Sarian v Elton [2011] NSWCA 123

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sarian v Elton [2011] NSWCA 123 Hearing dates: 1 March 2011 Decision date: 19 May 2011 Before: BEAZLEY JA at 1 WHEALY JA at 6 HOEBEN J at 69 Decision: Appeal dismissed. Appellant to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE - general practitioner administering cortisone injection - development of abscess - medical causation - whether failure by trial judge to properly analyse factual evidence - whether failure by a trial judge to properly analyse expert evidence - extent to which appellate court should interfere with fact finding of trial judge - evidence - difficulties in trial judge assessing competing medical evidence when reports tendered and oral evidence not given. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 ss 5B, 5O Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (UCPR), r 51.53 Cases Cited: Archibald v Byron Shire Council [2003] 129 LGERA 311 Beale v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 at 431 per Mason P Biogen Inc v Medeva Plc (1997) RPC 1 at 45 per Lord Hoffman Brunskill v Sovereign Marine & General Insurance Co Ltd (1985) 59 AJLR 842; 62 ALR 53 Chambers v Jobling (1986) 7 NSWLR 1 at 27 per Mahoney JA Dearman v Deaman (1908) 7 CLR 549 per Isaacs J Dobler v Kenneth Halverson and Ors; Dobler v Kurt Halverson (by his tutor) [2007] NSWCA 335 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22, (2003) 214 CLR 118 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 at 728 per Samuels JA Mistral International Pty Ltd v Polstead Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 321 Papadopoulos v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1999] NSWCA 116 Powell v Streatham Manor Nursing Home [1935] AC 243 at 266 - 268 Public Service Board (NSW) v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656 at 666 - 667 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 at 278, 279 per McHugh JA Wiki v Atlantis Relocations (NSW) Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 174, (2004) 60 NSWLR 127 Williams v The Minister for Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 [2000] NSWCA 255 at [137] Wilson v Nilepac Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 63 at [164] - [167] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dr Paul Sarian - Applicant Alaine Elton - Opponent Representation: Counsel Mr R Cavanagh SC - Applicant Mr RN O'Neill - Opponent Solicitors Norton Rose Australia - Applicant McDonnell Schroder - Opponent File Number(s): 2010/321032 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2010-09-06 00:00:00 Before: Delaney DCJ File Number(s): 2008/52