Craig William JACKSON v LITHGOW CITY COUNCIL [2008] NSWCA 312

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Craig William JACKSON v LITHGOW CITY COUNCIL [2008] NSWCA 312

HEARING DATE(S): 15 August 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 24 November 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1; Basten JA at 109; Grove J at 110

1. Appeal allowed. 2. Orders made by the District Court on 13 June 2007 be set aside and in lieu thereof it be ordered: DECISION: (a) there be verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $203,475 to take effect as at 13 June 2007; (b) interest thereon be payable and calculated by reference to the Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 101; and (c) the defendant pay the plaintiff's costs. 3. The respondent pay the appellant's costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE – causation – evidence - EVIDENCE – evidence in negligence action – inference of fact from occurrence of damage and all the surrounding circumstances – note of ambulance officers –opinion evidence under Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 78 - MEASURE OF DAMAGES (TORT) – damages for personal injuries – assessment – quantum recoverable – future economic loss – non-economic loss – loss of earnings and earning capacity – future care – past care - INTOXICATION – relationship between Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 50(2) and (3) – contributory negligence.

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 101

Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Limited (unreported, HCA, 27 April 1951) Canham v Australian Guarantee Corporation Ltd (1993) 31 NSWLR 246 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Meredith (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 133 Diamond v Simpson (No 1) [2003] NSWCA 67 Flounders v Millar [2007] NSWCA 238 Guest v The Nominal Defendant [2006] NSWCA 77 Harris v Commercial Minerals Ltd [1996] HCA 49; 186 CLR 1 Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; 94 CLR 470 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 CASES CITED: King v Goussetis (1986) 5 NSWLR 89 Mahenthirarasa v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2008] NSWCA 101 Manser v Spry [1994] HCA 50; 181 CLR 428 National Insurance Co of NZ v Espagne [1961] HCA 15; 105 CLR 569 Nominal Defendant v Gardikiotis [1996] HCA 53; 186 CLR 49 Redding v Lea [1983] HCA 16; 151 CLR 117 Rhesa Shipping Co SA v Edmunds The 'Popi M') [1983] 2 Lloyd's Rep 235 Rhesa Shipping Co SA v Edmunds (The 'Popi M') [1985] 1 WLR 948 Tarabay v Leite [2008] NSWCA 259 Wade v Burns [1966] HCA 35; 115 CLR 537