Hyjer v Lopes [2018] NSWDC 8

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hyjer v Lopes [2018] NSWDC 8 Hearing dates: 20 November 2017 – 22 November 2017; 14 December 2017 Date of orders: 31 January 2018 Decision date: 31 January 2018 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff; (2) The parties are to bring in Short Minutes of Order within seven days reflecting these reasons; (3) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings as agreed or assessed; (4) Liberty to the parties to approach the court if a different costs order is sought to that set out in (3) above; (5) Exhibits to be returned in 28 days. Catchwords: Torts-negligence-motor vehicle accident-conflicting expert evidence-extent to which the plaintiff's future earning capacity has been affected-approach to the award of a buffer for loss of future earning capacity-question of whether there is a need for future commercial care Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 Boateng v Dharamdas [2016] NSWCA 183 Calcagno v Dent [2015] NSWDC 308 Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd v Redbro Investments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 46 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Curtis v Harden Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 314 Dent v Calcagno [2016] NSWCA 289 Grills v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 72 Logar v Ambulance Service of NSW Sydney Region [2007] NSWCA 274 Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; 80 ALJR 413 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353 New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALR 529 Smith v Alone [2017] NSWCA 287 Sretenovic v Reed [2009] NSWCA 280 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182 Townsend v O'Donnell [2016] NSWCA 288 Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375 White v Benjamin [2015] NSWCA 75 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Drew Garrett Hyjer (Plaintiff) Antonio Goncalves Lopes (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: H Halligan (Plaintiff) C Allan (Defendant)