Boateng v Dharamdas [2016] NSWCA 183

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Boateng v Dharamdas [2016] NSWCA 183 Hearing dates: 4 March 2016 Decision date: 02 August 2016 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] Leeming JA at [174] Davies J at [175] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed in part. 2. Notice of cross-appeal dismissed. 3. Set aside order 1 made by Sorby DCJ on 1 September 2015. 4. Remit the matter to the District Court for a new trial on damages. 5. Respondent to pay 40 per cent of the appellant's costs in this Court. 6. Respondent to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) if otherwise entitled. Catchwords: TORTS (negligence) – motor vehicle accident – challenge to primary judge's findings of point of impact of collision – whether driver failed to keep a proper lookout – content of driver's duty to other road users including pedestrians – whether reasonable care for their safety having regard to all circumstances with which driver is confronted – requirement to exercise high degree of vigilance near other traffic and in vicinity of intersections – whether attention given to different features of the road – causation – expert evidence – whether response time available to driver insufficient to avoid collision with pedestrian – contributory negligence – Civil Liability Act s 5B and 5R – pedestrian's duty to take reasonable care for own safety – apportionment – challenge to primary judge's finding – whether error demonstrated – damages – where inaccurate and incomplete history of respondent's pre-accident symptoms and conditions provided to medical experts – whether adverse credit finding against respondent taken into account – whether error in accepting medical evidence based on inaccurate and incomplete histories – whether new trial for re-assessment of damages should be ordered Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B(2)(a), 5B(1), 5B(2), D, E, R, S Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 9 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 138 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Cases Cited: Anikin v Sierra [2004] HCA 64; 211 CLR 621 Bitupave Ltd t/as Boral Asphalt v Pillinger [2015] NSWCA 298 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144; Aust Torts Rep 81-956 Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis (No. 2) [2014] NSWCA 139; 86 NSWLR 393 Commonwealth of Australia v Gretton [2008] NSWCA 117 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; 181 ALR 301 Dungan v Chan [2013] NSWCA 182; (2013) 64 MVR 249 Grills v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 72 Johnston v Stock [2014] NSWCA 147 Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; 80 ALJR 413 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396; 66 MVR 1 Nominal Defendant v Green [2013] NSWCA 219; 64 MVR 354 Pennington v Norris (1956) 96 CLR 10 Pledge v Roads and Traffic Authority (2004) 205 ALR 56 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Stocks & McDonald Hamilton Co Pty Ltd v Baldwin (1996) 24 MVR 416 Strong v Woolworths [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 T & X Company Pty Ltd v Chivas [2014] NSWCA 235 Turkmani v Visvalingam [2009] NSWCA 211; 53 MVR 176 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 250 CLR 375 Warth v Lafsky [2014] NSWCA 94 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Dixon [2003] HCA 48; 200 ALR 447 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kofi Boateng (Appellant) Martin Dharamdas (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K Rewell SC (Appellant) D Hooke SC / L Morgan (Respondent)