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Author: ERIK MAGRAKEN

ICBC Expert Witness Rejected Due to “Selective View of the Facts”

Reasons for judgement were published today by the BC Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, assessing damages for a Plaintiff’s injuries and rejecting expert evidence retained by ICBC.

In today’s case (Wong v. Draaistra) the Plaintiff was injured in two separate collisions.  Fault was admitted by the Defendants for the crashes.  In addition to physical injuries the Plaintiff developed “psychiatric or emotional problems that have likely increased and prolonged her physical pain, and have caused her life to shrink to near-isolation in an unmaintained home behind almost permanently closed blinds“.

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BC Court of Appeal – No Negligence in Case of “Catapulting” Mooring Rope

Reasons for judgement were published today by the BC Court of Appeal upholding a trial dismissal of a negligence claim involving a mooring rope which ‘catapulted’ into a Plaintiff causing injury.

In today’s case (Oddy v. Waterway Partnership Equities Inc.) the Plaintiff was injured when “a stake embedded in a beach, and attached by the mooring rope to the houseboat, broke free and was catapulted back towards the houseboat“.  The stake struck the Plaintiff causing significant injuries.

The Plaintiff argued

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Pecuniary Diminished Housekeeping Capacity Claim Succeeds at Trial

Last year the BC Court of Appeal clarified the law surrounding claims for diminished housekeeping capacity.  In short the court noted care must be taken to determine if a loss is for pecuniary vs non-pecuniary diminished housekeeping capacity.  This distinction is perhaps more important than ever given the recent legal changes capping the non-pecuniary rights of British Columbians.

To this end helpful reasons for judgment were published today by the BC Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, assessing damages for pecuniary diminished capacity.

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Defendant Statement to ICBC Regarding Crash Details Ordered to be Produced

Reasons for judgment were published today by the BC Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, ordering production of a statement from a Defendant to ICBC to be disclosed to the Plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit.

In today’s case (Canning v. Mann) the Plaintiff was injured in a crash and sued for damages.  The Defendant provided ICBC a statement detailing the circumstances of the crash.  The Defendant refused to provide the statement to the Plaintiff in the lawsuit arguing it was privileged.   The court ordered production noting there was insufficient evidence to establish litigation privilege.  In ordering the statement to be disclosed Mr. Justice Basran provided the following reasons:

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ICBC Privacy Breach Class Action Allowed To Include Claim for Punitive Damages

Reasons for judgement were published today by the BC Court of Appeal expanding the scope of a class action lawsuit against ICBC to allow claims for punitive damages to be included in the claim.

In the recent case (Ari v. ICBC) ICBC was sued after an employee of theirs passed personal records ICBC kept to “an acquaintance involved in the drug trade” after which a series of attacks were carried out against some of the individuals who had their private information compromised.  The court noted the following background

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CBD Oil and Medical Marijuana Costs Recovered in Personal Injury Claim

Reasons for judgement were published today by the BC Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, assessing damages for personal injuries which included the successful recovery of money spent for CBD oil and medical marijuana to treat chronic pain.

In today’s case (Culver v. Skrypnyk) the Plaintiff was injured in two collisions.  These resulted in partly disabling chronic back and leg pain.  The treatments attempted over the years included the use of CBD oil and medical marijuana.  The Court awarded recovery for the costs of these medications noting they were reasonably incurred special damages.  In reaching this conclusion Mr. Justice Davies provided the following reasons:

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$200,000 Non-Pecuniary Assessment for Post Concussion Syndrome With Poor Prognosis

Reasons for judgement were published today by the BC Supreme Court, Campbell River Registry, assessing damages for chronic consequences from a head injury.

In today’s case (Mickelson v. Sodomsky) the 50 year old plaintiff was involved in a 2015 T-bone collision.  The Defendant admitted liability.  The crash resulted in a mild traumatic brain injury and the plaintiff developed post concussion syndrome with a poor prognosis for further recovery.  The consequences of the injury were largely disabling.  In assessing non-pecuniary damages at $200,000 Mr. Justice Thompson provided the following reasons:

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$140,000 Non-Pecuniary Assessment for “Severe” Ankle Fracture

Reasons for judgement were published today by the BC Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, assessing damages for a severe ankle injury.

In today’s case (Chau v. Pereira) the Plaintiff was struck by a vehicle while walking in a marked crosswalk.  The Defendant denied liability but was found fully responsible at trial.   The crash resulted in a severe ankle injury with post traumatic arthritis that was expected to deteriorate to the likely stage of needing fusion or joint replacement.  In assessing non-pecuniary damages at $140,000 Mr. Justice Baird provided the following reasons:

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$200,000 Non-Pecuniary Assessment For Disabling Chronic Depression and PTSD

Reasons for judgement were published this week by the BC Supreme Court, New Westminster Registry, assessing damages for chronic and disabling psychiatric injuries.

In the recent case (Gill v. Aperdoorn) the Plaintiff was injured in a 2015 collision.  The Defendant admitted liability.  The crash resulted in severe depression and PTSD.  The injuries were disabling and the prognosis for further improvement was not optimistic.  In assessing non-pecuniary damages at $200,000 Madam Justice Gropper provided the following reasons:

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