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 Act 2002 (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