Hardwick v Jankowski [2019] NSWDC 90

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hardwick v Jankowski [2019] NSWDC 90 Hearing dates: 20, 21 March 2019 Date of orders: 01 April 2019 Decision date: 01 April 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: Judgment for the plaintiff with the parties to make submissions as to final orders. Catchwords: Motor accidents – competing accounts of collision occurring – whether breach of duty of care – whether personal injury caused by acceleration of abnormal back pathology.

Damages – whether future harm caused be pre-existing injury or defendant's negligence – whether defendant causes evidentiary onus – future economic loss – future care – future out-of-pocket expenses – whether damages for each claimed head of damage should be discounted by possibility of future harm is caused by pre-existing injury. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Motor Accident Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amaca Pty Ltd v Latz [2018] HCA 22 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244 CSR Ltd v Eddy (2005) 226 CLR 1 DC v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 198 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 IAG t/as NRMA Insurance Ltd v Helou [2008] NSWCA 240 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353 Monaghan Surveyors Pty Ltd v Stratford Glen-Avon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 94 New South Wales v Fahy (2006) Aust Torts Rep 81-865 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 Seltsam v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 State of NSW v Burton (2006) Aust Torts Rep 81-826 Vincent v Woolworths Ltd [2015] NSWSC 435 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Thomas Peter Hardwick (Plaintiff) James Jankowski (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: B Tzatzagos (Plaintiff) D Hanna (Defendant)