Neville v Lam (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 607

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Neville v Lam (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 607 Hearing dates: 17, 19 to 21, 24, 26 to 28 March 2014 Decision date: 21 May 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: The Court orders that: 1. The proceedings be dismissed. 2. The plaintiff pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: TORTS - medical negligence - alleged failure to advise plaintiff of risk of pregnancy and need for contraception following endometrial ablation - burden of proof not discharged - evidence of "usual practice" - usual practice supported by defendant's publications.

DAMAGES - claim for damages - recovery for out of pocket expenses - damages for various injuries - recovery for additional costs associated with rearing or maintaining a disabled child - causation - Wallace v Kam. Legislation Cited: - Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5B, s 5D, s 13, s 15, s 15B, s 70, s 71, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 11 - Civil Liability Amendment Act 2003 (NSW), Sch 1 - Civil Liability Amendment Act 2006 (NSW) - Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 66A, s 97, s 136 - Evidence Regulation 2005 (NSW), cl 5(2) Cases Cited: - Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13; 83 NSWLR 302 - Ash v Hutchinson & Co (Publishers) Ltd [1936] Ch 489 - Blundell v Musgrave (1956) 96 CLR 73 - Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; 60 CLR 336 - Cattanach v Melchior [2003] HCA 38; 215 CLR 1 - CSR Ltd v Eddy [2005] HCA 64; 226 CLR 1 - Elayoubi v Zipser [2008] NSWCA 335 - Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 - Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 - McFarlane v Tayside Health Board [2000] 2 AC 59 - Melchior v Cattanach [2000] QSC 285 - Melchior v Cattanach [2001] QCA 246 - Moukhayber v Camden Timber & Hardware Co Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 58 - Mount Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383 - Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 727 - Neville v Lam (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 300 - Parkinson v St James and Seacroft University Hospital NHS Trust [2001] EWCA Civ 530; [2002] QB 266 - Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 - Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd v Braverus Maritime Inc [2004] FCA 1211; 140 FCR 445 - Rees v Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust [2003] UKHL 52; [2004] 1 AC 309 - Rhesa Shipping Co SA v Edmunds [1985] 1 WLR 948 - Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 - Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; 205 CLR 434 - Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 - Sullivan v Gordon [1999] NSWCA 338; 47 NSWLR 319 - Tomasetti v Brailey [2012] NSWCA 399 - Wallace v Kam [2012] NSWCA 82; Aust Torts Reports 82 - Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 87 ALJR 648 - Waller v James [2013] NSWSC 497 - Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lisa Neville (Plaintiff) Associate Professor Alan Lam (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A.J. Bartley SC, L. Whalan (Plaintiff) A.J. Sullivan QC, J.M. Sandford (Defendant) Solicitors: Ken Cush & Associates (Plaintiff) Avant Law (Defendant) File Number(s): 2008/289699 Publication restriction: Nil