Sutherland Shire Council v Major

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:

Sutherland Shire Council v Major [2015] NSWCA 243

Hearing dates:

16 July 2015

Date of orders:

20 August 2015

Decision date:

20 August 2015

Before:

McColl JA at [1];
Emmett JA at [2];
Sackville JA at [68]

Decision:

1   Appeal be allowed.

 

2   Orders entered by the District Court on 15 July 2014, except as to costs, be set aside, and in lieu thereof, there be verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $136,419.

 

3   Orders for costs made by the District Court stand.

 

4   The respondent pay 75% of the appellant’s costs of the appeal.

5 If otherwise entitled, the respondent have a certificate under the Suitors’ Fund Act 1951 (NSW).

Catchwords:

DAMAGES – personal injury – non-economic loss – whether the primary judge made a wholly erroneous estimate of the damages suffered – use of earlier decisions of courts for the purpose of establishing an appropriate award – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 17A

 

DAMAGES – personal injury – past and future economic loss – use of buffer – whether the primary judge made a wholly erroneous estimate of the damages suffered

  DAMAGES – personal injury – paid domestic assistance – whether the evidence established the likelihood of a future need for domestic assistance

Legislation Cited:

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3, 13, 16, 17A

Cases Cited:

Allard v Jones Lang LaSalle (Vic) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 325
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13; 83 NSWLR 302
Cockburn v The Trust Company Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWDC 119
Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528
Husher v Husher [1999] HCA 47; 197 CLR 138
Jackson v Mazzafero [2012] NSWCA 170
Khan v Polyzois [2006] NSWCA 59
Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; 169 CLR 638
Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353
Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99
Precision Plastics Pty Ltd v Demir [1975] HCA 27; 132 CLR 362
State of New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133; 54 NSWLR 536

Category:

Principal judgment

Parties:

Sutherland Shire Council (Appellant)
Bradley Major (Respondent)

Representation:

Counsel:
R Sheldon SC with N Hogan (Appellant)
R Cavanagh SC with B Tzatzagos (Respondent)

  Solicitors:
Mills Oakley Lawyers (Appellant)
Brydens Compensation Lawyers (Respondent)

File Number(s):

2014/230413

Publication restriction:

Nil

 Decision under appeal 

Court or tribunal:

District Court of New South Wales

Date of Decision:

9 July 2014

Before:

Cogswell DCJ

File Number(s):

2013/110928

Judgment

1. McCOLL JA: I agree with Emmett JA’s reasons, save in respect to future economic loss. In that respect I agree with Sackville AJA.

2. EMMETT JA: This appeal concerns the assessment of damages for personal injury suffered by the respondent, Mr Bradley Major, when, on 18 January 2012, a railing on which he was sitting gave way, causing him to land heavily on his buttocks and then roll down an embankment. The appellant, Sutherland Shire Council (the Council