Muhammad Shaun Eric v Ng Ah Tee: Causation of Injuries in Negligence Claim

In Muhammad Shaun Eric Bin Abdullah alias De Silva Shaun Eric v Ng Ah Tee, the Singapore High Court addressed a claim for loss and damage arising from a car accident. The plaintiff, Muhammad Shaun Eric Bin Abdullah, sought damages for injuries allegedly sustained when the taxi he was in, driven by Chua Seng Thye (third party), collided with a car driven by Ng Ah Tee (defendant). The court, presided over by Assistant Registrar Vincent Leow, found that the plaintiff only proved contusions to both knees were caused by the accident. The court awarded damages for pain and suffering and special damages, but dismissed claims for future medical care and loss of future earnings.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Judgment for the Plaintiff; damages awarded for pain and suffering and special damages.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

The High Court assessed damages for a plaintiff injured in a car accident, focusing on causation of injuries and loss of earnings.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Muhammad Shaun Eric Bin Abdullah alias De Silva Shaun EricPlaintiffIndividualPartial JudgmentPartialBernard Sahagar
Ng Ah TeeDefendantIndividualPartial JudgmentPartialWee Jee Kin, S Sundaram
Chua Seng ThyeThird PartyIndividualPartial JudgmentPartialAnthony Wee

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Vincent LeowAssistant RegistrarYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Bernard SahagarLee Bon Leong and Co
Wee Jee KinBogaars and Din
S SundaramBogaars and Din
Anthony WeeRajah and Tann

4. Facts

  1. The plaintiff was involved in a car accident on 21 November 1999.
  2. The plaintiff was a passenger in a taxi that collided with another car.
  3. The plaintiff was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown forward.
  4. The plaintiff suffered contusions to his knees.
  5. The plaintiff had been involved in multiple accidents prior to this one.
  6. The plaintiff fell on 9 December 1999.
  7. The plaintiff changed doctors after the fall on 9 December 1999.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Muhammad Shaun Eric Bin Abdullah alias De Silva Shaun Eric v Ng Ah Tee, Suit 1373/2002, NA 79/2003, [2004] SGHC 268

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Accident occurred
Plaintiff visited Singapore General Hospital and was attended to by Dr Quek Lit Seng
Plaintiff returned to the Singapore General Hospital and was attended to by Dr Low Seow Ping
Plaintiff returned to the Singapore General Hospital where Dr Howe saw him
Plaintiff went to Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic and saw Dr Goh Khean Teik
Plaintiff lost his balance and fell
Plaintiff went to the Singapore General Hospital and was attended to at the Department of Emergency Medicine
Plaintiff went to the Family Doctor, Clinic & Surgery and was seen by Dr Daniel Chia
Dr Low saw the plaintiff
Plaintiff returned to Dr Low for a follow-up examination
Dr Low examined the plaintiff’s MRI result
Dr Low conducted an arthroscopy
Plaintiff returned to Dr Low for a follow up
Plaintiff went to visit Dr Low again
Plaintiff complained that the other heel was also painful and both heels were treated with shockwave therapy
Plaintiff complained that both knees were now painful and that the left heel pain persisted
Plaintiff returned again to Dr Low
Plaintiff saw Dr Chang Wei Chun for the purposes of putting up a specialist medical report
Dr Low conducted a second arthroscopy
Dr Low reviewed the plaintiff’s condition
Plaintiff was sent for another MRI
Dr Low suspected that the plaintiff suffered from neuroma and referred him to Dr N V Ramani
Dr Low wrote a letter at the plaintiff’s request recommending him for early retirement
Plaintiff saw Dr Ramani
Plaintiff went back to see Dr Low as he needed a medical report to be written
Dr Low wrote the medical report
Plaintiff returned to see Dr Low and complained of back pain
Another review was conducted where the plaintiff claimed that his right knee was more painful than the left and that he had backache
Similar complaints were made to Dr Low during the subsequent reviews
Similar complaints were made to Dr Low during the subsequent reviews
Plaintiff saw Dr Chang Wei Chun for the purposes of putting up a specialist medical report
Judgment Date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Causation
    • Outcome: The court found that the plaintiff only proved contusions to both knees were caused by the accident.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Pre-existing injuries
      • Intervening events
  2. Damages Assessment
    • Outcome: The court awarded damages for pain and suffering and special damages, but dismissed claims for future medical care and loss of future earnings.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Pain and suffering
      • Special damages
      • Loss of future earnings

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Monetary Damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Negligence

10. Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Sim Siew Yen June v Benfort Enterprise Pte Ltd & OrsN/AYesSim Siew Yen June v Benfort Enterprise Pte Ltd & Ors [MC Suit No 21729 of 1997]N/ACited to determine the appropriate award for contusion of the knee.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Causation
  • Contusions
  • Anterior cruciate ligament
  • Chondromalacia patella
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
  • Spinal cord stenosis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Medical Board
  • INVEST scheme

15.2 Keywords

  • car accident
  • personal injury
  • negligence
  • causation
  • damages
  • Singapore
  • High Court

16. Subjects

  • Personal Injury
  • Negligence
  • Damages

17. Areas of Law

  • Tort Law
  • Personal Injury Law
  • Civil Procedure