The Gazette 1990

j A nua R y / february

1990

GAZETTE

ion is to adjudicate according to principle, leaving policy curtail- ment to the judgment of Parliament. Here lies the true role of the two law making institu- tions in our Constitution. By concentrating on principle the Judges can keep the common law alive, flexible and consistent, and can keep the legal system- clear of policy problems which neither they, nor the forensic process which it is their duty to operate, are equipped to resolve. If principle leads to results which are thought to be socially un- acceptable, Parliament can legis- late to draw a line or map out a new path. The real risk to the common law is not its move- ment to cover new situations and new knowledge but lest it should stand still, halted by a conservative judicial approach". (1) McLoughlin -v- O'Brian and Others, House of Lords, [1983) A.C. 410, [1982] 2 All E.R. 298 [1982] 2 W.L.R. 982, [1982] R.T.R. 209, 5 I.L.R. 121, 6 May 1982. The historical development of compensation for nervous shock is chronicled in the speech of Lord Bridge (2) For cases where it has received passing mention, see Kelly -v- McElligott (Sup Ct) [1951] 85 I.L.T.R. 4; Piunkett -v- St. Laurence Hospital [1952] 86 I.L.T.R. 157; Heaney -v- Ma/occa [1958] I.R. 111, 92 I.L.T.R. 117. For a case which is more to the point see Hogg -v- Keane [19561 I.R. 155. ( 3 ) See Anns -v- Merton Borough Council [1977] 2 All E.R. 492, [1978] AC 728; [1977] 2 W.L.R. 1024; and Leigh and Siiiavan Ltd. -v- Aiiakmon Shipping Co. Ltd., Court of Appeal (Civil Division), [1985] Q.B. 350, [1985] 2 All E.R. 44, [1985] 2 W.L.R. 289, [1985] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 199, (48 M.L.R. 352), 7 December 1984. (4) [1932] AC 562 at 580. ( 5) See Rondel -v- Worsley [1967] 3 All E.R. 993, [1969] 1 A.C. 191. Also Hosford and Others -v- John Murphy & Sons [1988] I.L.R.M. 300, excluding claims in respect of non-pecuniary benefits deriving from the parent/child relationship. (6 ) Leigh and Siiiavan Ltd. -v- Aiiakmon Shipping Co. Ltd., Court of Appeal (Civil Division), [1985] Q.B. 350, [1985] 2 All E.R. 44, [1985] 2 W.L.R. 289, [19851 1 Lloyd's Rep. 199, (48 M.L.R.. 352), 7 December 1984. ( 7 ) See the Judgment of Lord Scarman in McLoughlin -v- O'Brian [1982] 2 All E.R. at 310. (8) 11953] 1 All E.R. 617, 623. ( 9 ) Brice and Others -v- Brown and others, Queen's Bench Division, [1984] 1 All E.R. 997, ([1984] C.L.J. 238), 13 July 1983 and Gait -v- British Railways Board, Queen's Bench Division, 133 N.L.J. 870, (Transcript: WH Clark), 20 May 1983. NOTES

(10) King -v- Phillips, Court of Appeal [1953] 1 Q.B. 429. [1953] 1 All E.R. 617, [1953] 2 W.L.R. 526, 5 I.L.R. 70, 16 February 1953 and Smith -v- Leech Brain & Co. [1961] 3 All E.R. 1159. (11) [1987] I.L.R.M. 202, [1986] I.R. 642. (12) This does not appear to be entirely correct. See Schneider -v- Eisovitch [1960] 2 Q.B. 430, [1960] 2 W.L.R. 169 and [1960] 1 All E.R. 169, where a wife who was involved in a road traffic accident with her husband but was rendered unconscious in the accident was told in hospital (after she recovered consciousness) of her hus- band's death. She recovered damages for nervous shock. McGregor on Damages, 14th Edition, paragraph 154, suggests that this decision is based on re Poiemis and is no longer good law because it was not foreseeable that the Plaintiff would suffer injury by nervous shock. However, this case was approved post Wagon Mound in Andrews -v- Williams [1967] V.R. 831, and the unforeseeability argument would appear to be unconvincing in the light of the decision in McLoughlin -v- O'Brian fn(l). Supra. (13) In the claim for damages for nervous shock, Christine Keegan was awarded £50,000 and John Keegan was awarded nothing. (14) This view is supported by Wiggs -v- British Railways Board, Queen's Bench Division, 136 N.L.J. 446, The Times 4 February 1986 (Transcript: Palantype), 31 January, 1986. ( 1 5 ) See Behrens and Another -v- Bertram Mills Circus Ltd., Queen's Bench Division, [1957] 2 Q.B. 1, [1957] 1 All E.R. 583, [1957] 2. W.L.R. 404, 30 January, 1957 and Benson -v- Lee [1972] V.R. 879, 17 Digest (Reissue) 151, and Kraij and another -v- McGrath and another, Queen's Bench Division, [1986] 1 All E.R. 54, 27 June, 1985. In The State (Keegan) -v- Stardust Compensation Tribunal. Supra, Finlay C.J. said that it appeared to be the law in Ireland that grief even if it gave rise to psychiatric disorder may not give rise to liability for damages. (16) However, if grief makes recovery from other injuries more prolonged it may be taken into account. Kraij and another -v- McGrath and another. Queen's Bench Division, [1986] 1 All E.R. 54, 27 June, 1985. (17) Brice and Others -v- Brown and others. Queen's Bench Division, [1984] 1 All E.R. 997, ([1984] CLJ 238), 13 July, 1983. ( 1 8 ) Attia -v- British Gas pic, Court of Appeal, Civil Division, [1987] 3 All E.R. 455, 2 W.L.R. 1101, 26 June, 1987. Leave to appeal refused. [1988] 1 All E.R., xvi, H.L. (19) Diesen -v- Samson [1971] S.L.T. 49. ( 2 0 ) Jarvis -v- Swan Tours [1973] Q.B. 233. (21) Archer -v- Brown, Queen's Bench Division, [1985] Q.B. 401, [1984] 2 All E.R. 267, [1984] 3 W.L.R. 350, 28 October, 1983. (22) Roche -v- Peiiow. [ 1985JIR 232. See White: Irish Law of Damages p734. See also Fiannery -v- Houlihan HC, 1987 op. cit. p738.

