Armin Damirdjian v Nominal Defendant & Zaya [2021] NSWDC 703

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Armin Damirdjian v Nominal Defendant & Zaya [2021] NSWDC 703 Hearing dates: 28, 29, 30 August; 8, 29 September; 27 October 2017; 2 February; 20 April; 25 May; 20 July; 30 August; 6 December 2018; 15, 16 July; 25 October; 5 December 2019; 8 May; 3, 17 July; 14 September; 2, 9 October; 2020; 15 – 17, 19, 22, 31 March 2021 Date of orders: 21 December 2021 Decision date: 21 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: 1. Verdict and judgment for the first defendant against the plaintiff; 2. Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff against the second defendant in the amount of $375,000; 3. The application for interest on damages is refused at this stage; 4. I will hear the parties on the appropriate order for costs; 5. The exhibits may be returned; 6. Liberty to apply on 7 days' notice if further or other orders are required. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – motor vehicle accident – claim against the Nominal Defendant – unidentified motor vehicle – whether due inquiry and search established – whether ownership of the vehicle established – whether the driver of the motor vehicle was negligent in the circumstances in which the plaintiff was injured – whether the plaintiff was contributorily negligent; DAMAGES – assessment of the plaintiff's claimed heads of damage Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5D, s 5E Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 26, s 34 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 131, s 138(1) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 6.24 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 Angel v Hawkesbury Council [2008] NSWCA 130 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; (2001) 181 ALR 301 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Glen v Sullivan [2015] NSWCA 191 Goode v Angland [2017] NSWCA 311 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340; [1961] HCA 48 Larson v Commissioner of Police [2004] NSWCA 126 Majkic v Bonnano [2008] NSWCA 253 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Manley v Alexander (2005) 223 ALR 228; [2005] HCA 79 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1; [1995] HCA 5 Mt Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383; [1970] HCA 60 Paff v Speed (1961) 105 CLR 549 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133, (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Twynam Agricultural Group Pty Ltd v Williams [2012] NSWCA 326 Warren v Gittoes [2009] NSWCA 24 Watson v Foxman & Ors (2000) 49 NSWLR 315 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; [1960] HCA 58 Yarrabee Coal Company Pty Ltd & Anor v Lujans [2009] NSWCA 85 Texts Cited: Furzer Crestani, Assessment Handbook, 2021 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Armin Damirdjian (Plaintiff) The Nominal Defendant (First defendant) Sam Zaya (Second defendant from 14 September 2020) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Menzies QC with Ms B Nolan – 28 August 2017 to 16 July 2019; Mr A Parker – from 5 December 2019 (Plaintiff) Mr J Turnbull SC (First defendant) Mr W Fitzsimmons SC with Mr B Jones (Second defendant from 15 March 2021)