Basha v Vocational Capacity Centre Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 409

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Basha v Vocational Capacity Centre Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 409

HEARING DATE(S): 16 November 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 15 December 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Tobias JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; McClellan CJ at CL at 130

DECISION: 1. Cross appeal dismissed with costs. 2. Appeal allowed with costs. 3. Set aside the primary judge's awards in respect of non-economic and economic loss. 4. Parties to file Short Minutes of Order in the Registry setting out the award to the appellant including interest as appropriate within seven days.

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – negligence – breach of duty – appellant sustained aggravation of shoulder injuries during vocational assessment conducted by respondents – respondents on notice of appellant's recent shoulder surgery – whether breach of duty in proceeding with assessment rather than postponing it - DAMAGES – personal injuries – non-economic loss – whether assessment of 20 per cent of most extreme case inadequate – review of primary judge's assessment as to severity of non-economic loss – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 16 - DAMAGES – personal injuries – whether assessment of past and future economic loss inadequate - DAMAGES – personal injuries – domestic assistance – whether statutory threshold satisfied – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 15

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Angel v Hawkesbury City Council [2008] NSWCA 130 Carolyn Basha v Vocational Capacity Centre Pty Ltd & Anor, (District Court of New South Wales, unreported, Garling DCJ, 19 December 2008) Cranssen v R [1936] HCA 42; (1936) 55 CLR 509 Flannery v Halifax Estate Agencies Ltd t/as Colleys Professional Services [2000] 1 All ER 373 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22, (2003) 214 CLR 118 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 499 Jones v Bradley [2003] NSWCA 81 Khan v Polyzois [2006] NSWCA 59 New South Wales v Fahy [2007] HCA 20; (2007) 232 CLR 486 CASES CITED: North Sydney Council v Lygon 302 Pty Ltd (1995) 87 LGERA 435 Rogers v Whittaker [1992] HCA 58; (1992) 175 CLR 479 Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; (2001) 205 CLR 434 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Sydney Water Corporation v Turano [2009] HCA 42;(2009) 83 aljr 1168 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Westfield Shoppingtown Liverpool v Jevtich [2008] NSWCA 139 Wong v R [2001] HCA 64; (2001) 207 CLR 584 Woolworths Ltd v Lawlor [2004] NSWCA 209 Wynn Tresidder Management v Barkho [2009] NSWCA 149 Yates Property Corporation Pty Limited (In Liq) v Darling Harbour Authority (1991) 24 NSWLR 156