Soh Xia Kai Ronnie v Loke Chor Kay: Assessment of Damages for Personal Injuries
In Soh Xia Kai Ronnie v Loke Chor Kay, the High Court of Singapore assessed damages for personal injuries sustained by Soh, the plaintiff, in a motorcycle accident caused by Loke, the defendant, on 23 November 2010. Soh claimed for various injuries and loss of income. The court awarded damages for the right upper leg injury, disabling knee injuries, osteoarthritis, scarring, future surgical procedures, medical treatment expenses, and transport expenses. The court disallowed the claims for chronic back pain, increased tiredness, loss of amenities, loss of earning capacity, and damage to personal items. The judgment was delivered by Justice Woo Bih Li on 28 May 2019.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Judgment for the 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 Soh Xia Kai Ronnie in a motorcycle accident caused by Loke Chor Kay. The court awarded damages for leg injuries and future medical expenses.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soh Xia Kai Ronnie | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won | |
| Loke Chor Kay | Defendant | Individual | Costs on an indemnity basis fixed at $20,000.00 plus reasonable disbursements incurred from 15 May 2018 up to the date of the Final Judgment given on 10 January 2019. | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Woo Bih Li | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Simon Yuen | Legal Clinic LLC |
| Mahendra Prasad Rai | Cooma & Rai |
| Dean Salleh | Cooma & Rai |
4. Facts
- Plaintiff was a motorcyclist involved in an accident with a car driven by the defendant.
- The accident occurred on 23 November 2010 at the junction of Jalan Boon Lay and International Road.
- Plaintiff suffered a head injury and injuries mainly to his right leg.
- Plaintiff's right leg was initially shortened by 5cm, later corrected to 2cm after surgery.
- Plaintiff underwent multiple surgical procedures, including osteotomy and distraction corticotomy.
- Plaintiff claimed various injuries and loss of income or loss of earning capacity.
- Interlocutory judgment was entered at 100% in favor of the plaintiff.
5. Formal Citations
- Soh Xia Kai Ronnie v Loke Chor Kay, Suit No 787 of 2017(Assessment of Damages No 15 of 2018), [2019] SGHC 136
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accident occurred | |
| Action filed in the District Court | |
| Interlocutory judgment entered in favor of Soh | |
| Action transferred to the High Court | |
| Assessment of damages hearing began | |
| Assessment of damages hearing | |
| Assessment of damages hearing | |
| Assessment of damages hearing | |
| Oral judgment rendered | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Assessment of Damages for Personal Injuries
- Outcome: The court assessed damages for various injuries and expenses, awarding specific amounts for each item.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2017] SGHC 304
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeo Chee Siong v Salpac (S) Pte Ltd and another | High Court | Yes | [2017] SGHC 304 | Singapore | Cited as a comparable case for assessing damages for leg injuries, specifically for shortening of the leg and its consequences. |
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
- Personal Injuries
- Assessment of Damages
- Motorcycle Accident
- Osteotomy
- Distraction Corticotomy
- Total Knee Replacement
- Loss of Earning Capacity
15.2 Keywords
- personal injury
- damages
- motorcycle accident
- assessment
- singapore
- high court
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 90 |
| Measure of Damages | 90 |
| Automobile Accidents | 70 |
| Civil Litigation | 50 |
| Civil Procedure | 50 |
16. Subjects
- Personal Injury
- Damages
- Civil Procedure