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IN THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA
SINODATR,
Vv.
SULEIVAN
pho REASONS FOR JUDSMENT
a
Oral
Sydney
Judgment delivered at.
Tuesday 18th November 1969
COUNT AEmALIE
SINCLAIR
ve
SULLIVAN
ORDER
Appeal dismissed with costs,
SINCLATR
ve
SULLIVAN
BARWICK C.J.
(ORAL)
ve
SULLIVAN
Mr. Ash has put before us quite clearly the
view that the primary judge was not entitled to accept
Dr. Paver's evidence at what I might call face value,
or in toto; and that on the footing that the primary
judge was not so entitled, Mr. Ash says that the verdict
is excessive. He also puts an alternative argument that
even if Dr. Paver be accepted, nonetheless the verdict is
excessive,
In my opinion, the primary judge was entitled to
accept the opinion of Dr. Paver as to the ability of the
respondent to do work of a remunerative nature. It was,
as it has been said, a gloomy prognosis. But accepting it,
the award could not, in my opinion, be said to be wholly
erroneous, so inordinately disproportionate to the injuries
of the respondent that it ought to be set aside. Consecuently,
I agree with the conclusion of the majority of the Supreme
Court and, in my opinion, the appeal should be dismissed.
SINCLAIR v. SULLIVAN
i: IUDGMENT , Kitro_ J.
Hu (ORAL) :
Justice.
SINCLAIR v. SULLIVAN
I am of the same opinion as the Chief
SINCLAIR
ve
SULLIVAN
MENZIES J. |
I agree with the Court of Appeal that there is
not sufficient reason for concluding that the learned
trial judge could not accept the whole of the evidence
of Dr. Paver. .I understand and share the misgiving of
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court about the amount
of the verdict, but, having regard to Dr. Paver's evidence,
I cannot go to the length of a.positive conclusion that
the award was beyond the limits of a sound, discretionary
judgment.
I therefore agree that the appeal should be
dismissed.
SINCLAIR
Ve
wie. SULLIVAN
JUDGMENT
"(ORAL)
SINCLAIR
ve
SULLIVAN
I agree that the appeal should be dismissed.
I do not think that it has been established that their
Honours in the Court of Appeal were wrong in the view
they took. I think that this Court should not interfex
SINCLAIR
ve
SULLIVAN
! JUDGMENT : OWEN J.
SINCLATR
Ve
i SULLIVAN
I agree that the appeal should be dismissed.