Case Law[2022] ZAGPPHC 740South Africa
Z.T.P v Member of the Executive Council for Health Mpumalanga (43583/2015) [2022] ZAGPPHC 740 (30 September 2022)
High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)
30 September 2022
Judgment
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## Z.T.P v Member of the Executive Council for Health Mpumalanga (43583/2015) [2022] ZAGPPHC 740 (30 September 2022)
Z.T.P v Member of the Executive Council for Health Mpumalanga (43583/2015) [2022] ZAGPPHC 740 (30 September 2022)
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sino date 30 September 2022
SAFLII
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Certain
personal/private details of parties or witnesses have been
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Policy
IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
(PRETORIA
DIVISION)
CASE
NO: 43583/2015
DOH:
10-17 March 2022
REPORTABLE:
YES / NO
OF
INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: YES/NO
REVISED
In
the matter between:
Z[....]
T[....] P[....]
ON
BEHALF OF THE MINOR
CHILD PLAINTIFF
and
THE
MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
FOR
HEALTH
MPUMALANGA DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
THIS
JUDGMENT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN REMOTELY AND SHALL BE CIRCULATED TO THE
PARTIES BY WAY OF EMAIL. ITS DATE ANDTIME OF HAND DOWN
SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE
30 SEPTEMBER
2022
MALI
J
1.
The plaintiff claims damages against the
defendant. On 22 September 2012 the plaintiff gave birth to a baby
girl named K[....] S[....]
P[....] at Amajuba Memorial Hospital
("the
Hospital')
in the province of
Mpumalanga. Little did she know that her precious gift would be born
with brain damage and cerebral palsy as
a consequence of the
negligence of the Hospital. When the plaintiff later discovered the
unfortunate situation she instituted action
for damages against the
defendant. The defendant is responsible for all the hospitals in the
Mpumalanga Province, hence also obligated
to pay for damages. On 6
February 2018 the court granted an order for compensation of the
minor child
for
her
damages
suffered
as
a
consequence
of
the
hospital's negligence.
2.
It
is
common
cause
that
out
of
the
initial
amount
claimed
of
R14 280 000.00
(fourteen
million two hundred and eighty thousand rand) in total, the defendant
had made an interim payment in the amount of
R1
315 047.93
(one million
three-hundred and fifteen thousand and forty-seven rand ninety-three
cents) during April 2021. The amount of claim
for damages was later
amended to
R25 155 000.00
(twenty-five million one hundred and
fifty-five thousand rand). On 25 February 2022 a Rule 37 pre- trial
conference was conducted
between the legal representatives and an
agreement to dispense with leading of oral evidence in respect of the
plaintiff and certain
experts.
3.
According to the joint minutes of the
experts K[....] suffered permanent brain damage due to severe
cerebral hypoxia. She is sighted,
she would need to see dieticians
and that she has total body involvement pattern of spastic cerebral
palsy, with more involvement
in the left arm. Also educational
psychologists agreed that she has development delay impacting her
speech and her psychological
and cognitive deficits rendered her
unemployable and will be need of constant care and will never
be
independent
of
function
amongst
others. This
is
where
the dispute arises, as to how
much should be the sufficient award in
order to take care of K[....].
4.
The court is enjoined to determine
future medical expenses, future loss of earnings, general damages and
the contingency deduction
applicable thereto. To arrive at a fair
amount of the award the court must analyse the evidence of expert
witnesses. It is trite
law that expert evidence is opinion evidence
or, the opinion of the expert. The primary function of an expert
witness is to assist
the court in reaching its decision by providing
independent expert/technical analysis and opinion based on the facts
pertaining
to the case. In the case of
Eis
v MEG: Department of Health, Northern Cape (1744/2010)
[2017] ZANCHC
7
(10
February 2017)
the following was
stated:
"The
opinion of an expert should also be based on the accepted facts
otherwise it would amount to no more than unsubstantiated
speculation."
5.
Furthermore, the well-established
principle of calculating loss of income is found in
Southern
Insurance Association Ltd v Bailey NO
1984 (1) SA 98
(A) at 113F- 114
A,
wherein the following is stated:
"Any
enquiry into the damages for loss of earning capacity is of its
nature speculative, because it involves a prediction as
to the
future, without the benefit of crystal balls, soothsayers, augurs or
oracles. All that the court can do is to make an estimate,
which is
often a very rough estimate, of the present value of the loss.
It
has open to it two possible approaches.
