Elkodat v The Nominal Defendant [2020] NSWDC 14

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Elkodat v The Nominal Defendant [2020] NSWDC 14 Hearing dates: 15-18 October 2019; 11 November 2019; 25-26 November 2019 Date of orders: 14 February 2020 Decision date: 14 February 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings as agreed or assessed. (3) Liberty to the parties to apply within 14 days for a different costs order to that in (2). (4) Exhibits to be returned in 28 days. Catchwords: Torts – negligence – motor vehicle accident – liability in issue – whether an accident occurred as claimed by the plaintiff – plaintiff has post-accident medical conditions and injuries unrelated to the alleged accident – extent of damages – extent of past loss of earnings and earning capacity and loss of future earning capacity – alleged disadvantaged position of The Nominal Defendant Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Road Rules 2014 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Croucher v Cachia [2016] NSWCA 132 Cubillo v Commonwealth (No 2) [2000] FCA 1084; (2000) 103 FCR 1 Dall v Choll [2018] NSWCA 219 Danckert v Tonkin [2015] NSWSC 1570 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Leung v Paul Mervyn Fordyce [2019] NSWSC 18 Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; (2005) 80 ALJR 413 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396 McPherson v Dowell [2018] NSWDC 348 New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v Cox [2014] NSWCA 328 Sangha v Baxter [2009] NSWCA 78 Smith v Alone [2017] NSWCA 287 The Nominal Defendant v Cordin [2019] NSWCA 85 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aiman Elkodat (Plaintiff) The Nominal Defendant (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: L Grey (Plaintiff) W Fitzsimmons SC (Defendant)