Blum v Weiers & Anor [2001] NSWCA 383

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Blum v Weiers & Anor [2001] NSWCA 383 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41014/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 October 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 1 November 2001

Peter Blum - Appellant PARTIES : Thomas John Weiers - First Respondent Gunnedah Coal Company Ltd - Second Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Ipp AJA at 41; Rolfe AJA at 42

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT 18568/93 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT McInerney J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

P LeG Brereton SC - Appellant COUNSEL : B G McManamey - First Respondent J N Gleeson SC & N E Chen - Second Respondent Blake Dawson Waldron - Appellant SOLICITORS : Stacks - The Law Firn, Newcastle - First Respondent Sparke Helmore - Second Respondent CATCHWORDS : DAMAGES - work injury - then medical negligence in its treatment - claim for successive wrongs - jury found substantial general damages and economic loss against doctor - whether any significant increased effect of medical negligence - whether earning capacity effectively destroyed by work injury - whether jury's verdict unreasonable - held unreasonable - new trial as to damages. ND CASES CITED: Calin v Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd (1991) 173 CLR 33; Precision Plastics Pty Ltd v Demir (1975) 132 CLR 362. DECISION : (1) Verdict and judgment for the first respondent against the appellant set aside; (2) Order that there be a new trial as to damages between the first respondent and the appellant; (3) First respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal, and to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if qualified.