One
is
for
the
Judge
to
make
a
round
estimate
of
an
amount
which seems to him to be
fair and reasonable. That is entirely
a
matter of
guesswork,
a
blind plunge into
the unknown. The other is to try to make an assessment, by way of
mathematical calculations, on the basis of assumptions
resting on the
evidence. The validity of this approach depends of course upon the
soundness of the assumptions, and these may vary
from the strongly
probable to the speculative
"
# FUTUREMEDICALEXPENSES
FUTURE
MEDICAL
EXPENSES
6.
I now turn to look at the evidence of
the speech therapists and occupational therapists in order to arrive
at the amount for future
medical expenses.
Ms. Thanjan who was engaged by the
plaintiff and Ms. Dikobe who was engaged by the defendant both
testified. The actuarial calculations
based on Ms. Thanjan
recommendations is the amount of
R994,600
(nine hundred and ninety-four
thousand six hundred rand). The actuarial calculations based on Ms
Dikobe's recommendations amount
to
R134
000.00
(one hundred and thirty-four
thousand rand).
7.
Ms. Thanjan testified she first examined
K[....] on 10 July 2018. At the time she found a lot of challenges
with regards to feeding,
under development, speech and communication
challenges, movement and mobility. She further stated that she again
re-examined K[....]
in October 2021 when she found that there was an
improvement in her communication resulting from the continued
therapy. She further
testified about the recommendations in the joint
minute she concluded with Ms Dikobe. Ms. Dikobe is an audiologist
speech language
therapist with Master's Degree in Augmentative and
Alternate Communication ("AAC') and postgraduate Speech Language
pathology
who testified for the defendant.
8.
Ms. Thanjan explained the need for
speech and language therapy to improve K[....]'s ability to receive
and process food. The therapy
should be of not a short term duration
as it will be needed throughout her life to cater for changes in her
situation and needs.
She explained that various items of equipment
recommended by her were to improve safety of feeding K[....], such a
suitable cups
and spoons, and the devices needed to improve K[....]'s
ability to chew and ingest food. The devices such as tongue
mobilisation
tools, a drooling remediation program and tongue and
cheek stimulation devices were currently being utilised in her
therapy.
She
opined further that because of K[....]'s improvements consequent upon
the therapy she had received subsequent to her initial
assessment of
her, she was a suitable candidate for the use of high-tech AAC
devices and would benefit from the use thereof. The
AAC intervention
would help expand her knowledge and to give her more control of the
environment.
9.
Ms. Thanjan concluded that the minor
child would benefit from AAC devices in particular high technology
empowered equipment in order
to improve her communication skills,
expand her knowledge and to give her more control of the environment.
On the other hand, Ms Dikobe, opines
that AAC devices cannot assist. The same benefit can be achieved by
the use of symbols and
paper pictures, cards in order for K[....] to
identify her needs. For example, the choice of food and general
communication with
her mother and caregivers.
Ms. Dikobe is of the view that K[....]
has improved a lot and can easily be a self -feeder. Under cross
examination Ms. Dikobe 's
findings pertaining to feeding and
communication were based on what she was told by the plaintiff.
Amongst others, that K[....]
once ate a piece of KFC chicken meat and
mash potatoes with a plastic spoon.
10.
Ms. Dikobe last assessed K[....] 3 years
before the trial. Secondly by her own admission she relied on the
plaintiff's account.
The plaintiff, K[....]'s mother is not an expert
although she has been hailed by Ms. Thanjan as a very loving and
caring mother
who goes extra mile to care and cater for her child.
This is commended, however it does not take away that K[....] needs
assistance
and her mother is not professionally trained to attend to
her.
11.
In
my
view,
Ms
Dikobe's
recommendations
against
AAC
devices
in
favour
of
her
methods
as
discussed
above
defies
the
purpose
of
providing
K[....] a quality life. The use of modern technology, an invaluable
intervention in today's world even for persons who
are not challenged
and or fully functional is no longer a luxury. There is no reason for
K[....] to be deprived life time opportunity
aimed at augmenting her
communication skills.
12.
The highlight of Ms. Thanjan's evidence
is the rapid improvement of K[....]'s feeding and speech functions,
albeit her condition
is irreversible. Placing her in a special school
as recommended by other experts will have positive developments that
might assist
her towards a form of relative dependence. The special
school would provide suitable equipment which will not compromise
K[....]'s
quality of life. I find it appropriate that K[....] must be
provided with MC
devices.
