El Assaad v Al Haje [2024] NSWCA 306

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: El Assaad v Al Haje [2024] NSWCA 306 Hearing dates: 22 November 2024 Date of orders: 20 December 2024 Decision date: 20 December 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Ball JA at [126]; Price AJA at [127] Decision: 1. The appeal be allowed in part. 2. Set aside the award made for future economic loss (in the amount of $175,000) and in lieu thereof award the sum of $20,000 for future economic loss. 3. Direct the respondent to file and serve any brief submissions as to costs (not exceeding 3 pages) by 10 January 2025 and the appellant to file and serve any brief submissions in response (not exceeding 3 pages) by 24 January 2025, with a view to determining the issue of costs on the papers. Catchwords: TORTS – intentional torts – battery – appeal only as to assessment of damages – where respondent alleged his career as an actor had been affected by physical and psychological injuries caused by appellant – whether primary judge erred in finding that respondent suffers from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder – whether primary judge erred in determination of general damages, past economic loss, and future economic loss Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 52-54 Cases Cited: Al Haje v Elassaad (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 794 Al Haje v Elassaad [2024] NSWSC 689 Berkeley Challenge Pty Ltd v Howarth [2013] NSWCA 370 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Eric Preston Pty Ltd v Euroz Securities Ltd (2011) [2011] FCAFC 11 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1; [1987] HCA 47 Makita (Aust) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Miller v Jennings (1954) 92 CLR 190; [1954] HCA 65 Paff v Speed (1961) 105 CLR 549; [1961] HCA 14 Paric v John Holland Constructions Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1; [2015] NSWCA 90 Precision Plastics Pty Ltd v Demir (1975) 132 CLR 362; [1975] HCA 27 Ramsay v Watson (1961) 108 CLR 642; [1961] HCA 65 State of New South Wales v Riley (2003) 57 NSWLR 496; [2003] NSWCA 208 State of NSW v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 Taub v R (2017) 95 NSWLR 388; [2017] NSWCCA 198 Wilson v Peisley (1975) 50 ALJR 207 Woolworths Ltd v Lawlor [2004] NSWCA 209 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mohammad El Assaad (Appellant) Wisam Al Haje (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Perla with DF King (Appellant) J Sheller SC with MD Algi (Respondent)