Fitzgerald v Dansey [2001] NSWCA 339

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Fitzgerald v Dansey [2001] NSWCA 339 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40981/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 18 September 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 24 October 2001

PARTIES : Brad Peter Fitzgerald by his tutor Robyn Lynette Fitzgerald Craig Dansey JUDGMENT OF : Powell JA at 1; Fitzgerald AJA at 2; Sperling J at 27

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 2037/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Cooper DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Mr R McIlwaine SC with Mr I Cullen for the Appellant Mr P Neil SC with Mr G Travers for the Respondent SOLICITORS : Paul A Curtis & Co for the Appellant W R Harvey & Associates for the Respondent CATCHWORDS : Damages assessed under Motor Accidents Act - appeal against quantum - apportionment for contributory negligence - non-economic loss: whether "a most extreme case" - interest: whether "appropriate" for the defendant to have made an offer - ND LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Accidents Act 1988, s73, s79, s79A Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Arthur Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter (1970) 122 CLR 649 Birch Brothers Ltd v Brown [1931] AC 605 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Dunnet v Brennan [2000] NSWCA 211 CASES CITED: House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Nominal Defendant v Gardikiotis (1994) 19 MVR 307 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 529 Precision Plastics Pty Ltd v Damir (1975) 132 CLR 362 Sharman v Evans (1977) 138 CLR 563 Studer v Boettcher [2000] NSWCA 263 Wynbergen v Hoyts Corporation Pty Ltd (1997) 149 ALR 25 DECISION : As per para 113 of the judgment.