Marinelli et al. v. Keigan et al., (1999) 173 N.S.R.(2d) 56 (CA)

• Judge: Chipman, Freeman and Roscoe, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: January 26, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1999), 173 N.S.R.(2d) 56 (CA)

Marinelli v. Keigan (1999), 173 N.S.R.(2d) 56 (CA);

    527 A.P.R. 56

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. FE.016

Norman Allan Keigan and David Leroy Burrage (appellants) v. Elsie MacLeod (respondent)

(C.A. No. 147616)

Indexed As: Marinelli et al. v. Keigan et al.

Nova Scotia Court of Appeal

Chipman, Freeman and Roscoe, JJ.A.

January 26, 1999.

Summary:

The 54 year old plaintiff suffered a whip­lash injury in a 1992 motor vehicle accident. Six years later, the plaintiff continued to suffer from debilitating chronic pain which precluded her from returning to work as a nurse and severely restricted all aspects of her life. Liability was admitted. The sole issue was quantum of damages.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court, in a judgment reported 168 N.S.R.(2d) 252; 505 A.P.R. 252, awarded the plaintiff $80,000 gen­eral damages for nonpecuniary loss, $234,771 for loss of past income and $250,000 for loss of future income. The defendants appealed against damages, causa­tion and the trial judge's determination that the plaintiff did not fail to mitigate her loss. The plaintiff cross-appealed the damage award for lost future income.

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal dis­missed the appeal and cross-appeal. Chip­man, J.A., dissenting, would have reduced the nonpe­cuniary damage award from $80,000 to $50,000 and increased the nega­tive contin­gency from 35% to 45%.

Damage Awards - Topic 11

Injury and death - Continuing pain (incl. myofascial and chronic pain syndrome) - The 54 year old plaintiff career nurse suffered a whiplash injury in a 1992 motor vehicle accident - Six years later, the plaintiff continued to suffer from debilitat­ing pain which precluded her from work­ing and severely restricted all aspects of her life - Any routine task requiring exer­tion had to be done slowly, with frequent stops for rest - Long drives were painful and exhausting - Recreational activities and her social life were severely curtailed - Plaintiff also suffered emotional trauma from her lifestyle restrictions - No failure to mitigate - The trial judge awarded $80,000 general dam­ages for nonpecuniary loss, distinguishing the Smith v. Stubbert range of general damages for chronic pain fol­low­ing a soft tissue injury ($18,000 to $40,000) as not applying in cases of "totally debilitating chro­nic pain" - Re­turning to work was unlike­ly, but not ruled out - The court assessed $250,000 dam­ages for loss of future income, apply­ing a 35% contin­gency factor - The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal affirmed the deci­sion, finding that the trial judge did not err on causation, in assessing damages or in choosing 35% as a contingency reduction.

Damage Awards - Topic 493

Injury and death - General damage awards - Loss of prospective earnings - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Cases Noticed:

Toneguzzo-Norvell et al. v. Savein and Burnaby Hospital, [1994] 1 S.C.R. 114; 162 N.R. 161; 38 B.C.A.C. 193; 62 W.A.C. 193, refd to. [para. 12].

D.P. v. C.S., [1993] 4 S.C.R. 141; 159 N.R. 241; 58 Q.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 12].

Goodman Estate v. Geffen, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 353; 127 N.R. 241; 125 A.R. 81; 14 W.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 12].

Stein Estate v. Ship Kathy K, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 802; 6 N.R. 359, refd to. [para. 12].

Delgamuukw et al. v. British Columbia et al., [1997] 3 S.C.R. 1010; 220 N.R. 161; 99 B.C.A.C. 161; 162 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 12].

N.V. Bocimar S.A. v. Century Insurance Co. of Canada, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1247; 76 N.R. 212, refd to. [para. 12].

Watt v. Thomas, [1947] 1 All E.R. 582, refd to. [para. 12]

Johnson v. Murchison (1995), 127 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 396 A.P.R. 1 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 16].

Athey v. Leonati et al., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458; 203 N.R. 36; 81 B.C.A.C. 243; 132 W.A.C. 243; 140 D.L.R.(4th) 235, refd to. [para. 17].

Smith v. Stubbert (1992), 117 N.S.R.(2d) 118; 324 A.P.R. 118 (C.A.), dist. [para. 41].

Andrews et al. v. Grand & Toy (Alberta) Ltd. et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 229; 19 N.R. 50; 8 A.R. 182, refd to. [para. 42].

Teno et al. v. Arnold et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 287; 19 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 42].

Thornton v. Board of School Trustees of School District No. 57 (Prince George) et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 267; 19 N.R. 552, refd to. [para. 42].

Dillon v. Kelly (1996), 150 N.S.R.(2d) 102; 436 A.P.R. 102 (C.A.), appld. [para. 45].

Roberts v. Cape Breton Regional Hospital (1997), 162 N.S.R.(2d) 342; 485 A.P.R. 342 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 49].

Woelk v. Halvorson, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 430; 33 N.R. 232; 24 A.R. 620; [1981] 1 W.W.R. 289; 14 C.C.L.T. 181; 114 D.L.R.(3d) 385, refd to. [para. 52].

Ares v. Venner (1971), 14 D.L.R.(3d) 4 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 84].

Skeffington v. MacDonough (1992), 112 N.S.R.(2d) 452; 307 A.P.R. 452 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 84].

Kelly v. Hadley (1995), 138 N.S.R.(2d) 272; 394 A.P.R. 272 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 123].

Woods v. Hubley (1995), 146 N.S.R.(2d) 97; 422 A.P.R. 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 124].

White v. Slawter (1996), 149 N.S.R.(2d) 321; 432 A.P.R. 321 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 125].

MacPhail v. Desrosiers (1997), 166 N.S.R.(2d) 81; 498 A.P.R. 81 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 127].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Charles, W.H.R., Handbook on Assessment of Damages in Personal Injury Cases (2nd Ed. 1990), p. 51 [para. 42].

Counsel:

W. Dale Dunlop, for the appellants;

Elizabeth Cusack Walsh, Q.C., for the respondent.

This appeal and cross-appeal were heard on November 20, 1998, before Chipman, Freeman and Roscoe, JJ.A., of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

On January 26, 1999, the judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered and the following opinions were filed:

Freeman, J.A. (Roscoe, J.A., concurring) - see paragraphs 1 to 53;

Chipman, J.A., dissenting - see para­graphs 54 to 133.