Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128 Hearing dates: 31 March 2015 Decision date: 15 May 2015 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [92]; Sackville AJA at [93] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed in part. 2. Set aside the verdict and judgment of the District Court ordered on 15 April 2014. 3. Verdict and judgment for the respondent (plaintiff) against the appellant (defendant) in the sum of $1,679,417. 4. Order that the judgment in order 3 takes effect on 15 April 2014. 5. Order the respondent pay 90% of the appellant's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – injuries arising from child "skitching" (riding a skateboard whilst being towed by a vehicle) – findings as to contributory negligence of 12 year old boy under s 5R of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – whether primary judge erred in apportioning responsibility wholly to the driver

TORTS – negligence – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – damages for future economic loss – where damages assessed on basis that most likely future circumstance (s 126) would have been employment as a tradesman – where damages adjusted to include lump sum representing value of lost opportunity to earn higher income in self-employment – whether s 126 permitted such an award – whether adjustment for lost opportunity to earn higher income manifestly excessive

EVIDENCE – admissibility – relationship between ss 79 and 80 of the Evidence Act 1999 (NSW) – "expert" evidence as to matters within ordinary or common experience – whether opinions as to ordinary behaviour of children "based" on specialised knowledge Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5D(1), 5R Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 79, 80 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 9(1) Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW), s 74 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 138 Cases Cited: Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 139 British Fame (Owners) v Macgregor (Owners) [1943] AC 197 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 70 Campbell v R [2014] NSWCCA 175 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; 243 CLR 588 Davis v Swift [2014] NSWCA 458 Director of Public Prosecutions v United Telecasters Sydney Ltd [1990] HCA 5; 168 CLR 594 Gordon v Truong; Truong v Gordon [2014] NSWCA 97 Grills v Leighton Contractors Pty Limited [2015] NSWCA 72 Kollas v Scurrah [2008] NSWCA 17 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; 169 CLR 638 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; 171 CLR 506 McHale v Watson [1966] HCA 13; 115 CLR 199 Mikaera v Newman Transport Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 464 Nicholson v Nicholson (1994) 35 NSWLR 308 Nominal Defendant v Rooskov [2012] NSWCA 43 Pennington v Norris [1956] HCA 26; 96 CLR 10 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Penrith City Council v East Realisations Pty Limited (in liq) [2013] NSWCA 64 R v Turner [1975] 1 QB 834 Sharpe v Gordon; QBE Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd v Gordon [2006] NSWCA 347 State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133; 54 NSWLR 536 T and X Company Pty Ltd v Chivas [2014] NSWCA 235 Transport Publishing Co Pty Ltd v Literature Board of Review [1956] HCA 73; 99 CLR 111 Velevski v The Queen [2002] HCA 4; 76 ALJR 402 Texts Cited: Australian Law Reform Commission, The Opinion Rule and its Exceptions (Report 102, February 2006) Australian Road Rules Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alphonse Verryt (Appellant) Liam Luke Schoupp (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Deakin QC with D Rozani (Appellant) D Campbell SC with S Longhurst (Respondent)