Diamond v Simpson (No 1) [2003] NSWCA 67

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-695

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Diamond v Simpson (No 1) [2003] NSWCA 67 HEARING DATE(S) : 25/11/02; 26/11/02; 27/11/02; 28/11/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 April 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Stein JA; Ipp JA; Young CJ in Eq DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Order of Whealy J set aside except as to costs; 3. In lieu, verdict for the first respondent for $10,998,692; 4. Order that the first respondent repay to the appellant any sum already received over and above the amount referred to in order 3 plus interest at the court rate from the date of payment; 5. Order that the cross appeal be dismissed with costs; 6. Stand over the question of costs of the appeal to 9.15 am on 9 April 2003.

CATCHWORDS : DAMAGES- The approach to be adopted in determining an appeal from an assessment of damages in a personal injuries action- Relevance of an award being particularly high- Claims for gratuitous services rendered by a publicly or privately funded charitable institution- Application of principle of proportionality and reasonableness to various heads of damages. (D) Blundell v Musgrave (1956) 96 CLR 73 Burden v Rath (1986) Aust Torts Reports 80-050 Calder v Boyne [1991] 1 Qd R 325 Davies v Powell Duffryn Associated Collieries Ltd [1942] AC 601 Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454 Elford v FAI General Insurance Co Ltd [1994] 1 Qd R 258 (CA) Fry v McGufficke (unreported, FCA, 26.11.1998) Fuller v Galvin (unreported, NSWCA, 7.4.1995) Gamser v Nominal Defendant (1977) 136 CLR 145 Government Insurance Office of NSW v Cox (1976) 51 ALJR 559 Government Insurance Office of NSW v Mackie (1990) Aust Torts Reports 81-053 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 Grincelis v House (2000) 201 CLR 321 Harper v Bangalow Motors (unreported, NSWCA, 24.7.1990) Joyce v Geelan [2001] NSWCA 29 Kars v Kars (1996) 187 CLR 354 Lai Wee Lian v Singapore Bus Service (1978) Ltd [1984] 1 AC 729 CASES CITED : Lawson v Flavel [2001] WASCA 272 Miller v Jennings (1954) 92 CLR 190 Moran v McMahon (1985) 3 NSWLR 700 Mt Isa Mines Ltd v Peachey (unreported, Supreme Court of Queensland (CA), 1.12.1998) National Insurance Co of New Zealand Ltd v Espagne (1961) 105 CLR 659 Nominal Defendant v Gardikiotis (1996) 186 CLR 49 Nunn v Hardcastle [2001] WASCA 428 Paff v Speed (1961) 105 CLR 549 Parry v Cleaver [1970] AC 1 Paul v Rendell (1981) 55 ALJR 371 (PC) Pettersen v Bacha (1995) 21 MVR 71 Rajcoomar v Darocha [2001] NSWCA 30 Redding v Lee; Evans v Muller (1983) 151 CLR 117 Rosniak v GIO (1997) 41 NSWLR 608 RTA v Palmer [2001] NSWSC 846 Sharman v Evans (1977) 138 CLR 563 Sherwood v Guneser (1992) 110 FLR 459 State Government Insurance Commission v Hitchcock (unreported, Full Court, Supreme Court of Western Australia, 11.3.1997) Van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Robert Diamond (Appellant) PARTIES : Calandre Simpson by her Tutor William Charles Simpson (1st Respondent) Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph (2nd Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40962/01 P L G Brereton SC and I Butcher (Appellant) COUNSEL : D F Jackson QC, L A Levy SC and Ms J L Lonergan (1st Respondent) P Hall QC and S Woods (2nd Respondent) Blake Dawson Waldron (Appellant) SOLICITORS : Turtons (1st Respondent) Makinson & d'Apice (2nd Respondent)