Mei Yue Lan Margaret v Raffles City: Assessment of Damages for Leg Injury and Loss of Amenities
In Mei Yue Lan Margaret v Raffles City (Pte) Ltd, the Singapore High Court heard an appeal regarding the assessment of damages for injuries sustained by Mei Yue Lan Margaret at Raffles City Tower. Margaret suffered a severe leg injury when a metal sheet fell on her. The court, presided over by Justice Woo Bih Li, adjusted the assistant registrar's award, increasing the pre-trial loss of earnings, reducing the future medical expenses, and adding an award for future transport expenses. The court upheld the assistant registrar's assessment of pain and suffering and loss of amenities.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Appeal allowed in part. The award for future medical expenses was reduced, and an award for future transport expenses was added. The award for pre-trial loss of earnings was increased.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
High Court case Mei Yue Lan Margaret v Raffles City concerning assessment of damages for a leg injury, considering pain, suffering, and loss of earnings.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mei Yue Lan Margaret | Plaintiff, Appellant | Individual | Appeal allowed in part, Future medical expenses reduced, Award for future transport expenses | Partial, Partial, Won | Vincent John |
| Raffles City (Pte) Ltd | Defendant, Respondent | Corporation | Appeal allowed in part | Partial | P E Ashokan |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Woo Bih Li | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Vincent John | Andrew Yap and Company |
| P E Ashokan | KhattarWong |
4. Facts
- Margaret was injured when a metal sheet fell on her leg at Raffles City Tower.
- She underwent multiple surgeries and treatments for her leg injury.
- Margaret developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) as a result of the nerve injury.
- She had a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanted to manage the pain.
- Margaret's employment with Astra was terminated after the accident.
- She later worked for Catering Network and JC Capital, but lost both jobs.
- Margaret suffered from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.
5. Formal Citations
- Mei Yue Lan Margaret v Raffles City (Pte) Ltd, Suit 1491/2002, RA 117/2005, 119/2005, [2005] SGHC 168
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Margaret injured by a metal sheet falling on her leg at Raffles City Tower. | |
| Margaret underwent emergency surgery at Singapore General Hospital. | |
| Margaret commenced action against Raffles City (Private) Limited in the Subordinate Courts. | |
| Margaret obtained an order to transfer the action to the High Court. | |
| Margaret's employment with Catering Network was terminated due to SARS. | |
| Margaret started working with JC Capital International Pte Ltd. | |
| Margaret lost her job at JC Capital because it went out of business. | |
| Assessment of damages was conducted. | |
| Assistant registrar gave her decision. | |
| Judgment reserved. |
7. Legal Issues
- Assessment of Damages for Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenities
- Outcome: The court upheld the assistant registrar's award of $100,000 for pain and suffering and loss of amenities.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2004] 3 SLR 543
- [1993] 2 SLR 536
- [2001] SGHC 165
- [2003] SGHC 134
- [2001] SGHC 64
- [2001] 4 SLR 317
- Assessment of Damages for Pre-Trial Loss of Earnings
- Outcome: The court increased the award for pre-trial loss of earnings to $50,870.64.
- Category: Substantive
- Assessment of Damages for Loss of Future Earnings and Earning Capacity
- Outcome: The court agreed with the assistant registrar that there should be no award for loss of future earnings.
- Category: Substantive
- Assessment of Damages for Future Medical Expenses
- Outcome: The court reduced the award for future medical expenses.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2004] 3 SLR 543
- Assessment of Damages for Future Transport Expenses
- Outcome: The court awarded $15,000 for future transport expenses.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Damages for pain, suffering, and loss of amenities
- Damages for loss of earning capacity
- Damages for loss of future earnings
- Damages for loss of marriage prospects
- Damages for future medical expenses
- Damages for future transport expenses
- Damages for pre-trial medical expenses
- Damages for pre-trial transport expenses
- Damages for pre-trial loss of earnings
- Damages for renovation of toilet
- Damages for miscellaneous expenses
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury Law
- Civil Litigation
11. Industries
- Property Management
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV Media Pte Ltd v De Cruz Andrea Heidi | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2004] 3 SLR 543 | Singapore | Cited for comparison of injuries and awards for pain and suffering and loss of amenities. |
| Toon Chee Meng Eddie v Yeap Chin Hon | High Court | Yes | [1993] 2 SLR 536 | Singapore | Cited by the defendant to argue that the award for pain, suffering and loss of amenities was too high. |
| Gunapathy Muniandy v Khoo James | High Court | Yes | [2001] SGHC 165 | Singapore | Cited by the defendant to argue that the award for pain, suffering and loss of amenities was too high. |
| Lim Yee Ming v Ubin Lagoon Resort Pte Ltd | High Court | Yes | [2003] SGHC 134 | Singapore | Cited by the defendant to argue that the award for pain, suffering and loss of amenities was too high. |
| Chen Qingrui v Phua Geok Leng | High Court | Yes | [2001] SGHC 64 | Singapore | Cited by the defendant to argue that the award for pain, suffering and loss of amenities was too high. |
| Tan Hun Hoe v Harte Denis Mathew | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2001] 4 SLR 317 | Singapore | Cited for comparison of injuries and awards for pain and suffering and loss of amenities. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Spinal Cord Stimulator
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Amenities
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Future Medical Expenses
- Pre-Trial Loss of Earnings
- Actus Novus Interveniens
- Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Neuroma
15.2 Keywords
- personal injury
- damages
- assessment
- leg injury
- raffles city
- singapore
- high court
16. Subjects
- Personal Injury
- Damages Assessment
17. Areas of Law
- Damages
- Assessment of Damages
- Tort Law