

…4; [1996] HCA 37. This extends to the care she would otherwise have provided to other members of her family: Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338.…
Greenall v Amaca Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 137
Citation 3

…v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34, cited Tanks v WorkCover Qld [2001] QCA 103, cited Thiess v Collector of Customs (2014) 250 CLR 664; [2014] HCA 12, cited Watkin v GRM International Pty Ltd [2007] 1 Qd R 389; [2006] QCA 382, considered Wilkinson v BP Australia Pty L…
Pietrobelli v Jewell Family Nominees Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 660
Citation 4

…compensated under the common law as a head of special damages in accordance with the decision of this Court in Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338. That decision and all decisions supporting it as a principle of Australian common law were overruled in CSR Limited v Eddy at [68] (Gleeson CJ, Gumm…
Piatti v ACN 000 246 542 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 168
Citation 5 (Para 54)

…compensated under the common law as a head of special damages in accordance with the decision of this Court in Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338. That decision and all decisions supporting it as a principle of Australian common law were overruled in CSR Limited v Eddy at [68] (Gleeson CJ, Gumm…
Gersbach v Gersbach [2018] NSWSC 1685
Citation 6 (Para 482)

…or in s 15 represent a modified form of the damages which were said to be allowable at common law by the NSW Court of Appeal in Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319, which was overruled by the High Court in CSR Ltd v Eddy [2005] HCA 64; (2005) 226 CLR 1. Section 18(1)(c) precludes an award of int…
Amaca Pty Ltd v Raines [2018] NSWCA 216
Citation 7 (Para 135)

…e unavailable as a separate category. The category of damages was that which had been allowed in this Court in Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338.…
Dionisatos (for the Estate of the late George Dionysatos) v Acrow Formwork & Scaffolding Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 281
Citation 8 (Para 3)

…sion in turn was qualified by legislation which introduced s 15B of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW). [5] 3. Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338. 4. CSR Ltd v Eddy (2005) 226 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 64. 5. Civil Liability Amendment Act 2006 (NSW), Sch 1 [11].…
Amaca Pty Ltd v Phillips [2014] NSWCA 249
Citation 9 (Para 1)

…the legislation following the decision in CSR Ltd v Eddy [2005] HCA 64; (2005) 226 CLR 1, in which the High Court held (overruling Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319) that a person who, by reason of personal injury, is unable to provide gratuitous personal or domestic services for another cann…
Neville v Lam (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 607
Citation 10

…Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 - Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; 205 CLR 434 - Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 - Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; 47 NSWLR 319 - Tomasetti v Brailey [2012] NSWCA 399 - Wallace v Kam [2012] NSWCA 82; Aust Torts Reports 82 - Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 87 ALJR 64…
Agricultural Land Management Ltd v Jackson (No 2) [2014] WASC 102
Citation 11

…state Ltd [2009] NZSC 15; [2009] 2 NZLR 384 Streeter v Western Areas Exploration Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] WASCA 17; (2012) 278 ALR 291 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 Tabet v Gett [2010] HCA 12; (2010) 240 CLR 537 Tableau Holdings Pty Ltd v Joyce [1999] WASCA 49 Target Holdings Ltd v Redferns […
Waller v James [2013] NSWSC 497
Citation 12 (Para 1)

…In Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338, (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 the New South Wales Court of Appeal accepted Griffiths v Kerkemeyer damages could extend to persons who were not the recipients but were the providers of gratuitous care.…
Taylor v Owners - Strata Plan No 11564 [2013] NSWCA 55
Citation 13 (Para 1)

…rinciple in Griffiths v Kerkemeyer [1977] HCA 45; 139 CLR 161: see Jelfs at [21] and [24] (Mason P). A closer analogy may have been Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; 47 NSWLR 319, in which the claim of a injured plaintiff was held not to be confined to self-care, but included an amount for the lost capacity to ca…
Perez v State of New South Wales [2013] NSWDDT 1
Citation 14 (Para 1)

…Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338 was advanced upon the basis that another compensable need of the plaintiff created by the defendant's tort was the plaintiff's need to provide alternative care for another person in need of that care because of the destruction of the plaintiff's capacity to provide it.…
State of New South Wales v Williamson [2011] NSWCA 183
Citation 15 (Para 1)

…ect of CSR v Eddy by reinstating a head of damages akin to, but not in all respects identical to, that which had been recognised in Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319.…
Abel v Amaca Pty Ltd [2010] SADC 98
Citation 16 (Para 46)

