Yeo Chee Siong v Salpac (S) Pte Ltd: Assessment of Damages for Personal Injuries
In Yeo Chee Siong v Salpac (S) Pte Ltd, the High Court of Singapore assessed damages for personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff, Yeo Chee Siong, in a motor vehicle accident. Yeo, a carpenter employed by Salpac (S) Pte Ltd, was injured when the lorry he was travelling in collided with a bus. An interlocutory judgment was entered against the second defendant, the administrator of the estate of the deceased driver, Chew Kong Seng, by consent. The claim against the first defendant was withdrawn. The court awarded the plaintiff a total of $576,626 in damages.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Judgment for Plaintiff
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Assessment of damages for personal injuries sustained by Yeo Chee Siong due to a motor vehicle accident. The court awarded $576,626 in damages.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeo Chee Siong | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won | |
| Salpac (S) Pte Ltd | Defendant | Corporation | Claim Withdrawn | Withdrawn | |
| Lua Bee Kiang (administrator of the estate of Chew Kong Seng, deceased) | Defendant | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Debbie Ong | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
4. Facts
- The Plaintiff was employed by the first defendant as a carpenter since 1996.
- On December 29, 2012, the Plaintiff was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident while being transported to work in a lorry owned by the first defendant.
- The lorry, driven by Chew Kong Seng, collided into the rear of a bus.
- The Plaintiff suffered severe head injuries, fractures, and loss of sense of taste and smell.
- An interlocutory judgment was entered against the second defendant, the administrator of Mr. Chew's estate, by consent.
- The Plaintiff could no longer work as a carpenter after the accident and tried working as a coffee shop assistant and then as a cleaner.
- The Plaintiff is divorced, has no children, and lives alone.
5. Formal Citations
- Yeo Chee Siong v Salpac (S) Pte Ltd and another, Suit No 1260 of 2014, [2017] SGHC 304
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff employed by first defendant. | |
| Accident occurred, causing serious injuries to the Plaintiff. | |
| Interlocutory judgment entered against the second defendant by consent. | |
| Trial on assessment of damages began. | |
| Trial on assessment of damages. | |
| Trial on assessment of damages. | |
| Trial on assessment of damages. | |
| Trial on assessment of damages. | |
| Trial on assessment of damages. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Assessment of Damages for Personal Injuries
- Outcome: The court assessed and awarded damages for pain and suffering, loss of amenities, loss of future earnings, loss of earning capacity, and future nursing care.
- Category: Substantive
- Loss of Future Earnings
- Outcome: The court awarded damages for loss of future earnings based on the plaintiff's resilience and commitment to work beyond the statutory retirement age.
- Category: Substantive
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Outcome: The court awarded damages for loss of earning capacity, considering the plaintiff's inability to return to his previous job and his disadvantage in the open employment market.
- Category: Substantive
- Future Nursing Care
- Outcome: The court awarded damages for future nursing care, considering the plaintiff's heightened risk of developing dementia and the need for supervision in his daily life.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
- Breach of Duty
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury Litigation
11. Industries
- Construction
- Transportation
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seah Yit Chen v Singapore Bus Service (1978) Ltd and others | High Court | Yes | [1990] 1 SLR(R) 490 | Singapore | Cited for the component approach in awarding damages for injuries to different parts of the body. |
| Quek Yen Fei Kenneth (by his litigation representative Pang Choy Chun) v Yeo Chye Huat and another appeal | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2017] 2 SLR 229 | Singapore | Cited regarding the assessment of loss of future earnings for claimants with low levels of education engaged in manual work. |
| Neo Kim Seng v Clough Petrose Pte Ltd | High Court | Yes | [1996] 2 SLR(R) 413 | Singapore | Cited regarding the shorter working life of manual workers compared to white-collar workers. |
| Wee Sia Tian v Long Thik Boon | High Court | Yes | [1996] 2 SLR(R) 420 | Singapore | Cited regarding the working age of a carpenter for the purpose of assessing loss of future earnings and loss of earning capacity. |
| Chai Kang Wei Samuel v Shaw Linda Gillian | High Court | Yes | [2010] 3 SLR 587 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that compensation can be awarded for both loss of earning capacity and loss of future earnings as they compensate different losses. |
| Clark Jonathan Michael v Lee Khee Chung | High Court | Yes | [2010] 1 SLR 209 | Singapore | Cited regarding the approach to be adopted in assessing loss of earning capacity. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Retirement and Re-employment Act (Cap 274A, 2012 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Personal Injuries
- Assessment of Damages
- Loss of Future Earnings
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Future Nursing Care
- Motor Vehicle Accident
- Brain Injuries
- Fractures
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Amenities
15.2 Keywords
- personal injury
- damages
- motor vehicle accident
- Singapore
- High Court
- assessment
- loss of earnings
- nursing care
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 95 |
| Damages Assessment | 90 |
| Damages | 85 |
| Personal injuries cases | 70 |
| Automobile Accidents | 60 |
| Negligence | 50 |
| Breach of Duty of Care | 40 |
16. Subjects
- Personal Injury
- Damages
- Civil Litigation