Stevens v. Okrainec, (1997) 210 A.R. 161 (QB)

• Judge: Nash, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: November 25, 1997
• Citations: (1997), 210 A.R. 161 (QB)

Stevens v. Okrainec (1997), 210 A.R. 161 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1997] A.R. TBEd. DE.009

Patricia Mary Julie Stevens (plaintiff) v. Earl D. Okrainec (defendant)

(Action No. 9103-22136)

Indexed As: Stevens v. Okrainec

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Nash, J.

November 25, 1997.

Summary:

The plaintiff brought a negligence action for damages against the defendant for injuries suffered in a 1990 motor vehicle accident.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench found the defendant negligent and solely at fault for failing to stop at a stop sign. The court assessed damages accordingly.

Damage Awards - Topic 11

Injury and death - Continuing pain (incl. myofascial and chronic pain syndrome) - [See Damage Awards - Topic 178 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 178

Injury and death - Neck injuries - Whip­lash - The 35 year old plaintiff suffered a moderate whiplash with headaches in a 1990 motor vehicle accident - She com­plained of continuing pain in her lower back and neck and debilitating headaches which made continued employment as a tax accountant unbearable - The plaintiff was previously seriously injured in a 1974 accident, suffering four fractured vertebrae, four fractured ribs, a fractured left ankle and a cervical sprain - The plaintiff's subjective complaints of chronic pain were inconsistent with medical evidence and videotape surveillance - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that the 1990 acci­dent resulted in a moderate whiplash and headaches that should have been resolved within four years - Her preexisting de­generative arthritis was symptomatic in 1990 and not aggravated by that accident -Her lower back pain was unrelated to the 1990 accident - This was not a "thin skull" case, as there was no aggravation of a pre-existing condition - The plaintiff's claim of chronic pain resulting from the 1990 acci­dent was not proved - The court awarded $45,000 general damages for nonpecuniary loss, lost income for the four year recovery period and $4,000 for past loss of house­keeping services.

Damage Awards - Topic 488

Injury and death - General damage awards - Cost of housekeeping services and child care - [See Damage Awards - Topic 178 ].

Damages - Topic 591

Limits of compensatory damages - Predis­position to damage (Thin skull rule) - "Thin skull" or "crumbling skull" - [See Damage Awards - Topic 178 ].

Cases Noticed:

Phillips v. Rost (1996), 185 A.R. 241 (Q.B.), dist. [para. 252].

Alberta Motor Association Insurance Co. v. Lenza (1990), 74 Alta. L.R.(2d) 218 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 261].

Commonwealth Construction Co. v. Syncrude Canada Ltd. (1985), 64 A.R. 132; 40 Alta. L.R.(2d) 89 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 261].

Teno et al. v. Arnold et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 287; 19 N.R. 1; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 609, refd to. [para. 268].

Thornton et al. v. Board of School Trustees of School District No. 57 (Prince George) et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 267; 19 N.R. 552; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 480, refd to. [para. 268].

Andrews et al. v. Grand & Toy Alberta Ltd. et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 229; 19 N.R. 50; 8 A.R. 182; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 452, refd to. [para. 268].

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. 268].

Janiak v. Ippolito, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 146; 57 N.R. 241; 9 O.A.C. 1; 16 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 268].

Snell v. Farrell, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 311; 110 N.R. 200; 107 N.B.R.(2d) 94; 267 A.P.R. 94; 72 D.L.R.(4th) 289, refd to. [para. 268].

Mallett v. McMonagle, [1970] A.C. 166 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 268].

McLaren v. Schwalbe (1994), 148 A.R. 1; 16 Alta. L.R.(3d) 108 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 268].

Bennett v. Mitchell, [1987] 1 P.I.D.P. 2958, refd to. [para. 268].

Davies v. Chouinard (1995), 166 A.R. 363 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 268].

Gillis v. Krali, [1992] 1 P.I.D.P. 76 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 268].

Graham et al. v. Rourke, [1990] 1 P.I.D.P. 3009; 40 O.A.C. 301(C.A.), refd to. [para. 268].

Hummel v. Narin, [1993] 1 P.I.D.P. 3259, refd to. [para. 268].

Johnston v. Murchison, [1992] 1 P.I.D.P. 3261; 112 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 350 A.P.R. 181 (P.E.I.S.C.), refd to. [para. 268].

Palmer v. Goodall, [1991] 1 P.I.D.P. 480, refd to. [para. 268].

Soviskov v. Ritichie, [1988] 1 P.I.D.P. 1190, refd to. [para. 268].

Wilson v. Isley, [1995] 1 P.I.D.P. 3624 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 268].

Yoshikawa et al. v. Yu (1996), 73 B.C.A.C. 253; 120 W.A.C. 253 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 268].

Fulton v. King, 1 P.I.D.P. 1769 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 268].

Commonwealth Construction Co. v. Syncrude Canada Ltd. (1985), 60 A.R. 132; 40 Alta. L.R.(2d) 89 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 268].

Kay v. Paquette (1996), 186 A.R. 236 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

Ferguson v. Varzari & National Salvage Ltd. (1994), 156 A.R. 33 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

Kelly v. Hols (1994), 22 Alta. L.R.(3d) 338 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

Mackie v. Wolfe (1994), 153 A.R. 81 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

Martorana v. Lee (1994), 150 A.R. 167 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

Burroughs v. Singh and M.S. Trucking & Transportation Inc. (1992), 142 A.R. 1; 11 Alta. L.R.(3d) 73 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

McCarroll v. Anderson (1994), 163 A.R. 204 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 269].

Hobday v. Bergen et al. (1995), 178 A.R. 267; 110 W.A.C. 267 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 269].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Cooper-Stephenson, K.D., and Saunders, J.B., Personal Injury Damages in Canada (1981), pp. 67, 68 [para. 285].

Counsel:

Beverly J. Larbalestier, for the plaintiff;

Edward J. Boomer, for the defendant.

This action was heard before Nash, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judi­cial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on November 25, 1997.