( 23) (1888) 12 App. Cas 222. In Kelly -v- McElligott (Sup. Ct. 1951). 85 I.L.T.R. 4, 16. Black J. described this as "a thoroughly discredited decision". ( 24) (1884) Unrep. cited in 26 L.R. IR. at 428, 36(1) Digest (Reissue) 310. (2 5) (1890) 26 L.R. IR 428, 36(1) Digest (Reissue) 310. ( 2 6 ) Whitmore -v- Auto Transportes Julia SA, Queen's Bench Division, unre- ported, (Transcript: Baxter & McCarthy), 4 May, 1984 Comyn J. Health Authority, Queen's Bench Division, unreported, (Transcript: W H Clark), 1 May, 1984 Michael Davies J. (2 8) [1982] I.L.R.M. 48. ( 2 9) [1978] ILRM 136, High Court, Kenny J, 18 July, 1978. (30) Gait -v- British Railways Board, Queen's Bench Division, 133 N.L.J. 870, (Transcript: Haswell), 19 May 1983. Muhammad, Queen's Bench Division, unreported, (Transcript:Marten Walsh Cherer), 21 May 1984. (32) Kraij and anotehr -v- McGrath and anotehr. Queen's Bench Division, [1986] 1 All E.R. 54, 27 June 1985. ( 33) McMahon & Binchy, Irish Law of Torts (1981), treats this as a separate tort. ( 34) [1899] A.C. 86. (3 5) [1919] 2 K.B. 316. ( 36) (1860) 5 H. & N. 534 Analysed in McGregor, Damages, 14th Edition, paragraph 146. ( 3 7) [1901] 2 K.B. 669. ( 3 8 ) Hambrook -v- Stoke Brothers [1925] 1 K.B. 141 Ibrahim (a minor) -v- Muhammed (supra), Stevenson -v- Basham [1922] N.Z.L.R. 225; Whitmore -v- Auto Transportes Julia (supra); Boardman -v- Sanderson [1964] 1 W.L.R. 1317; Him -v- Berry [1970] 2 Q.B. 40. ( 40) [1939] 1 K.B. 394. (41) Chadwick -v- British Transport Com- (27) Brooks -v- Wessex Regional (31) Ibrahim (a minor) -v- Muhammad; Ibrahim and another -v- (39) Gait -v- British Railways (supra). mission, Queen's Bench Division [1967] 1 All E.R. 945, [1967] 1W.L.R. 912, 5 I.L.R. 101, 12 May 1967 and Wigg -v- British Railways Board, Queen's Bench Division, 136 N.L.J. 446, The Times 4 February 1986 (Transcript: Palantype), 31 January 1986. (4 2) Benson -v- Lee [1972] V.R. 897. For a contrary decision see Chester -v- Waverley Municipal Council (1939) 62 C.L.R. 1 where a child fell into a trench and his mother in the course of a search came across his dead body. The dissenting judgment of Evatt J. in this case is the one that is generally preferred. ( 43) Abramzik -v- Brenner (1967) 54 D.L.R. (2d) 639 and 65 D.L.R. (2d) 651.

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