Nevertheless, taking into account the level of improvement as also
evidenced by the Occupational Therapist, Dr Tshitake;
other utensils
recommended by Ms. Thanjan are not considered essential. Dr. Tshitake
evidence will be dealt with in detail below.
13.
For the foregoing an amount of
R
273 560.00
(two hundred and seventy
three thousand, five hundred and sixty rand) allocated for MC
devices plus the amount recommended by
Ms. Dikobe for normal feeding utensils is fair for future medical
expenses amounting to
R 134 229.00
(one hundred and thirty-four
thousand and two hundred twenty-nine rand). In total the amount of
R
407 789.00
(four hundred and seven
thousand, seven hundred and eighty-nine rand) is found to be fair in
respect of speech therapy.
14
I turn to evaluate the evidence of occupational therapists. Ms. Du
Toit as engaged
by the plaintiff and Dr. Tshitake who consulted on
the instructions of the defendant testified. Ms. Du Tait examined
K[....] on
18th February 2020 for 2 hours and later assessed her on
20
th
January 2022 for 4 hours. Some of her evidence was
based on the photographs she had taken during assessment of K[....].
She opines
that feeding takes 30-60 minutes and she cannot bath and
dress herself.
At
home she sleeps in a room with someone else but in a house with 11
people. At the time of trial, she needed a change of 5 nappies
a day.
when asleep she needs to be assisted to turn around. She agreed with
Ms Thanjan's conclusion that she can engage with basic
instructions.
15.
According to Ms. Du Toit, upon initial
assessment, K[....] presented with stiff muscles meaning that the
actual bones had stopped
movement. She had become more mobile after
second assessment although she could walk in shuffling gaze and her
sitting balance
had also improved. She would walk 2 to 3 metres and
start holding on floors. She recommended a walker. She further opined
to the
risky harmful environment, for example when she assessed her,
K[....] had a difficulty to differentiate between hot and cold
substance.
It took her 10 seconds to react to boiling water. As a
result, that K[....] cannot perceive dangers, a 24-hourcaregiving is
of
necessity.
16.
Ms. Du Toit further testified that her
movements had improved due to natural growth. Although natural growth
assists in her development
levels she would stay as a level 3
Cerebral Palsy. She made use of her right arm as her active hand and
did not use her left hand.
Ms. Du Toit testified that there is a need
for a suitable motor vehicle to provide for K[....]. She would need a
sedan type vehicle,
suggesting a Toyota until she reached the age of
35.
17.
In their joint minute, amongst others
they agree that K[....] presents with severe developmental delay and
is maximally dependent
on all her needs to be met. She is completely
dependent on full assistance in all respects of daily living, does
not facilitate
in any of her care and is fully dependent on others at
all times. Both experts also agreed on the need for a suitable motor
vehicle.
They further agreed that she is currently living in an
environment that is not conducive for her development and urgently
requires
relocation to an area where she has access to schools and
medical
institutions
that
cater
for
the
recommendations
of
the
various medical experts. As a result, both experts agreed on suitable
accommodation.
18.
There is also a need for ongoing
occupational therapy for the rest of her lifespan and that an
intervention plan should be formulated
by an occupational therapist
who specialises in children with special needs, specifically children
with neurological disorders.
The extent of occupational therapy
required by K[....] for the first 24 months of therapy; until the age
of 18. Further that she
must be provided with maintenance therapy
after the age of 18 until age 25; the provision of therapy from age
25 for the rest of
her life; the range of occupational therapy rates.
19.
The divergence between Ms. Du Toit and
Dr. Tshikate is whether there is a need for services of a care giver
and the period of availability
thereof. Ms. Du Toit testified that
K[....] requires intensive and demanding care. She requires constant
supervision and assistance
in all her activities of daily living as
well as facilitation to participate in tasks throughout a day. It is
therefore of the
utmost importance that K[....] has appropriately
trained and skilled individuals to care for her for the remainder of
her life.
K[....] requires professional care. At present she has
caregivers on duty 7 days a week, 12 hours' day shift. K[....]
currently
does not have night care. At present, there is no night
caregiving assistance due to space and social dynamics related to the
family.
However, due to her requiring adult supervision in general,
this needs to be considered.
20.