…sequent cases have applied that principle toward the care of persons for whom the plaintiff had a legal obligation to care. [92] (1999) 47 NSWLR 319, [1999] NSWCA 338.…
Amaca Pty Ltd v Novek [2009] NSWCA 50
Citation 17

…rt Pty Ltd v Condor Commercial Insulation Pty Ltd (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 379 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 Trustee for the Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust v Becker (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 194 Young Shire Council v Cummins (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 69 TEXTS CITED: Pearce and Geddes, Statutory Interp…
Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67
Citation 18

…(1995) (4) BCLR 401 at 402; [1995] (2) SA 642 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 Tillman v Attorney General for the State of New South Wales [2007] NSWCA 327 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v Brown [2003] HCA 54; (2003) 77 ALJR 1797 Walker Corporatio…
Guiney v Australand Holdings Ltd; Castlehaven Sales No 2 (t/as Castlehaven Realtors v Guiney [2008] NSWCA 44
Citation 19

…WLR 521; Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1962) 110 CLR 74; Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 16; (2004) 216 CLR 515. PARTIES: In CA 40483/06 - Lorraine Guiney…
Shellharbour City Council v Rigby [2006] NSWCA 308
Citation 20

…54 Southern Portland Cement Limited v Cooper [1974] AC 623 Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317; [2002] HCA 35 Thompson v Bankstown Corporation (1953) 87 CLR 619 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 80 AL…
Latz v Hansen Family Investments [2005] NSWDDT 22
Citation 21

…meyer [1977] 139 CLR 161; Ewins v BHP Ltd v Wallaby Grip Ltd [ 2005] SASC 95; Kennedy v Amaca Pty Ltd [2004] 1 DDCR 72 [16] - [38]; Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338 DATES OF HEARING: 3rd and 19th May 2005 EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE: 05/19/2005 LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES: MJ Joseph SC instructed Alex Stuart & Associates…
Franklins Ltd v Burns; Burns v Franklins Ltd [2005] NSWCA 54
Citation 22

…s & Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Lolomanaia [2001] NSWCA 268; (2001) 34 MVR 249 Southgate v Waterford (1990) 20 NSWLR 427 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1995] HCA 53; (1995) 184 CLR 485 PARTIES: Franklins Limited (Appellant/Respondent)…
Chung v Anderson [2004] NSWCA 321
Citation 23

…oulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Limited (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 State of New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133; (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 Vasailes v Robertson [2002] NSWCA 177 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491 Whisprun Pty Limited v Dixon [2003] HCA 48; (20…
Mitchell v Mitchell [2004] WADC 184
Citation 24

…982] 2 NSWLR 26 Easther v Amaca Pty Ltd [2001] WASC 328 Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Newman v Nugent (1992) 12 WAR 119 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338 Thomas v Kula [2001] WASCA 362 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Weinert v Schmidt [2002] SASC 340 Allan v Fletcher [2001] SASC 167 Villasevil v…
Misiani v Welshpool Engineering Pty Ltd [2003] WASC 263
Citation 25

…ted; NSWDDT 20 December 2000 St George Club Ltd v Hines (1961) 35 ALJR 106 Sturch v Willmott [1997] 2 Qd R 310 Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319; [1999] NSWCA 338 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Sydney County Council v Furner (1991) 7 NSWCCR 210 Wallaby Grip Ltd v Peirce [2000] NSWCA 299 Wr…
Andrews v Traynor and Suncorp Metway Insurance Ltd [2003] QSC 292
Citation 26 (Para 1)

…d capacity to contribute to domestic tasks is within the Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 principle, Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 30 MVR 29 ([1999] NSWCA 338).…
Beck v State of New South Wales [2001] NSWSC 278
Citation 27

…mmissioner v Joyce (1948-49) 77 CLR 39 Malec v J.C. Hutton Pty Limited (1990) 169 CLR 638 Roggenkamp v Bennett (1949-50) 80 CLR 292 Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1984-85) 157 CLR 424 DECISION: See para 308…

See all citing cases →

Cases Cited

Sullivan v Gordon (No 2) [1999] NSWCA 472
Citation 1

…Reported Decision : 47 NSWLR 319 (1999) Aust Torts Reports 81-524…
Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55
Citation 2

