Gard v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2019] NSWDC 254

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gard v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2019] NSWDC 254 Hearing dates: 15 – 18 April 2019, 16 May 2019 Date of orders: 07 June 2019 Decision date: 07 June 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Weber SC Decision: (1) Verdict and Judgment for the Defendant

(2) The Plaintiff is to pay the Defendant's costs Catchwords: TORTS – Negligence – Road accident cases - cyclist collision with rear of motor vehicle - liability dispute - where cyclist looked down to check gears - whether motor vehicle was reversing or moving forward - whether driver breached duty by failing to check rear-view mirror and abort manoeuvre - where factual causation not satisfied.

DAMAGES - where plaintiff suffered traumatic brain injury - non-economic loss - where plaintiff led intellectually active life - economic loss - whether plaintiff would have attained rank of Professor - plaintiff's likely retirement age – plaintiff's residual earning capacity - whether plaintiff will achieve continued university employment - where Fox v Wood damages agreed Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation (Determination of Loss) Order 2009 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Sprod [2012] NSWCA 281 Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Cook v Cook [1986] HCA 73; 162 CLR 376 Dennis v Keep [2002] NSWCA 227 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; (2001) 181 ALR 301 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; (2002) 211 CLR 540 Hamshere v Favelle [2009] NSWCA 4 Hawthorne v Hillcoat [2008] NSWCA 340; (2008) 51 MVR 523 Hodgson v Crane [2002] NSWCA 276; (2002) 55 NSWLR 199 Kallouf v Middis [2008] NSWCA 61 Killick v R (1981) 147 CLR 565 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Mamo v Surace [2014] NSWCA 58 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 v San Sebastian Pty Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 268 Nevin v B & R Enclosures [2004] NSWCA 339 New South Wales v Fahy [2007] HCA 20; (2007) 232 CLR 486 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 263; (2009) 77 NSWLR 360 Shirt v Wyong Shire Council [1978] 1 NSWLR 631 Shoalhaven City Council v Pender [2013] NSWCA 210 Strong v Woolworths [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 250 CLR 375 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Zhang v Golden Eagle International Trading Pty Ltd & Ors [2006] NSWCA 25 Zurich Australia Insurance Ltd v Roumanos [2013] NSWSC 1922 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Gard (Plaintiff) Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Blacket SC; Mr J Wilson (Plaintiff) Mr K Rewell SC (Defendant)