Industrial psychologists, Ms Sonia Hill
and Mr Lance Marais submitted a joint minute on caregivers suitable
for K[....] and the
remuneration of caregivers thereof. According to
Ms Hill the information is based on national rates caregivers should
commence
at the amount of
R7 527.88
(seven thousand five hundred and
twenty-seven rand eighty-eight cents) per month and a total income of
R8 590.35
(eight
thousand five hundred and
ninety
rand thirty-five
cents)
per
month. Ms Hill also testified
that
based on occupational Therapists more than one caregiver may be
necessary as they work on 12-hour shift. She also opined on
specialists' caregivers who may be trained and also the need for
motor vehicle drivers earning
R12
553.29
(twelve thousand five hundred
and fifty-three rand twenty-nine cents) per month. Her report is
based on research with regard to
the earning pay by nursing agencies
and various other institutions and extensive consultations. The rates
she suggested are effective
from 2020.
Mr Marais recommended earnings
commencing from
R4
952.00
(four
thousand
nine
hundred
and
fifty-two
rand)
to
R9 000.00
(nine
thousand rand) per month in severe cases. Mr Marais based his opinion
on general practice.
21.
Dr. Tshitake initially disagreed on the
need for services of a case manager, ultimately both occupational
therapists agreed that
the amount as calculated by the plaintiff's
experts was reasonable in the circumstances.
Dr. Tshitake also did not agree on
monthly monitoring because no crisis has been experienced in
K[....]'s life. In her view two
hours quarterly was sufficient for
such monitoring. On behalf of the plaintiff the submission by Dr.
Tshitake was not challenged.
In the light of documented improvement
in K[....]'s life I have no reason to not agree with Dr. Tshitake's
contention. In the result
the average of 30% of
R342,820.00
(three hundred and forty-two
thousand eight hundred and twenty rand) claimed by plaintiff is found
to be fair. The amount awarded
for crisis management is
R102
846.00
(one hundred and two thousand
eight hundred and forty-six rand).
22.
The amount for therapeutic apparatus
equipment and maintenance costs thereof totalling
R17
310.00
(seventeen thousand three
hundred and ten rand) is in dispute. This is despite the defendant's
experts not agreeing to the total
amount, although they agree in
principle. They have not brought a different figure. In the result,
the amount of
R17 310.00
(seventeen
thousand three hundred and ten rand) shall stand.
23.
According to the plaintiff's experts
there is a need for monthly monitoring with the total amount of
R822
760.00
(eight hundred and twenty-two
thousand seven hundred and sixty rand). It transpired from evidence
of the defendant' experts that
there had never been an incident
occasioning same.
My
view is that, K[....] will be provided with trained caregivers and
attend a special school, there is no need for monthly monitoring.
The
amount of
R822 760.00
(eight
hundred and twenty-two thousand seven hundred and sixty rand) is
disallowed in its entirety. As stated above the amount of
a suitable
motor vehicle is
R1 067 770.00
(one
million sixty seven thousand seven hundred and seventy rand).
Motor Vehicle forms part of future medical expenses.
24
I am enjoined to apply contingencies in the above amount. Koch in
The
Quantum Yearbook
(2011) at 104 said:
"General
contingencies cover
a
wide range of
considerations which may vary from case to case and may include:
taxation, early death, saved travel costs, loss of
employment,
promotion prospects, divorce, etc. There are no fixed rules as
regards general contingencies."
25
I take into account the improvement in communication and feeding
abilities as agreed
by all experts concerned. I further consider the
possibility of saved travel costs, and all other possibilities based
on K[....]'s
overall improvement including natural growth and her
imminent attendance in the special school. Consequentially it is
prudent to
apply 25% contingency is applicable.
26.
The total for future medical expenses is
R17 427 822.12
(seventeen
million four hundred and twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and
twenty-two rand twelve cents), minus 25% contingency
equals to
R13
070 866.51
(thirteen million seventy
thousand eight hundred and sixty six rand fifty-one cent) plus
the amount of
R 668 345.71
(six
hundred and sixty-eight thousand three
hundred and forty-five rand) for
architect.
27.
In the result the award for future
medical expenses is
R 13 739 212.30
(thirteen million seven hundred and
thirty-nine thousand two hundred and twelve rand thirty cent)
# FUTURE
LOSS OF EARNINGS
FUTURE
LOSS OF EARNINGS
28.
Ms Sonia Hill and Mr Lance Marais opined
as engaged by the plaintiff and the defendant respectively. Mr Marais
did not testify. Evidence was adduced
based on his report.
Ms
Hill testified.
29.