…ally responsible for an injury which, though it could be traced back to the defendant’s wrongful conduct, was the immediate result of unreasonable action on the part of the plaintiff. But in truth the decision proceeded from a conclusion that the plaintiff’s injury was the consequence of his independent and unreasona…
Kars v Kars [1996] HCA 37
Citation 3

…ardless of whether or not it is productive of financial loss ( Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 esp at 333; Kars v Kars (1996) 187 CLR 354 at 360, 370). For many women and some men, their own needs extend to care for other members of the family as naturally as they extend to the capacity to attend to their own…
Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1995] HCA 53
Citation 4

…on (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509 Moran v McMahon [1985] 3 NSWLR 700 Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation (1995) 184 CR 485 Hobell v Leonard (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 29 May 1990) Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Pelosi (unrep…
March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12
Citation 5

…damage resulted from the negligent act or omission: see Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1. Medlin demonstrates that the chain of causation is not necessarily broken by an act of a plaintiff or a third party which constitutes a more immediate cause of the loss or damage than the defendan…
Dell v Dalton [1991] NSWCA 76
Citation 6

…ar (1988) 45 NSWLR 588 Re Jane (1988) 85 CLR 409 Matthews v Dean [1990] Aust Torts Rep 81-037 Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509 Moran v McMahon [1985] 3 NSWLR 700 Wynn v NSW Insurance M…
Nguyen v Nguyen [1990] HCA 9
Citation 7

…v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Planas [1984] 2 NSWLR 671 Haines v Higgins (unreported, New S…
Johnson v Perez [1988] HCA 64
Citation 8

…Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321 Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Johson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 McKew v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All ER 1621 Steamship Baron Vernon v Steamship Metagama [1928] SC (HL) 21 March v E&MH Stramare (1991) 71 C…
Hodges v Frost [1984] FCA 99
Citation 9

…] 2 Qd R310 Daly v General Steam Navigation Co Ltd (The "Dragon") [1981] 1 WLR 120 Cummings v Canberra Theatre Trust (1979) 25 ACTR 33 Hodges v Frost (1984) 53 ALR 373 Waters v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224 Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321 Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 Ruby…
Dare v Pulham [1982] HCA 70
Citation 10

…0 ACTS CITED: Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) CASES CITED: Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Government…
Griffiths v Kerkemeyer [1977] HCA 45
Citation 11

…otor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) ss 72(2), 79, 80 ACTS CITED: Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) CASES CITED: Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v…
Sharman v Evans [1977] HCA 8
Citation 12

…household is compensable involves the law’s belated recognition of the economic value of such work (see Sharman v Evans (1977) 138 CLR 563 at 598 per Murphy J; Van Gervan at 348-9 per Gaudron J; Sturch at 321 per Davies JA; and R Graycar, Women’s Work: Who Cares? (1992) 14 Syd LR 86). 3 This decision will bring the l…
Ruby v Marsh [1975] HCA 32
Citation 13

…v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224 Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321 Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Johson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 McKew v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All ER 1621 Steamship Baron Vernon v Steamship Metagama [1928] SC (HL) 21…
Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48
Citation 14

…1995 (NSW) CASES CITED: Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Planas [1984] 2 NSWLR 671…
Blundell v Musgrave [1956] HCA 66
Citation 15

…al injuries could only be recovered when there was, or would be, a legal obligation to pay them ( Blundell v Musgrave (1956) 96 CLR 73. See Kars at 358, 365). 5 The reasoning of the Queensland Court of Appeal in Sturch recognises that there are distinctions between the “traditional” Griffiths v Kerkemeyer need of t…
NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1956] HCA 80
Citation 16

…Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509 Moran v McMahon [1985] 3 NSWLR 700 Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation (1995) 184 CR 485 Hobell v Leonard (unreported, New South Wales Court…
Willis v the Commonwealth [1946] HCA 22
Citation 17

…re Trust (1979) 25 ACTR 33 Hodges v Frost (1984) 53 ALR 373 Waters v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224 Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321 Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Johson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 McKew v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All E…
Thompson v Faraonio [1917] HCA 36
Citation 18

…ost (1984) 53 ALR 373 Waters v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224 Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321 Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Johson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 McKew v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All ER 1621 Steamship Baron Vernon v Stea…
Van Gervan v Fenton [1992] HCA 54
Citation 19

…e v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Planas [1984] 2 NSWLR 671 Haines v Higgins (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 16 December…
Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5
Citation 20

