Riley v Cocco [2001] NSWCA 379

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Riley v Cocco [2001] NSWCA 379 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40261/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 28 June 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 26 October 2001

PARTIES : Robert Bruce Riley (Appellant) Antonio Cocco (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Heydon JA at 2; Young CJ in Eq at 53

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC M34/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Patten DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Mr B H K Donovan QC/Mr B D Dooley (Appellant) Mr J P Guihot (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Marshall & Partners (Appellant) Hunt & Hunt (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Torts - Motor Accidents - Damages - Causation - Whether damages manifestly inadequate - Whether damages excessive - Whether trial juge made appellable errors in assessment of evidence - Construction of trial judge's language re damages for workers compensation repayments - Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW, s 79 - ND LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Accidents Act 1988 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438 CASES CITED: Kempsey District Hospital v Thackham (1995) 36 NSWLR 492 Wilson v Peisley (1975) 7 ALR 571 Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation (1995) 184 CLR 485 DECISION : See para 52

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COURT OF APPEAL CA 40261/00 DC M34/98 MASON P HEYDON JA YOUNG CJ in Eq

26 October 2001 RILEY v COCCO Torts - Motor Accidents – Damages – Causation - Whether damages manifestly inadequate – Whether damages excessive – Whether trial judge made appellable errors in assessment of evidence – Construction of trial judge's language re damages for workers compensation repayments – Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW), s 79A