As at the time of the hearing, the
scenarios presented by the actuary based on the figures arising from
the reports of the experts
was in the amount of
R7
621 200.00
(seven million six
hundred and twenty-one thousand
two
hundred
rand)
as
per
Ms
Hill's
recommendations and
R4
242 000.00
(four million two hundred
and forty-two thousand rand) as per Mr Marais's recommendations. As
it is apparent from the above Ms Hill's
opinion is based on
comprehensive research as opposed to Mr Marais.,
30.
Regrettable calculations in the amount
of
R7 621 200.00
(seven
million six hundred and twenty-one thousand two hundred rand) based
on Ms Hill's recommendations are not pleaded. When the
pleadings of
the plaintiff were amended the amount claimed for future loss of
earnings was not amended therefore remains at
R4
300 000.00
(four million three
hundred thousand rand); an amount close to the calculations based on
Mr Marais' recommendations. The calculation
of
R7
621 200.00
(seven million six
hundred and twenty-one thousand two hundred rand) will without a
doubt prejudice the defendant as they were not
prepared to meet such
a case. In the result, the amount of
R4
300 000.00
(four million three
hundred thousand rand) is awarded. Defendant's counsel submitted that
a contingency of 40% must be applied.
Her submission is based on the
postulation of the National Treasury that approximately 50% of all
employable people could be unemployed.
Plaintiff's counsel advocated
for 20% contingency.
31.
In applying contingencies, it is trite
law that there are also unforeseen contingencies based on factors
such as errors in the estimation
of future earnings and life
expectancy, loss of earnings due to unemployment and sickness,
retirement at an earlier age and hazards
of life. The list can never
be exhaustive.
32.
There is no doubt that chances of formal
employment are decreasing fast. There is also a growing trend of
self- employment albeit
it seems informal. Youth have easy access to
smart ways of doing things due to high technology, exposing them to
global networks
and new skills than their parents. Today's youth are
likely travel worldwide in order to explore employment opportunities,
irrespective
of background. K[....] having been born in 2012 by
educated and enlightened parents would easily fall into this
category, it is
therefore difficult to conclude that she would had
been affected by unemployment
in
a devastating manner. In balancing general hazards of life; I take
into account that she would be sick like any other person
and be
befallen by other unknown factors I would apply 20% contingency
deduction. In the result, an amount of
R3
440 000.00
(three million four
hundred and forty thousand rand) is awarded for future loss of
earnings.
GENERAL
DAMAGES
33.
The amount claimed for General Damages
is
R2 200 000
(two
million two hundred thousand rand). Submissions on behalf of the
defendant supported with case law is that an amount of
R1
400 000.00
(one million four hundred
thousand rand) is fair.
34.
Applicable legal principle in awarding
General damages are well established. The court is enjoined to
benchmark based on comparable
cases. In
Mashigo
v
Road
Accident Fund
(2120/2014)
[2018] ZAGPPHC 539 (13 June 2018);
Mr.
Justice Davis summarises the well-known approach to general damages
and the use of previous comparable awards as follows:
"[10]
A
claim
for general or non-patrimonial damages requires an assessment of the
plaintiff's pain and suffering, disfigurement, permanent
disability,
and loss of amenities of life and attaching
a
monetary value
thereto. The exercise is, by its very nature; both difficult and
discretionary with wide-ranging permutations. As
will be illustrated
herein later, it is very difficult if not impossible to find
a
case on all four
with the one to be decided.
The
oft-quoted case of Southern Insurance Association v Bailey NO
1984
(1) SA 98
AD
confirmed that even the Supreme Court of Appeal had difficulties in
laying down rules as to how the problem of an award for general
damages should be approached. The accepted approach is the "flexible
one" described in Sandler v Wholesale Coal Suppliers
Ltd
1941
AD 194
at 199,
namely: the submissions were
"The
amount to be awarded as compensation can only be determined by the
broadest general considerations and the figure arrived
at must
necessarily be uncertain, depending on the Judge's view of what is
fair in all the circumstances of the case"."
[11]
Of course, awards in cases that show at least some similarities or
comparisons
are useful
guides, taking into account the current value of such awards to
accommodate the decreasing
value of
money. See inter alia:
SA
Eagle Insurance Co v Hartley
[1990] ZASCA 106
;
1990 (4) SA 833
(A) at
841
D and the
practical work of The Quantum Yearbook by Robert J Koch which
includes tables of general damages awards annually updated
to cater
for inflation.