…v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All ER 1621 Steamship Baron Vernon v Steamship Metagama [1928] SC (HL) 21 March v E&MH Stramare (1991) 71 CLR 506 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Chappell v Hart (1998) 156 CLR 517 Kavanagh v Akhtar (1988) 45 NSWLR 588 Re Jane (1988) 85 CLR 409 Matthews v Dean [1990] Aust Torts Rep 81…
Kavanagh v Akhtar [1998] NSWSC 779
Citation 21

…E&MH Stramare (1991) 71 CLR 506 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Chappell v Hart (1998) 156 CLR 517 Kavanagh v Akhtar (1988) 45 NSWLR 588 Re Jane (1988) 85 CLR 409 Matthews v Dean [1990] Aust Torts Rep 81-037 Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 NS…
Mann & Ors v Flinders Medical Centre [1998] SASC 236
Citation 22

…6 In Burnicle v Cutelli the capacity which the plaintiff lost was one which she had exercised prior to the accident - that is, she already had a family for whom she cared. The same position applied in Sturch v Willmott . That is not the case here. The appellant did not have children until after the accident. Notwiths…
[1981] 1 WLR 120 [1981] 1 WLR 120
Citation 23

…Supreme Court of New South Wales, Dunford J, 18 April 1997) Sturch v Willmott [1997] 2 Qd R310 Daly v General Steam Navigation Co Ltd (The "Dragon") [1981] 1 WLR 120 Cummings v Canberra Theatre Trust (1979) 25 ACTR 33 Hodges v Frost (1984) 53 ALR 373 Waters v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224 Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR…
[1974] QB 454 [1974] QB 454
Citation 24

…s Act 1988 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) CASES CITED: Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Government Insurance Office of New South…

Legislation Cited

Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) 72(2), 79, 80
4 mentions
Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) 144
2 mentions
Mental Health Act 1990 (NSW)
1 mention

CITATION:	Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338
FILE NUMBER(S):	CA 40456/96
HEARING DATE(S):	18/05/98 10/06/99 Considered on the papers
JUDGMENT DATE:	22 September 1999
PARTIES :	Paula Hinemoa Sullivan Anthony Lance Gordon
JUDGMENT OF:	Spigelman CJ at 1; Mason P at 2; Powell JA at 16; Beazley JA at 17; Stein JA at 92

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION:	Supreme Court - Common Law Division
LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) :	500178/90
LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER:	Newman J

COUNSEL:	Appellant: J S CoombsQC/ P J Doherty Respondent: D Nock SC/ L Babb (18/05/98)/ D Banwell (10/06/99)
SOLICITORS:	Appellant: Messinger & Messinger Respondent: Turner Freeman
CATCHWORDS:	Motor vehicle accident; damages; Griffith v Kerkemeyer damages; Burnicle v Cutelli; loss of capacity; damages for care; inability to care for children; impairment of ability to lead a normal life; reduction of damages for vicissitudes; Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) ss 72(2), 79, 80
ACTS CITED:	Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)
CASES CITED:	Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Burnicle v Cutelli [1982] 2 NSWLR 26 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Nguyen v Nguyen (1990) 169 CLR 245 Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Planas [1984] 2 NSWLR 671 Haines v Higgins (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 16 December 1988) Samrout v Alameddine (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Grove J, 24 April 1996) Kealy v Fairfield Hospital (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Dunford J, 18 April 1997) Sturch v Willmott [1997] 2 Qd R310 Daly v General Steam Navigation Co Ltd (The "Dragon") [1981] 1 WLR 120 Cummings v Canberra Theatre Trust (1979) 25 ACTR 33 Hodges v Frost (1984) 53 ALR 373 Waters v Mussig [1986] 1 Qd R 224 Kite v Malycha (1988) 71 SASR 321 Willis v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Johson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 McKew v Holland Hannen & Cubitts [1969] 3 All ER 1621 Steamship Baron Vernon v Steamship Metagama [1928] SC (HL) 21 March v E&MH Stramare (1991) 71 CLR 506 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Chappell v Hart (1998) 156 CLR 517 Kavanagh v Akhtar (1988) 45 NSWLR 588 Re Jane (1988) 85 CLR 409 Matthews v Dean [1990] Aust Torts Rep 81-037 Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509 Moran v McMahon [1985] 3 NSWLR 700 Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation (1995) 184 CR 485 Hobell v Leonard (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 29 May 1990) Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Pelosi (unreported, New South Wales Court of Appeal, 2 February 1996) Nestle Australia…