S.A.B. et al. v. Drift Development Ltd. et al., (1999) 236 A.R. 145 (QB)

• Judge: Binder, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: February 22, 1999
• Citations: (1999), 236 A.R. 145 (QB)

S.A.B. v. Drift Dev. Ltd. (1999), 236 A.R. 145 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] A.R. TBEd. MR.014

S.A.B. and V.B. (plaintiffs) v. Drift Development Ltd. and Aldwin Miller (defendants)

(Action No. 9303-20498)

Indexed As: S.A.B. et al. v. Drift Development Ltd. et al.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Binder, J.

February 22, 1999.

Summary:

The plaintiff was injured when the vehicle he was driving hit a metal pipe. The pipe had fallen off the defendants' truck and came to rest in a perpendicular position across the highway. The plaintiff sued the defendants. The defendants admitted liability, but argued that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that the defendants were solely at fault. The court assessed the plaintiff's damages.

Damage Awards - Topic 11

Injury and death - General - Continuing pain - Chronic pain syndrome - The plaintiff was injured when the vehicle he was driving hit a metal pipe - The plain­tiff, aged 48 at the time of the accident, sustained a whiplash-type injury and an injury to his back - As a result of his injuries, the plaintiff suffered from chronic pain - Prior to the accident the plaintiff was generally healthy - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench awarded the plaintiff $60,000 general damages - See paragraphs 26 to 88.

Damage Awards - Topic 66

Injury and death - Body injuries - Back - General - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 178

Injury and death - Neck injuries - Whip­lash - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Torts - Topic 468

Negligence - Motor vehicle - Speed - Where reduced speed required - Obstruc­tions - The plaintiff was injured when the vehicle he was driving hit a metal pipe - The pipe had fallen off the defendants' truck and came to rest in a perpendicular position across the highway - The plaintiff was travelling slightly under the posted speed limit of 100 km/h - The pipe was not visible until the last moment - Two other people, including a police officer, were travelling at a similar speed and hit the pipe - Although the defendants claimed that warning signs were posted, none of the drivers saw the signs prior to the acci­dent - The defendants admitted liability, but argued that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that the defendants were solely at fault - See paragraphs 10 to 25.

Torts - Topic 6610

Defences - Contributory negligence - Particular cases - Motor vehicle accidents -[See Torts - Topic 468 ].

Cases Noticed:

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, refd to. [para. 72, Appendix I].

Harbora v. McIvor et al. (1997), 202 A.R. 99 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 84, Appendix I].

Davies v. Chouinard (1995), 166 A.R. 363 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 88, Appendix I].

Phillips v. Rost (1996), 185 A.R. 241; 40 Alta. L.R.(3d) 246 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 88, Appendix I].

Gilchrist v. Oatway (1995), 168 A.R. 56; 29 Alta. L.R.(3d) 241 (Q.B.), affd. (1997), 209 A.R. 225; 160 W.A.C. 225; 56 Alta. L.R.(3d) 64 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Maslen v. Rubenstein, [1994] 1 W.W.R. 53; 33 B.C.A.C. 182; 54 W.A.C. 182 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix I].

York v. Johnston et al., [1997] 9 W.W.R. 739; 93 B.C.A.C. 181; 151 W.A.C. 181 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Mackie v. Wolfe (1994), 153 A.R. 81; 21 Alta. L.R.(3d) 11 (Q.B.), refd to. [Ap­pendix I].

D'Amato et al. v. Badger et al., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 1071; 199 N.R. 341; 79 B.C.A.C. 110; 129 W.A.C. 110; 137 D.L.R.(4th) 129, refd to. [Appendix I].

McLaren v. Schwalbe (1994), 148 A.R. 1; 16 Alta. L.R.(3d) 108 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Holman v. Martin (1995), 170 A.R. 267; 30 Alta. L.R.(3d) 378 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Martorana v. Lee (1994), 150 A.R. 167 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Brouwer v. Grewal and Edmonton (City) (1995), 168 A.R. 342; 30 Alta. L.R.(3d) 244 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Fischer v. Von Tettenborn (1992), 134 A.R. 81; 5 Alta. L.R.(3d) 272 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Beger v. MacAstocker Estate (1996), 192 A.R. 241; 45 Alta. L.R.(3d) 16 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Olson et al. v. General Accident Assurance Co. of Canada (1998), 218 A.R. 310 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Schiewe Estate v. Skogan et al. (1998), 228 A.R. 68; 188 W.A.C. 68 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Edward v. Mainroad Contracting Ltd., [1993] B.C.J No. 462 (S.C.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Webb et al. v. Motta et al. (1998), 233 A.R. 9 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Logozar v. Golder (1992), 136 A.R. 363 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Buchanan v. Wassef (1996), 191 A.R. 89 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Herman v. Graves et al. (1998), 217 A.R. 275 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Martin v. Jordan, [1988] B.C.J. No. 2033 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix I].

Counsel:

Robert A. Grasser, Q.C., and Cherisse Killick-Dzenick, for the plaintiff;

Jonathon P.J. Rossall, for the defendants.

This action was heard by Binder, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on February 22, 1999.