//
[2024] WADC 42
General information, not legal advice.
District Court of WA
2024-06-07
Original judgment source is linked above.
I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the District Court of Western Australia.
[1] In the appeal by SR, ZF was given a different anonymised initial, being FR.
[2] Re Coad [2023] WADC 9 [17]; EM v CL [2021] WADC 127 [11]; EB v Ramljak [2021] WADC 134 [18].
[3] Underwood v Underwood [2018] WADC 13 [19] (Underwood); Re Collard [2018] WADC 1 [30].
[4] Underwood [112] - [113]; M v J (Unreported, WASC, Library No 920598, 19 November 1992) 11 - 12 (Scott J).
[5] Guy v Hampson [2019] WADC 19 [15].
[6] In this appeal, s 32 of the Act is not relevant as it is about the maximum payable for a single offence by multiple offenders.
[7] See for example the Explanatory Memorandum, 'Clause Notes' to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Bill 2003 (WA), pages 8 - 9.
[8] Stocker v Loeper [2001] WASC 176 (Stocker).
[9] X v McAllister [2021] WASCA 3; (2021) 57 WAR 187 (McAllister).
[11] See also Stocker; SL (by her next friend NL) [2014] WADC 178 [50].
[12] Re Harvey [2023] WADC 83 [147] - [156].
[13] LS v SL [2023] WADC 8 [117] - [124].
[14] DR v CD [2018] WADC 148 [63].
[15] SW v BB [2010] WADC 86 [112].
[18] Outline of submissions filed 8 December 2023, par 89.
[19] S v Neumann (1995) 14 WAR 452, 461 (Murray J).
[20] M v J (10) - (11) (Scott J).
[21] Martin v Martin [2015] WADC 138 [85] (Derrick DCJ) (Martin).
[22] Outline of submissions filed 8 December 2023, par 74.
[23] This document was not contained within the Book of Documents but was provided to me by counsel for the appellant at the hearing of the appeal without objection by the amicus curiae.
[25] American Psychiatric Association, 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5' (5th ed, 2013).
[26] Re Warrek [2019] WADC 50 [31].
[27] BAS v The Estate of NAS (dec) [2000] WASCA 270; cited by the amicus curiae.
[28] BAS v The Estate of NAS (dec) [20].
[29] BAS v The Estate of NAS (dec) [21].
[30] BAS v The Estate of NAS (dec) [30].
[31] BAS v The Estate of NAS (dec) [42].
[32] R v Bassi [2021] QCA 250; (2021) 9 QR 522 (Bassi).
[34] Klimoski v Water Authority of Western Australia (1989) 5 SR (WA) 148.
[35] R v Kucma [2005] VSCA 58; (2005) 11 VR 472.
[36] Trudgett v Commonwealth of Australia [2006] NSWSC 575 (Bell J).
[37] R v SCZ [2018] QCA 81 (Morrison & Philippides JJA; Davis J).
[38] R v Nguyen [2015] QCA 205 (Fraser & Gotterson JJA; Dalton J).
[39] R v Runjanjic [1991] SASC 2951; (1991) 56 SASR 114 (King CJ, Legoe & Bollen JJ).
[40] R v Forde (1986) 19 A Crim R 1.
[41] Caldwell v Caldwell [1996] NSWCA 88.
[42] Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) v Sokaluk [2013] VSCA 48.
[43] Nepi v Northern Territory [1997] NTSC 153.
[44] R v Whitbread (1995) 78 A Crim R 452 (Whitbread).
[45] R v Whitbread (460) - (461).
[49] Burns J, 'The Use of Psychiatric and Psychological Evidence on Sentence' (Criminal Law Continuing Professional Development Seminar, 24 April 2022), pars 10 - 12.
[50] And see also the reasons of Egan DCJ in Re Harvey [186].
[51] S v Neumann (461); M v J (10) - (11) (Scott J); Martin [85].
[52] S v Neumann [463]; Re AK [2016] WADC 156 [71]; Martin [82].
[53] EB v Ramljak [36]; March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; (1991) 171 CLR 506, 515; Lyle v SOC [2009] WASCA 3 [40]; [2009] WASCA 3; (2009) 38 WAR 418; Underwood [87]; S v Neumann (463), (464); Martin [83].
[54] Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare [1992] HCA 27; (1992) 176 CLR 408, 412, 413; Fagan v Crimes Compensation Tribunal [1982] HCA 49; (1982) 150 CLR 666, 673; Underwood; EB v Ramljak [136].
[55] EB v Ramljak [36]; March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd (515); Lyle v SOC [40]; Underwood [87]; S v Neumann (463) - (464); Martin.
[56] These were the incidents of the offending and alleged offending of which evidence and information has been given to the court, as set out above.
[57] McDavitt v McDavitt [No 2] [2013] WADC 198 [53].
[58] Underwood [128]; McDavitt v McDavitt [No 2] [34].
[59] Medlin v The State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1, 16; Tynan v Minister for Health [2011] WADC 228. Section 6(2)(c) of the Act in defining loss says that it includes 'loss of earnings suffered by the victim as a direct consequence of the injury suffered by the victim ...'.
[60] See Medlin v The State Government Insurance Commission (16) cited above (McHugh J) and Kittelty v Davies [2011] WADC 1 [228] (Kittelty) and A v D (1994) 11 WAR 481, 495 (Nicholson & Ipp JJ agreeing).
