LAW1113 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Structured Settlement, Mental Distress, Average Weekly Earnings
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Ø 2<IBCBAB?CJ!Purpose!is!to!put!the!plaintiff!(as!close!as!possible)!in!the!position!they!
would!have!been!had!tort!not!been!committed&
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Ø 2<IBCBAB?CJ!Itemised!components!of!the!overall!award!of!damages!(i.e.!what!they!
are!compensating)&
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Ø 2<IBCBAB?CJ!Once!damages!are!assessed,!that!is!the!end!of!the!matter!(i.e.!awarded!
at!the!end!of!trial!and!cannot!be!brought!again,!unless!you!apply!appellate!rights)!
o !Court!is!given!job!to!consider!the!losses!in!the!future!!
Ø -NM<EAB?CJ!28!M!&N!!
o Allows!parties!where!personal!injury!has!been!caused,!parties!can!seeks!
structured!settlement!(they!must!do!it!on!agreement,!but!court!will!order!it)!
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Ø Damages!must!be!awarded!as!a!lump!sum!and!it!is!generally!not!permissible!to!
order!periodic!sums!
Ø !Exception:!Structured!settlement!
o Takes!into!account!interest;!investment!of!lump!some;!inflation!is!considered!
(For!finality!between!the!parties)!
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Ø Awarded!for!loss!that!can!be!expressed!and!proven!in!precise!monetary!terms!
(PAST)!
o Medical!(and!other)!expenses!
o Loss!of!past!earnings!
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Ø Awarded!for!loss!that!cannot!be!proven!precisely!
o Future!pecuniary!losses!
o Non-pecuniary!losses!
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Ø Recognises!that!u!did!suffer,!but!is!nominal!(i.e.!no!injury!may!be!needed!just!that!
tort!has!been!done!onto!you)!
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Ø Punishment!for!the!high-handed!disregard!of!P!
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Ø Nature!of!harm!is!aggravated!(e.g.!police!gun!case!(trespass))!
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Ø Financial!losses!
resulting!from!the!
tort!
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Ø !?FF&?I&<=@CBCH&M=E=MBAGJ!Degree!in!which!injury!will!limit!the!income!in!the!
future!(expected!duration!of!injury)!!
o Evidence!of!past!income:!If!current!income!does!not!exist!we!look!at!the!
history!of!P!
o Lost!years!incomes!will!be!calculated!(without!living!expenses)!
Ø /<LBM=;&<NE<CF<FJ!Modifications!to!home!and!vehicle;!!
o How!much!care!needed!in!future!(i.e.!special!treatment!and!care!needed!
in!the!future)!
o !Court!is!likely!to!award!for!hospital!care!rather!than!home!care!
(cheaper)!
o Gratuitous!care!(family!members!at!a!market!rate)!will!be!considered,!
but!caps!are!available!
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Ø 5=BC&=CL&F:II<@BCHJ!Mental!distress!and!pain!from!injury!!
Document Summary
Definition: purpose is to put the plaintiff (as close as possible) in the position they. Damages would have been had tort not been committed. Heads of damages definition: itemised components of the overall award of damages (i. e. what they are compensating) Definition: once damages are assessed, that is the end of the matter (i. e. awarded. Rule at the end of trial and cannot be brought again, unless you apply appellate rights) Court is given job to consider the losses in the future. Exception: 28 m &n: allows parties where personal injury has been caused, parties can seeks structured settlement (they must do it on agreement, but court will order it) Lump sum rule damages must be awarded as a lump sum and it is generally not permissible to order periodic sums. Exception: structured settlement: takes into account interest; investment of lump some; inflation is considered (for finality between the parties)
