[2024] VSCA 39
General information, not legal advice.
Court of Appeal (Vic)
2024-03-19
Beach JA, Niall JA
Original judgment source is linked above.
I imagine once the legal processes are complete that she will be able to re-engage in living and begin to regain some control and direction in her life. This however may not be in the workforce give [sic] that she is close to retirement.[30]
does have a capacity for part time work up to eight hours a week at present, performing suitable duties. In order to improve her confidence in returning to work, I recommend that she starts by doing voluntary work.[36]
... think[s] it is likely that her mood and capacity will improve once litigation is concluded, given that she has described a very significant reaction to the litigation process. I think that she will recover a capacity for part time modified duties in the medium term, once litigation is concluded.[37]
(a) 58 when she started working for the respondent;
(b) 60 when she stopped work due to injury;
(c) 63 at the expected end of her employment with the respondent;[38] and
(d) 66 at the date of trial.
First, on the evidence, I prefer the submission of the defendant that, on balance, the plaintiff would have worked until 14 September 2020, but [was] likely to have not worked thereafter. That equates to a period of past pecuniary loss of 163 weeks.
Second, I do not accept the defendant's submission that a 50 per cent vicissitude should be applied. Absent the work injury, there is no suggestion that the plaintiff was not capable of the work with the defendant. There is no suggestion that it would not have been available, even if tensions were brewing with Lynda.
Third, I consider it more probable than not that the plaintiff would have worked her five years with the defendant, returned to Melbourne and then retired to enjoy travel and time with her family and grandchildren.
Fourth, there is the prospect that the plaintiff could have engaged in some part-time employment or could have engaged in employment from time to time, after ceasing with the defendant. In that sense, there are both positive and negative vicissitudes.
Fifth, I consider a fair approach is to allow the plaintiff her full pecuniary loss for the five years up to 14 September 2020, but with a further vicissitude of 20% to reflect both general vicissitudes but also to reflect the unreliability of aspects of her evidence about the extent of incapacity and that within that five year period she would have had some residual capacity for alternat[ive] employment at least on a limited hours basis, consistent with her ability to engage in overseas travel and the like.[44]
I consider that the pain and suffering consequences and the extent of psychiatric injury to the plaintiff are significant, but not at a level seen, for example, in some of the institutional abuse cases or cases of serious workplace bullying and harassment. I also consider that she has embellished some aspects of her evidence about pain and suffering consequences or left out relevant facts such as her enjoyment of overseas travel. Taking those factors into account, I consider that the sum of $150,000 is an appropriate award of general damages.[45]
A court of appeal is bound to conduct a 'real review' of the evidence given at first instance and of the judge's reasons for judgment to determine whether the trial judge has erred in fact or law. Appellate restraint with respect to interference with a trial judge's findings unless they are 'glaringly improbable' or 'contrary to compelling inferences' is as to factual findings which are likely to have been affected by impressions about the credibility and reliability of witnesses formed by the trial judge as a result of seeing and hearing them give their evidence. It includes findings of secondary facts which are based on a combination of these impressions and other inferences from primary facts. Thereafter, 'in general an appellate court is in as good a position as the trial judge to decide on the proper inference to be drawn from facts which are undisputed or which, having been disputed, are established by the findings of the trial judge.[55]
It is true that as the assessment of damages has become more sophisticated, calculations are made in an attempt to achieve greater precision. Such calculations may sometimes give a false appearance of accuracy. Some of the figures on which they are based are the result of estimate or speculation. In the case of loss of earning capacity it is necessary to compare what the plaintiff might have earned if he had not suffered the injury with what he is likely to earn in his injured condition. In many cases this means that the court has to engage in 'a double exercise in the art of prophesying' ... Of course in some cases of serious injury it will be possible to say that the plaintiff is probably capable of earning nothing in the future. However, in no case can there be any solid basis on which to determine what the plaintiff would have earned if he had not received the injuries in respect of which he sues. Actuarial tables will show the average number of years which will be lived after a certain age by those alive at that age, but will not show that it is probable that the plaintiff, even if in good health, would have conformed to the average. No evidence can possibly indicate whether the plaintiff, had he not been injured, would have remained in good health, and continued to be employed at any particular rate of earnings. For these reasons, damages for financial loss likely to result from personal injury 'can only be an estimate, often a very rough estimate, of the present value of his prospective loss' ... Ultimately the process must always be one of judgment rather than calculation.[56]
(a) the applicant and her husband were financially sufficiently well off that retirement or semi-retirement would have been an option after five years working with the respondent;
(b) the applicant was at an age when many people choose to retire;
(c) there was uncertainty given her age and work history as to whether she would have achieved further or additional employment; and
(d) the applicant's enjoyment of travel and time with family, including grandchildren, provided an incentive to retire.