On
behalf of the defendant, amongst others the court was referred to the
case of Lim Pooh Choo v Camden Health Authority
1979 QB 196
(CA) at
216 it is said, with reference to the claim of a plaintiff who has
suffered irremediable brain damage which left her only
intermittently, and then barely, sentient and wholly dependent on
others-
"..
.fair compensation
must mean that she is to be kept
in as much comfort and tended with as much care as compassion for her
so rightfully demands: and
that she should not want for anything that
money can buy: But I see no justification in law or in morals in
awarding to her large
sums of money in addition to those needed to
keep her in comfort."
35.
On behalf of the plaintiff there had
been a reference to various cases. One where the facts are almost
similar is
N Mngomeni obo EN Zangwe v
MEG for Health, Eastern Cape Province 2018 (7A4) QOO 94 (ECM).
The
claim is based upon the alleged negligence of defendant's employees
stationed at Madzikane Hospital whilst under a legal duty
of care to
render medical services to the plaintiff prior to and during giving
birth to her child. The plaintiff, a single mother
residing in an
informal settlement, was admitted to the hospital on 21 February 2011
whilst in labour. Her child was born on 22
February 2011. He was 6
years old when the matter was heard and his life expectancy was a
further 30 years. Defendant eventually
conceded liability. It was
agreed between the parties that the child suffers from spastic
quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is severely
mentally and physically
retarded and permanently disabled, has been rendered unemployable in
the open market, suffers catastrophic
loss of amenities of life and
is dependent on assistance in all personal care and activities of
daily living, requiring twenty-four-hour
care and supervision. The
child will need continuous medical care and treatment as well as
specialised 68 equipment, devices, accommodation
and services to
accommodate his special needs for the remainder of his life. The
Award in 2017 was
R2 000 000.00.
The
Current Value of Award is R 2,368,000.00.
36.
Another
case
is
MP
obo
SP
v
MEG
for
Health,
Eastern
Cape Province2018
(7A4)
QOO
87
(ECM).
The
plaintiff's
claim
was
for recovery of damages sustained at the
child's birth who was 13-years-old when the case was heard. The child
suffers from cerebral
palsy as a consequence
of a hypoxic ischemic injury to his
brain which affects him in a quadriplegic manner involving the trunk
of his body. He is unable
to stand without assistance and is able to
only roll, scoot or crawl in order to move. He is unable to feed
himself or perform
his own personal hygiene. His speech is severely
affected. However, his brain functions are at a much higher level
than his body
enables him to express which was found to be a factor
aggravating his suffering. There has been a devastating loss of
enjoyment
of ordinary amenities of life although he would be able to
attend a school and operate an iPad; therefore, allowance was made
for
school fees, travelling costs and technical support systems.
Full-time care is required. The Award in 2018 was
R2
000 000.00.
The Current Value of
Award is
R 2 248 000.00.
37.1have
considered the above case law in comparison to the present case.
Accordingly, the appropriate award for General Damages
is
R2
200
000.00
(two million two hundred thousand rand).
# TRUST
TRUST
38.
It is trite law that the award needs to
be protected 7.5% of the capital amount is awarded as costs thereof.
The determination of percentage has been
decided with approval in
Singh and
Another v Ebrahim (1)
2010 3 ALL SA 187
(0)
and
Mohlaphuli Nov
The South African National Road
Agency Ltd 2013 (6A4) QOD 146 (WCC)
# ORDER
ORDER
39.
In the result the following order is
granted
1.
Judgment
is hereby granted in favor of the Plaintiff, in her capacity as the
mother and natural guardian of K[....] S[....] P[....],
a girl born
on the 22nd of September 2012, in the sum of
R16 890 723.37
,
which amount is calculated as follows:
(a)
R 13 739 212.30
in respect of future
medical expenses;
(b)
R 3 440 000.00
in respect of the loss of
future earning potential;
(c)
R 2 200 200.00
in respect of general
damages;
(d)
R1 453 440.92
in respect of the formation
and administration of a trust for the benefit of the minor child,
calculated at 7.5% of the above sums
awarded in respect of future
medical expenses, loss of future earning potential and general
damages;
(e)
R 280 000.00
in respect of past medical
expenses; and
(f)
the sum of
R1 315
047.93
,
representing the amount of an interim payment made by the Defendant,
being deducted.
2.