[61] Madigan v XYZ [2022] WADC 123 [24].
[62] Husher v Husher [1999] HCA 47; (1999) 197 CLR 138, 143 [7].
[63] See Husher v Husher [8]; Kittely [229].
[64] Luntz H, Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death (5th ed, 2021) [6.3.4] - [6.3.5].
[65] Westrac Equipment Pty Ltd v King [2004] WASCA 188 [29] - [30].
[66] New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133 [72]; [2000] NSWCA 133; (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 (Heydon JA).
[67] Chen by her tutor Huang v Kmart Australia Ltd [2023] NSWCA 96.
[68] Chen by her tutor Huang v Kmart Australia Ltd [44].
[69] Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 [5], [10], [58].
[70] Chen by her tutor Huang v Kmart Australia Ltd [51].
[71] See also Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWSA 13; [2012] NSWCA 13; (2012) 83 NSWLR 302 and reference to an article by Ger C, 'Coulda, shoulda, woulda' Assessing Lost Earning Capacity in Children, Precedent (Sydney, NSW) (Issue 124, September 2014).
[72] EB v Ramljak [53] - [56].
[73] Brocx v Mounsey [2010] WASCA 196.
[74] Tristram-Howard v Morris Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd [2023] WADC 60 [334] (Tristram-Howard).
[76] D'Souza v Barclays Building Services (WA) Pty Ltd [2020] WADC 87 [618].
[78] Section 6(2)(b), s 12(1), s 17(2) and s 35(2) of the Act.
[79] Richardson v Lawford [2020] WADC 58.
[80] Couper v Alexander [2020] WADC 56.
[81] Re Butler [2020] WADC 22.
[83] Nurovic v Nurovic [2019] WADC 28.
[84] Re RJA [2022] WADC 106.
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWSA 13; [2012] NSWCA 13; (2012) 83 NSWLR 302
BAS v The Estate of NAS (dec) [2000] WASCA 270
Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare [1992] HCA 27; (1992) 176 CLR 408
Brocx v Mounsey [2010] WASCA 196
Caldwell v Caldwell [1996] NSWCA 88
Chen by her tutor Huang v Kmart Australia Ltd [2023] NSWCA 96
Couper v Alexander [2020] WADC 56
Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) v Sokaluk [2013] VSCA 48
DR v CD [2018] WADC 148
D'Souza v Barclays Building Services (WA) Pty Ltd [2020] WADC 87
EB v Ramljak [2021] WADC 134
EM v CL [2021] WADC 127
Fagan v Crimes Compensation Tribunal [1982] HCA 49; (1982) 150 CLR 666
Guy v Hampson [2019] WADC 19
Husher v Husher [1999] HCA 47; (1999) 197 CLR 138
Kittelty v Davies [2011] WADC 1
LS v SL [2023] WADC 8
Lyle v SOC [2009] WASCA 3; (2009) 38 WAR 418
Madigan v XYZ [2022] WADC 123
March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; (1991) 171 CLR 506
Martin v Martin [2015] WADC 138
McDavitt v McDavitt [No 2] [2013] WADC 198
Medlin v The State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1
Nepi v Northern Territory [1997] NTSC 153
New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133; (2000) 54 NSWLR 536
Nurovic v Nurovic [2019] WADC 28
Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201
R v Bassi [2021] QCA 250; (2021) 9 QR 522
R v Kucma [2005] VSCA 58; (2005) 11 VR 472
R v Nguyen [2015] QCA 205
R v Runjanjic [1991] SASC 2951; (1991) 56 SASR 114
R v SCZ [2018] QCA 81
Re AK [2016] WADC 156
Re Butler [2020] WADC 22
Re Coad [2023] WADC 9
Re Collard [2018] WADC 1
Re Harvey [2023] WADC 83
Re RJA [2022] WADC 106
Re Warrek [2019] WADC 50
Richardson v Lawford [2020] WADC 58
SL (by her next friend NL) [2014] WADC 178
Stocker v Loeper [2001] WASC 176
SW v BB [2010] WADC 86
Tristram-Howard v Morris Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd [2023] WADC 60
Trudgett v Commonwealth of Australia [2006] NSWSC 575
Tynan v Minister for Health [2011] WADC 228
Underwood v Underwood [2018] WADC 13
Westrac Equipment Pty Ltd v King [2004] WASCA 188
X v McAllister [2021] WASCA 3; (2021) 57 WAR 187
In Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1995] HCA 53; (1995) 184 CLR 485, 497, the High Court described the four factors, apart from death, that were relevant in calculating contingencies as sickness, accident, unemployment and industrial disputes. The court observed that not all contingencies are adverse and that any positive considerations (such as advancement in employment) are also to be taken into account. The court pointed out that contingencies are to be considered in terms of their likely impact on the earning capacity of the injured person concerned, not by reference to the workforce generally.
(1992) 176 CLR 408
(1999) 197 CLR 138
(1991) 56 SASR 114
(1995) 14 WAR 452
(1938) 60 CLR 336
(2012) 83 NSWLR 302
(1982) 150 CLR 666
(1995) 182 CLR 1
(2005) 11 VR 472
(2021) 57 WAR 187
(1960) 103 CLR 486
(2001) 52 NSWLR 705
(1995) 184 CLR 485
(1992) 67 ALJR 170
(1994) 11 WAR 481
(2009) 38 WAR 418
(1991) 171 CLR 506
(2000) 54 NSWLR 536