Covington-Thomas v Cth of Australia [No 2] [2007] NSWSC 1059

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Covington-Thomas v Cth of Australia [No 2] [2007] NSWSC 1059

30/10/06-31/10/06 01/11/06-03/11/06 06/11/06-07/11/06 10/11/06 13/11/06-14/11/06 16/11/06-17/11/06 20/11/06-23/11/06 28/11/06-29/11/06 01/12/06 12/12/06-13/12/06 HEARING DATE(S) : 02/03/07 22/03/07 03/04/07 11/04/07 17/05/07 28/05/07-30/05/07 21/06/07 25/07/07 02/08/07 24/08/07 17/09/07-18/09/07

JUDGMENT DATE : 25 September 2007

JURISDICTION : Common Law Division

JUDGMENT OF : Kirby J

DECISION : (1) Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum to be calculated reflecting the reasons in this judgment; (2) The defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - Melbourne/Voyager collision - claim for damages - verdict found for plaintiff 2.8.07 - calculation of damages to be awarded - error - correction of error under the slip rule - discount under Malec v J C Hutton P/L - different methods of computation - loss of pension/superannuation rights - no discount for reduced life expectancy.

LEGISLATION CITED : Civil Liability Act 2002

Covington-Thomas v Commonwealth of Australia [2007] NSWSC 779 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Limited (1990) 169 CLR 638 Norris v Blake [No 2] (1997) 41 NSWLR 49 Commonwealth of Australia v Ryan [2002] NSWCA 372 Macarthur Districts Motor Cycle Sportsmen Inc & Ors v Ardizzone [2004] NSWCA 145 CASES CITED : Cullen v Trappell [1979-1980] 146 CLR 1 Covington-Thomas v Commonwealth of Australia [2004] NSWSC 743 Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1976-1977) 139 CLR 161 Skelton v Collins (1966) 115 CLR 94 Sharman v Evans (1977) 138 CLR 563 James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd v Roberts (1999) 47 NSWLR 425