Interest
will accrue on the sum awarded in terms of paragraph 1 hereof, at the
rate of 7,5 % per annum, calculated from 30 days
after the date of
this order to date of payment thereof.
3.
The
Defendant is directed to pay the Plaintiff's reasonable and
necessary, taxed or agreed, party and party costs, on the High Court
scale, such costs to include:
(a)
the costs of the Plaintiff's attorney
attending upon reasonable and necessary consultations with witnesses
in preparation for trial,
including the consultations with the
under-mentioned expert witnesses;
(b)
the
costs
of
two
counsel
(Senior
and
Junior),
including
the reasonable and necessary costs of
their preparation for trial, the preparation of heads of argument and
for their attendance
upon consultations with the under-mentioned
expert witnesses and the Plaintiff;
(c)
the costs of travel of the Plaintiff's
legal representatives and necessary witnesses to attend upon and/or
give evidence at the
trial;
(c)
the qualifying fees of the
under-mentioned expert witnesses, including the costs of the
preparation of their reports and joint minutes,
and to qualify
themselves to testify at the trial, and for any reasonable and
necessary consultations with the Plaintiff's attorney
and counsel:
(i)
Mr. Roger Kerr, the Architect;
(ii)
Dr Yuvraj Singh, the Dental Surgeon;
(iii)
Ms. Mandy Read, the Dietician;
(iv)
Ms. Glenda Karow, the Educational
Psychologist;
(v)
Ms. Sonia Hill, the Industrial
Psychologist;
(vi)
Ms. Sue Anderson, the Nursing Sister;
(vii)
Dr Gary Rose, the Ophthalmic Surgeon;
(viii)
Mr. Ugan Chetty, the Orthotist;
(ix)
Mr. Rob Fraser, the Orthopaedic Surgeon;
(x)
Ms. Kirsten Du
Tait, the Occupational Therapist;
(xi)
Prof. Regan Solomons, the Paediatric
Neurologist;
(xii)
Ms. Surekha Samaroo, the
Physiotherapist;
(xiii)
Dr Barry Bloom, the Radiologist;
(xiv)
Dr Das Pillay, the Specialist
Paediatrician;
(xv)
Ms. R Thanjan, the Speech and Language
Therapist;
(xvi)
Dr A M Grizic, the Urologist; and
(xvii)
Ms. Nirmala Pather, the Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist.
(d)
the attendance fee of:
(i)
Ms. Sonia Hill, the Industrial
Psychologist;
(ii)
Ms. Kirsten Du
Toit, the Occupational Therapist; and
(iii)
Ms. R Thanjan, the Speech and Language
Therapist.
4.
The
Defendant is directed to make the payment of the amount referred to
in paragraph 1 above directly to the Trust Account of the
Plaintiff's
attorneys,
Justice Reichlin Ramsamy, at:
# Bank:
ABSA
Bank
:
ABSA
# Branch
Code:
500426
Branch
Code
:
500426
# Account
No.:
[....]
Account
No.
:
[....]
5.
The
Plaintiff, through her aforesaid attorney of record, is hereby
directed to forthwith do all things necessary to cause a Trust
to be
formed for the benefit of the minor child, K[....] S[....] P[....].
6.
The
Plaintiff's aforesaid attorney of record is hereby directed, upon
receipt of the monies being paid to it by the Defendant as
aforesaid,
to:
(a)
hold all monies in trust pending the
formation of the Trust as aforesaid;
(b)
pay the trustees remuneration (which
shall include the costs of the formation thereof, the costs of
administering the Trust, the
costs of the trustees furnishing annual
security, and obtaining an annual security bond to meet the
requirement of the Master of
the High Court in terms of Section
6(2)(a) of the Trust Property Act,
No.:
57
of
1988), in the sum of reflected in subparagraph 1 (d) hereof, directly
to the
Trust
upon it being formed; and
(c)
pay the net balance of the moneys
received pursuant to this Order to the Trust after all costs, fees,
disbursements and expenses
have been deducted therefrom.
7.
The
costs include the costs of two counsel.
N
P MALI
JUDGE
OF THE HIGH COURT,
PRETORIA
APPEARANCES
On
Behalf of the Plaintiff:
Adv.
I L Topping SC
Adv.
M Bahadur
Instructed
by Justice
Reichlin Ramsamy Attorneys
On
behalf of the Defendant:
Adv.
N Cassim SC
Adv.
V Mashele
Instructed
by State
Attorney,
Pretoria.
sino noindex
make_database footer start
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