Jeleskovic v Wagner (No. 2) [2020] NSWDC 126

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Jeleskovic v Wagner (No. 2) [2020] NSWDC 126 Hearing dates: 8-9, 14-15 April 2020 Date of orders: 22 April 2020 Decision date: 22 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraphs 214-216 Catchwords: TORTS – action for damages for personal injury arising from alleged negligence – occupant of residence allegedly pushed co-occupant down a flight of stairs – occupant admits to pushing co-occupant but not down the stairs – whether issues of liability and damages regulated by the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) or the common law (not modified by that legislation) – whether intent to injure established – standard of proof – whether duty of care and breach established – factual causation

DAMAGES – nature and extent of physical injury – claim of psychological injury – relevance of pre-incident diagnoses of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression – claims for aggravated and exemplary damages Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 17A, 21 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 59 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 14.23, 15.7, 15.8 Cases Cited: ASIC v Hellicar (2014) 247 CLR 345 Croucher v Cachia [2016] NSWCA 132 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 233 CLR 1 Dean v Phung [2012] NSWCA 223 Dickson v Northern Lakes Rugby League Sport & Recreation Club & Anor (No.2) [2019] NSWDC 433 Dunbar v Brown [2004] NSWCA 103 Fede v Gray by his tutor New South Wales Trustee and Guardian [2018] NSWCA 316 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340 Hunter Area Health Service v Marchlewski (2000) 51 NSWLR 268 Husher v Husher (1999) 197 CLR 143 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1 McCrohon v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 67 ALJR 170 New South Wales v Ibbett (2006) 229 CLR 638 Paff v Speed (1961) 105 CLR 549 Palmer v Dolman [2005] NSWCA 361 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 Presidential Security Services of Australia Pty Ltd v Brilley (2008) 73 NSWLR 241 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562 Westbus Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) v Ishak [2006] NSWCA 198 Williams v Milotin (1957) 97 CLR 465 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 515 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr M Jeleskovic (Plaintiff) Ms N Wagner (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Donovan for the Plaintiff Mr W Tuckey for the Defendant Solicitors: Northern Coast Solicitors for the Plaintiff Beston Macken McManis Lawyers for the Defendant File Number(s): 2019/170835 Publication restriction: Nil