Expokin Pty Limited v Graham [2000] NSWCA 267

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Expokin Pty Limited v Graham [2000] NSWCA 267 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40481/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 18 September 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 September 2000

PARTIES : Expokin Pty Limited t/as Festival IGA Supermarket (Appellant) Marilyn Ann Graham (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Fitzgerald JA at 1; O'Keefe AJA at 10; Santow AJA at 11

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : DC 110/98 LOWER COURT Judge Delaney JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : A Ogborne (Appellant) A S Morrison/C Locke (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron (Appellant) David Velleley (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : TORTS — Negligence — Damages — Causation — Medical retirement leading to future economic loss not attributable to pre-existing condition but to Appellant's negligence which aggravated that condition — Tortfeasor gets no allowance for frailty of victim — Test in Purkess v Crittenden not satisfied but ample allowance for likelihood that Respondent's pre-existing problems may come against her — Allowance in 25% discount rather than usual 15% for vicissitudes and in working life of 60 years rather than 65 years. Australian Telecommunications Commission v Parsons (1985) 59 ALR 535 Bennett v Minister for Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Chappel v Hart (1998) 72 ALJR 1344 Faulkner v Keffalinos (1971) 45 ALJR 80 Johnston v Cowra Shire Council [2000] NSWCA 117 Johnson v Perez (1988) 82 ALR 587 CASES CITED: March v E&MH Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Smith v Leech Brain & Co Ltd (1962) 2 QB 405 State Government Insurance Commission v Oakley (1990) Aust Tort Reports 81-003 Thompson v Faraonio (1979) 24 ALR 1 (PC) Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.