Tomlinson v. Wurtz et al., (1982) 16 Man.R.(2d) 145 (QB)

• Judge: Deniset, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
• Case Date: June 21, 1982
• Jurisdiction: Manitoba
• Citations: (1982), 16 Man.R.(2d) 145 (QB)

Tomlinson v. Wurtz (1982), 16 Man.R.(2d) 145 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Tomlinson, Tomlinson and Tomlinson v. Wurtz, Deerboine Colony, Deerboine Holdings Co. Ltd., Wurtz, Wurtz, Wurtz, Wurtz, Pine Creek Colony, Pine Creek Holding Co. Ltd., Maendel, Maendel, Maendel and Public Trustee of Manitoba and Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (third party)

Indexed As: Tomlinson v. Wurtz et al.

Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench

Deniset, J.

June 21, 1982.

Summary:

The plaintiffs brought a negligence action for damages for personal injuries suffered by the infant plaintiff when struck by a truck owned and driven by the defendants.

The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench allowed the action in part and assessed damages.

Damage Awards - Topic 102

Head injuries - Brain damage - 2.5 year old girl - Severe brain damage resulting in frequent and uncontrolled seizures and neurodevelopmental dysfunction - 80 to 90% disabled - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench assessed nonpecuniary damages at $130,000.00 and pecuniary damages of $550,000.00 - See paragraphs 22 to 52.

Damages - Topic 1548

General damages for personal injuries - Management of fund fee - 2.5 year old girl with permanent severe brain damage - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench declined to award a sum as a management fee on an award of $746,812.83 because the parents of the child were capable of managing the award - See paragraph 45.

Damages - Topic 1550

General damages for personal injuries - Prospective loss of wages - 2.5 year old girl with permanent severe brain damage - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench stated that, having no way of knowing what income the girl would have earned, it was not inclined to award anything for loss of future income, but in view of the authorities it must and awarded $30,000.00 - See paragraph 47.

Torts - Topic 359

Negligence - Motor vehicles - Pedestrians - Children on highway - On a winter day the parents of a 2.5 year old girl left the girl on the side of a snowpacked and icy highway next to a crosscountry ski trail - The parents returned to the car on the other side of the highway to prepare for skiing - The child was struck by a truck - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that the parents were negligent and 10% at fault for leaving the child unattended on the side of the road - See paragraphs 16 to 21.

Torts - Topic 462

Negligence - Motor vehicles - Speed - Where reduced speed required - Road conditions - On a winter day the defendant driver, travelling at 40 m.p.h., hit a 2.5 year old girl sitting on the side of the highway - The road was snowpacked and icy - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that the driver was negligent and 90% at fault for going too fast and losing control - See paragraphs 16 to 21.

Cases Noticed:

Hayduk v. Pidoborozny (1972), 29 D.L.R.(3d) 8 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 13].

Honan v. Gerhold (1975), 3 N.R. 81; 50 D.L.R.(3d) 582 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 13].

Wynne v. Dalby (1913), 16 D.L.R. 710, consd. [para. 15].

Harberl v. Richardson, [1951] 3 D.L.R. 34, consd. [para. 15].

Crissal v. Burton and Basi (1953), 8 W.W.R.(N.S.) 409, consd. [para. 15].

Meason and Glacier v. Michael and Elwood (1959), 27 W.W.R.(N.S.) 605, consd. [para. 15].

Litz v. Benjamin et al. (1960), 31 W.W.R.(N.S.) 526, consd. [para. 15].

Johannesson v. Twin City et al. (1962), 40 W.W.R.(N.S.) 557, consd. [para. 15].

Ross v. Stone et al. (1962), 35 D.L.R.(2d) 672, consd. [para. 15].

Inwood v. Wilkes et al. (1963), 38 D.L.R.(2d) 10, consd. [para. 15].

Henderson et al. v. Michlosky et al. (1963), 42 W.W.R.(N.S.) 618, consd. [para. 15].

