Ridolfi v Hammond [2012] NSWCA 3

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ridolfi v Hammond [2012] NSWCA 3 Hearing dates: 22, 23 September 2011 Decision date: 23 February 2012 Before: Beazley JA at 1 Campbell JA at 2 Sackville AJA at 3 Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside orders 1, 2 and 3 made by Gibb DCJ on 12 March 2010. 3. Direct the appellant on or before 1 March 2012 to file written submissions, not exceeding ten pages in length, addressing the following issues: (a) whether the appellant agrees with the figure of $17,500 in respect of past loss of earnings and, if not, the figure that is proposed; (b) the quantum of damages for loss of future earning capacity, calculated in accordance with this judgment; (c) the amounts, if any, that should be awarded by way of damages in respect of past and future attendant care services (including the question of whether the threshold requirements of s 128(3) of the MAC Act are satisfied); and (d) costs. 4. Direct the respondent, on or before 12 March 2012, to file and serve written submissions, not exceeding ten pages in length, in reply. 5. The respondent, if otherwise qualified, to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951. [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: DAMAGES - motor vehicle accident - pre-existing degenerative spinal condition - whether primary Judge correct to find that the consequences of the pre-existing condition would have "subsumed" the consequences of the accident within eight years - whether primary Judge correct to find no causal relationship between accident and further degeneration of spinal condition. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Civil Liability Legislation Amendment Act 2008 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; 239 CLR 420 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; 106 CLR 340 Insurance Australia Ltd v Helou [2008] NSWCA 240; 51 MVR 414 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; 169 CLR 638 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; 171 CLR 506 Purkess v Crittenden [1965] HCA 34; 114 CLR 164 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 Shorey v PT Ltd [2003] HCA 27; 77 ALJR 1104 Sretenovic v Reed [2009] NSWCA 208 Varga v Galea [2011] NSWCA 76 Watts v Rake [1960] HCA 58; 108 CLR 158 Zanner v Zanner [2010] NSWCA 343 Category: Principal judgment Parties: George Ridolfi (Appellant) Lisa-Maree Hammond (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms S Norton SC and Ms M Fraser (Appellant) Mr R Bartlett SC and Mr W Fitzsimmons (Respondent) Solicitors: Brydens Law Office (Appellant) Sparke Helmore Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2010/81646 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9101 Date of Decision: 2010-03-12 00:00:00 Before: Gibb DCJ File Number(s): 2010/81646