Hope v Hunter and New England Area Health Service [2009] NSWDC 307

Reported Decision : 10 DCLR (NSW) 63

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Hope v Hunter and New England Area Health Service [2009] NSWDC 307 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 31 August and 3 September 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 27 November 2009

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Levy SC DCJ

DECISION: 1. Verdict and judgment in the sum of $525,511; 2. The defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs.

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – negligence – surgical removal of retinacular ganglion on volar aspect of middle finger of non-dominant hand – resultant neurovascular injury – whether avoidable – whether breach of duty of care established – whether defence under s 5O Civil Liability Act 2002 established – rationality of suggested opinion concerning widely accepted peer professional practice in Australia - DAMAGES – assessment of multiple heads of damage under Civil Liability Act 2002 - EVIDENCE – manner of proof of peer practice – circumstances in which hearsay permitted – notice required – credit issues – whether obligation to observe rule in Browne v Dunn required - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – obligation of experts to provide reasons for opinions – Sch 7 cl 5(c) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

Civil Liability Act 2002 LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Evidence Act 1995 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

Adelaide Stevedoring Co. Ltd v Forst [1940] HCA 45;(1940) 64 CLR 538 Albrighton v Royal Prince Alfred Hospital [1980] 2 NSWLR 542 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 C. Czarnikov v Koufos [1967] UKHL 4; (1969) 1 AC 350 Capital Brake Service Pty Ltd v Meagher & Ors [2003] NSWCA 225 Caterson v Commissioner for Railways [1973] HCA 12; (1973) 128 CLR 99 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Dobler v Halvorsen [2007] NSWCA 335 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340 Halverson v Dobler [2006] NSWSC 1307 CASES CITED: Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery [2005] NSWCA 432 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Melchior v Sydney Adventist Hospital [2008] NSWSC 1282 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 346; (2001) 53 NSWLR 116 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Purkess v Crittenden [1965] HCA 34; (1965) 114 CLR 164 Rogers v Whittaker [1992] HCA 58; (1992) 175 CLR 499 State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 13 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [HCA] 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442Vines v ASIC [2007] NSWCA 75 Watts v Rake [1960] HCA 58; (1960) 108 CLR 158 Wynn v NSW Ministerial Corporation [1995] HCA 53; (1995) 184 CLR 485 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40