It is the relationship of the award to the injury and its consequences as established in the evidence in the case in question which is to be proportionate. It is only if, there being no other error, the award is grossly disproportionate to those injuries and consequences that it can be set aside. Whether it is so or not is a matter of judgment in the sound exercise of a sense of proportion. It is not a matter to be resolved by reference to some norm or standard supposedly to be derived from a consideration of amounts awarded in a number of other specific cases. We cannot think that the passage cited from Chulcough v Holley should be understood as expressing a contrary view. The principle to be followed in assessing damages is, in our opinion, not in doubt. It is that the amount of damages must be fair and reasonable compensation for the injuries received and the disabilities caused. It is to be proportionate to the situation of the claimant party and not to the situation of other parties in other actions, even if some similarity between their situations may be supposed to be seen.[62]
[1] (1990) 169 CLR 638 ('Malec').
[2] Lapetina v Elgee Park Pty Ltd [2023] VCC 1288, [187] ('Reasons').
[38] The applicant said that she and her husband would like to 'do at least five years' with the respondent and that she expected to come back to Melbourne and do some part-time work for a few years.
[47] CSR Ltd v Eddy [2005] HCA 64; (2005) 226 CLR 1, 16 [30] (Gleeson CJ, Gummow and Heydon JJ).
[48] Arthur Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter [1968] HCA 9; (1968) 122 CLR 649, 658 (Barwick CJ).
[49] Husher v Husher [1999] HCA 47; (1999) 197 CLR 138, 142-143 [6]-[7] (Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Kirby and Hayne JJ).
[50] Malec (1990) 169 CLR 638, 643 (Deane, Gaudron and McHugh JJ).
[52] Arthur Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter [1968] HCA 9; (1968) 122 CLR 649, 659 (Barwick CJ).
[53] Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118, 126-27 [25] (Gleeson CJ, Gummow and Kirby JJ) ('Fox'). See also Abalos v Australian Postal Commission [1990] HCA 47; (1990) 171 CLR 167, 178-79 (McHugh J); Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 ('Devries').
[54] Devries (1993) 177 CLR 472, 479 (Brennan, Gaudron and McHugh JJ), referred to in Fox (2003) 214 CLR 118, 127-28 [26]-[27] (Gleeson CJ, Gummow and Kirby JJ).
[55] [2019] HCA 28; (2019) 266 CLR 129, 148-49 [55] (Bell, Gageler, Nettle and Edelman JJ) (citations omitted).
[56] [1981] HCA 72; (1981) 150 CLR 402, 412-13 (citations omitted).
[57] Echoing Windeyer J in Bresatz v Przibilla [1962] HCA 54; (1962) 108 CLR 541, 544 in which his Honour said 'all "contingencies" are not adverse: all "vicissitudes" are not harmful'.
[58] Hunter v Transport Accident Commission [2005] VSCA 1, [21] (Nettle JA).
[61] (1968) 119 CLR 118, 125 ('Planet Fisheries').
[62] (1968) 119 CLR 118, 124-25 (citations omitted).
[63] Planet Fisheries (1968) 119 CLR 118, 124.
[64] Chulcough v Holley (1968) 41 ALJR 336, 338 (Windeyer J) ('Chulcough').
[65] Planet Fisheries (1968) 119 CLR 118, 125.
[66] Chulcough (1968) 41 ALJR 336, 338 (Windeyer J), cited in Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 52; (2003) 216 CLR 327, 350 [69] (Hayne J).
[67] Geelong Leather Pty Ltd v Delaney [2014] VSCA 98, [59] (Beach JA, with whom Maxwell P and Kyrou AJA agreed).
Lapetina
Elgee Park Pty Ltd [2024] VSCA 39
[2023] VCC 1288 (Judge Purcell)
Arthur Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter [1968] HCA 9; (1968) 122 CLR 649, Chulcough v Holley (1968) 41 ALJR 336, CSR Ltd v Eddy [2005] HCA 64; (2005) 226 CLR 1, Hunter v Transport Accident Commission [2005] VSCA 1, Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638, Lee v Lee [2019] HCA 28; (2019) 266 CLR 129, Planet Fisheries Pty Ltd v La Rosa (1968) 119 CLR 118, Todorovic v Waller [1981] HCA 72; (1981) 150 CLR 402, considered.
(1968) 122 CLR 649
(1968) 41 ALJR 336
(2005) 226 CLR 1
(1990) 169 CLR 638
(2019) 266 CLR 129
(1968) 119 CLR 118
(1981) 150 CLR 402
(1999) 197 CLR 138
(2003) 214 CLR 118
(1990) 171 CLR 167
(1993) 177 CLR 472
(1962) 108 CLR 541
(2003) 216 CLR 327