Ng Kum Thong v Moktar Bin Yusof: Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury

In Ng Kum Thong v Moktar Bin Yusof, the High Court of Singapore heard an appeal by the defendant against the assistant registrar's assessment of damages for the plaintiff's personal injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on 9 September 2008. The plaintiff, Ng Kum Thong, was injured when he was hit by a lorry driven by the defendant, Moktar Bin Yusof. The court, presided over by Justice Lee Seiu Kin, allowed the appeal in part, reducing the amounts awarded for future nursing care, scooter costs, and wheelchair costs, while upholding the remaining orders of the assistant registrar. The court's decision was delivered on 28 December 2012.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Appeal Allowed in Part

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Assessment of damages for personal injury. The High Court allowed the defendant's appeal in part, varying the assistant registrar's order.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Ng Kum ThongPlaintiffIndividualPartial VictoryPartial
Moktar Bin YusofDefendant, AppellantIndividualAppeal Allowed in PartPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Lee Seiu KinJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Subir Singh PanooSim Mong Teck & Partners
Edwin ChuaLawrence Chua & Partners

4. Facts

  1. Plaintiff was knocked down by a motor lorry driven by the defendant on 9 September 2008.
  2. The plaintiff sustained loss of both legs and degloving injury to right upper limb.
  3. The parties entered into a consent judgment on 20 July 2011, with the defendant liable for 75% of the damages.
  4. The assistant registrar assessed the damages suffered by the plaintiff on 11 May 2012.
  5. The plaintiff was 58.5 years of age at the date of judgment.
  6. The plaintiff was employed as a supervisor in a cleaning services company.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Ng Kum Thong v Moktar Bin Yusof, Suit No 903 of 2010 (Registrar's Appeal No 202 of 2012), [2012] SGHC 254

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Plaintiff knocked down by motor lorry driven by defendant
Parties entered into consent judgment
Assistant registrar assessed damages
High Court allowed defendant’s appeal in part

7. Legal Issues

  1. Assessment of Damages
    • Outcome: The court varied the assistant registrar's assessment, reducing the amounts awarded for future nursing care, scooter costs, and wheelchair costs.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Loss of Future Earnings
    • Outcome: The court upheld the assistant registrar's assessment of $158,400 for loss of future earnings.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Cost of Future Nursing Care
    • Outcome: The court reduced the future cost for nursing care from $177,408 to $154,064.
    • Category: Substantive
  4. Cost of Future Equipment
    • Outcome: The court reduced the future cost of scooter from $13,866.24 to $12,132.96 and the future cost of wheelchair from $2,400 to $2,100.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Damages for Personal Injury

9. Cause of Actions

  • Negligence

10. Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

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

  • Personal Injury
  • Assessment of Damages
  • Loss of Future Earnings
  • Nursing Care
  • Degloving Injury
  • Multiplier
  • Consent Judgment

15.2 Keywords

  • personal injury
  • damages
  • negligence
  • singapore
  • high court
  • assessment
  • motor accident

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Personal Injury90
Assessment of Damages85
Measure of Damages80
Damages75
Automobile Accidents70
Civil Procedure40
Civil Litigation30

16. Subjects

  • Personal Injury
  • Damages Assessment