Hobbs v Fairall & Fairall [2016] NSWDC 116

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hobbs v Fairall & Fairall [2016] NSWDC 116 Hearing dates: 2-6 May 2016; 11-12 May 2016 Date of orders: 26 May 2016 Decision date: 26 May 2016 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Neilson DCJ Decision: Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff against the defendants for $339,242.40 Catchwords: CIVIL – Action for damages for personal injury – Claim under Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (MACA) – Plaintiff thrown from horse whilst riding along side of bitumenised road, on road reservation – Plaintiff alleges his horse startled by motor vehicle owned by first defendant and driven by second defendant – Factual dispute – Question of what caused horse to shy and buck – Other arguments included noise of motorcycle being ridden behind defendants' vehicle, overfeeding ("overfuelling") of plaintiff's horse; numerous possible stimuli – Whether a "motor accident" within MACA – Negligence – Whether "blameless motor accident" within MACA

Quantum of damages – Plaintiff 64 years at time of accident, 69 at trial – Whether plaintiff would have worked to age 70 years – Severely injured – Quantum of non-economic loss (19% WPI) Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 26; (2005) 221 CLR 568 Axiak v Ingram [2012] NSWCA 311 Connaughton v Pacific Rail Engineering Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 89 Cook v Cook [1986] 8 CA 73:(1986) 162 CLR 376 Gordon v Truong [2014] NSWCA 93 Hawthorne v Hillcoat [2008] NSWCA 340 Hossain v Mirdha [2015] NSWDC 108 Leach v The Nominal Defendant [2014] NSWCA 257 Mamo v Surace [2014] NSWCA 58 Mani v The Nominal Defendant [2002] QSC 152 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396 McLennan v The Nominal Defendant [2014] NSWCA 332 Melenewycz v Whitfield [2015] NSWSC 1482 Nettleton v Rondeau [2014] NSWSC 93 O'Brien v Davjam Enterprises Pty Limited [2014] NSWDC 270 Nominal Defendant v GLG Australia Pty Limited [2006] HCA 11; (2006) 228 CLR 529 Nominal Defendant v Hawkins [2011] NSWCA 93 Syed v Crumpton [2016] NSWSC 500 Western Australia v Container Handlers Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 24; (2004) 218 CLR 89. Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Hobbs (Plaintiff) Carolyn Maree Fairall (First defendant) Holly Lee Fairall (Second defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Roberts SC (Plaintiff) Mr B Wilson (Defendants)