Smith v Alone [2016] NSWDC 265

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v Alone [2016] NSWDC 265 Hearing dates: 29, 30, 31 August and 2 September 2016 Date of orders: 25 October 2016 Decision date: 25 October 2016 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff. (2) Liberty to the parties to bring in short minutes of order reflecting the mathematically agreed calculation of damages. (3) Defendant pay plaintiff's costs. (4) Liberty to apply in relation to costs. (5) Exhibits retained for 28 days. Catchwords: TORT – personal injury – assessment of damages – contributory negligence agreed at 60% – past and future economic loss – whether higher than usual percentage of vicissitudes appropriate – past and future home care – no issue of principle Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2005 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 126, 131, 141A and 141B Cases Cited: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd v Haq [2016] NSWCA 93 Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis [2013] NSWCA 443 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Meneghello [2013] NSWCA 264 Dang v Chea (2013) 63 MVR 240 FAI Allianz Insurance Ltd v Lang [2004] NSWCA 413 General Motors-Holden Pty Ltd v Moularas (1964) 111 CLR 234; [1965] ALR 646 Hill v Forrester (2010) 79 NSWLR 470 King v Western Sydney Local Health Network [2011] NSWSC 1025 Kwong v Abdulwahab [2016] NSWCA 107 Mahony v Watson [2003] NSWCA 259 Makita (Aust) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Mead v Kearney [2012] NSWCA 215 Metaxoulis v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2015] NSWCA 95 Mitchell v Cullingral Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 389 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 Patrech v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWCA 118 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 Ridolfi v Hammond [2012] NSWCA 3 Schultz v McCormack [2015] NSWCA 330 State of New South Wales v Maxwell [2007] NSWCA 53 Taupau v HVAC Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 293 The Nominal Defendant v Kostic [2007] NSWCA 14 Vosebe Pty Ltd v Bakavgas; Vosebe Pty Ltd v Vapore [2009] NSWCA 117 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Woolage v NSW [2001] NSWCA 256 Wynn v New South Wales Insurance Ministerial Corporation (NSW Court of Appeal, 11 August 1994) Texts Cited: Graycar R, "Damaged Awards: The Vicissitudes of Life as a Woman" (1995) 3 TLJ 160 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Jeffrey Warren Smith Defendant: Sales Kupu Alone Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr S McCarthy Defendant: Mr R O'Keefe