Rudney et al. v. Bjornson and Bjornson (1967), 59 W.W.R.(N.S.) 244, consd. [para. 15].

Naugler et al. v. Conrad et al., [1971] 2 W.W.R. 91, consd. [para. 15].

Singh v. McRae et al., [1971] 5 W.W.R. 544, consd. [para. 15].

Bois v. McDonald et al., [1975] 5 W.W.R. 739, consd. [para. 15].

Williams v. Swingler et al., [1975] 2 W.W.R. 34, consd. [para. 15].

Teno et al. v. Arnold et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 287; 19 N.R. 1; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 609, consd. [paras. 19 and 43].

MacDonald v. Alderson and Manitoba, Province of (1981), 8 Man.R.(2d) 202 (Man. Q.B.); [1982] 3 W.W.R. 385; 15 Man.R.(2d) 35 (Man. C.A.), consd. [para. 38].

MacDonald v. Alderson and Manitoba, Province of, [1982] 3 W.W.R. 385; 15 Man.R.(2d) 35 (Man. C.A.); 8 Man.R.(2d) 202 (Man. Q.B.), folld. [para. 38].

H. West & Son Ltd. et al. v. Shephard, [1964] A.C. 326, consd. [para. 38].

Andrews v. Grand & Toy Alberta Ltd., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 229; 19 N.R. 50; 8 A.R. 182; [1978] 1 W.W.R. 557; 83 D.L.R. (3d) 452, consd. [para. 43].

Thornton v. School District No. 57 (Prince George), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 267; 19 N.R. 552; [1978] 1 W.W.R. 607; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 480, consd. [para. 43].

Lindal v. Lindal, [1982] 1 W.W.R. 433; 39 N.R. 361, consd. [para. 43].

Lewis v. Todd et al., [1980] 2 S.C.R. 694; 34 N.R. 1; 115 D.L.R.(3d) 257; 14 C.C.L.T. 294, consd. [para. 43].

McLeod v. Palardy (1980), 4 Man.R.(2d) 218, affd. 10 Man.R.(2d) 181, folld. [para. 43].

Kiddell et al. v. Kulczycki et al., [1977] 3 W.W.R. 216, consd. [para. 43].

R. v. McBurney, [1975] 2 W.W.R. 448, consd. [para. 43].

R. v. Chandok, [1973] 12 C.C.C.(2d) 500, consd. [para. 43].

Fenn v. Corporation of the City of Peterborough (1979), 9 C.C.L.T. 1, consd. [para. 43].

Hatton et al. v. Henderson (1980), 20 B.C.L.R. 234, consd. [para. 43].

Sabel v. Williamson (1967), 58 W.W.R.(N.S.) 718, consd. [para. 43].

Jeselon et al. v. Waters (1981), 27 B.C.L.R. 191, consd. [para. 43].

Quinn v. Leathem, [1901] A.C. 495, consd. [para. 44].

Statutes Noticed:

Highway Traffic Act, R.S.M. 1970, c. H-60, sect. 23(4) [para. 11]; sect. 6(1) [para. 12].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Munkman, Damages for Personal Injuries and Death (1973), [para. 43].

Goldsmith on Damages (1978-81 Supp.) [para. 43].

Counsel:

G. Sigurdson, D. McCaffrey, Q.C., for Kami Janine Tomlinson, Charles William Tomlinson, and Janice Tomlinson;

R.B. McNicol, L. French, for Dorothy Wurtz;

M. Radcliffe, D. Rogalsky, for Deerboine Colony, Deerboine Holdings Co. Ltd., John Wurtz, Christian Wurtz, and Michael Wurtz;

B. Stewart, for Darious Wurtz;

R. Vohora, for Pine Creek Colony and Pine Creek Holding Co. Ltd., Sam Maendel, Jr., Lorenz S. Maendel and Sam J. Maendel;

A.K. Twaddle, Q.C., for The Manitoba Public Insurance Corp.

This case was heard by DENISET, J., of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, who on June 21, 1982, delivered the following decision.