Jay v Baker; State of NSW (TAFE NSW Previously TAFE Commission) v Baker [2018] NSWDC 270

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Jay v Baker; State of NSW (TAFE NSW Previously TAFE Commission) v Baker [2018] NSWDC 270 Hearing dates: 13-15 June 2017; 4-5 December 2017; 23-24 April 2018; 26-27 April 2018; 30 April 2018-1 May 2018; 17 August 2018; 31 August 2018 (last written submissions received) Date of orders: 25 September 2018 Decision date: 25 September 2018 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for Ms Jay against the defendant in the 2015 proceedings. (2) The defendant in the 2015 proceedings is to pay the plaintiff's costs of those proceedings as agreed or assessed. (3) Judgment for the plaintiff in the 2016 proceedings against the defendants. (4) The defendants in the 2016 proceedings are to pay the plaintiff's costs in those proceedings as agreed or assessed. (5) Liberty to the parties to apply to vary the costs orders in paragraphs 2 and 4 above within 14 days. (6) The parties in both proceedings are to bring in agreed Short Minutes of Order within 14 days reflecting the reasons for decision. In the event that agreement cannot be reached, the parties should approach the Associate to Dicker DCJ to have the matter listed for further directions. (7) The exhibits are to be retained until further order. Catchwords: Torts-negligence-motor vehicle accident - whether plaintiff pedestrian was negligently struck by passing vehicle driven by defendant - blameless accident provisions - extent of injuries - gratuitous care issues - indemnity claimed by employer - whether psychiatric illness caused by accident - previous medical condition - whether hip injury caused by accident – whether accident connected to plaintiff's employment – whether closed period appropriate for loss of future earning capacity – relevance of apparent improvement in plaintiff's physical condition Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Cases Cited: AAI Ltd v State Insurance Regulatory Authority of NSW [2016] NSWCA 368 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Serria Girgis [2011] NSWSC 1424 Afoa v McBride [2017] NSWCA 323 Ausgrid v Settree Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 407 Avopiling Pty Ltd v Bosevski [2018] NSWCA 146 Axiak v Ingram [2012] NSWCA 311 Badawi v Nexon Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 324 Bird v Commonwealth (1988) 165 CLR 1; [1988] HCA 23 Boateng v Dharamdas [2016] NSWCA 183 Calcagno v Dent [2015] NSWDC 308 Curtis v Harden Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 314 Davis v Swift [2014] NSWCA 458 Dent v Calcagno [2016] NSWCA 289 Grant v Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney (1999) 47 NSWLR 263; [1999] NSWCA 250 Grills v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 72 Hatzimanolis v ANI Corporation Ltd (1992) 173 CLR 473; [1992] HCA 21 Hyjer v Lopes [2018] NSWDC 8 Kurnell Passenger & Transport Service Pty Ltd v Randwick City Council [2009] NSWCA 59 Malec v Hutton (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; (2005) 80 ALJR 413 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 OCS Australia Pty Ltd v Cho [2010] NSWCA 85 Perrett v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2009] NSWSC 1026 Pham v Shui [2006] NSWCA 373 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALR 529 South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service v Gadiry [2002] NSWCA 161 Spratt v Perilya Broken Hill Ltd [2016] NSWCA 192 State of New South Wales v Chapman-Davis [2016] NSWCA 237 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority v Perrett [2010] NSWCA 160 The Star Pty Ltd v Mitchison [2017] NSWCA 149 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; (2013) 250 CLR 375 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Katrina Marie Jay (Plaintiff 2015/193834) State of NSW (TAFE NSW Previously TAFE Commission) (Plaintiff 2016/26942) Edward Baker (Defendant 2015/193834; First Defendant 2016/26942) Wendy Elizabeth Baker (Second Defendant 2016/26942) Representation: Counsel: K Andrews (Plaintiff 2015/193834) P Tierney (Plaintiff 2016/26942) J Gracie (Defendants) (13-15 June 2007); L McFee (4-5 December 2017 onwards)