KO WAH v SAMIKANNU MANICKAVASAKAR & Anor

[2025] SGDC 150 District Court 4 August 2025 • DC/S 1025/2021 ( DC/AD 489/2023 ) • 66 min read

24 cases cited (22 SG, 2 foreign)

Catchwords

Damages — Assessment — Loss of amenities Damages — Rules in awarding — Proof of actual damage Damages — Measure of damages — Personal injuries cases Damages — Assessment — Making different awards of pain and suffering for different periods of time Damages — Special damages — Whether damages may be awarded despite the absence of documentary evidence Damages — Rules in awarding — Doctrine of collateral benefits — Whether medical expenses paid with MediShield are claimable Damages — Rules in awarding — Ascertainment difficult or impossible — Assessing damages when Plaintiff/Claimant passes away midway through proceedings

Practice Areas

Damages

Judges (1)

Kim Bum Soo Delivered

Parties (4)

SJ Universe Pte. Ltd Defendant Ko Wah Plaintiff Ko Wei Ze Jonathan Plaintiff Samikannu Manickavasakar Defendant

Case Significance

[2025] SGDC 150 is a District Court decision dated 4 August 2025 concerning Damages, specifically addressing assessment, rules in awarding, and measure of damages. The judgment was delivered by Kim Bum Soo. The case was brought by Ko Wah and others (plaintiff) against SJ Universe Pte. Ltd and others (defendant). The judgment cites 24 cases (22 Singapore, 2 foreign).

Summary

The administrator of the estate of Ko Wah, who suffered severe brain injuries and permanent mental incapacitation after being knocked down in a motor accident in 2019 and died during proceedings in 2024, sought assessment of damages against the driver and his employer. The court assessed pain and suffering, nursing and medical expenses, and loss of future earnings, criticising NTUC Income (the defendants' insurer) for unreasonably resisting uncontroversial claims. Damages were awarded including pain and suffering, medical expenses, and costs of nursing care, with the court making distinct awards for pre-death and post-death periods.

What was decided in [2025] SGDC 150?

[2025] SGDC 150 (KO WAH v SAMIKANNU MANICKAVASAKAR & Anor) is a District Court decision from 4 August 2025 addressing Damages, specifically assessment, rules in awarding, and measure of damages. The judgment was delivered by Kim Bum Soo.

Who were the parties in KO WAH v SAMIKANNU MANICKAVASAKAR & Anor?

The plaintiff in [2025] SGDC 150 was Ko Wah, Ko Wei Ze Jonathan, and the defendant was SJ Universe Pte. Ltd, Samikannu Manickavasakar. The case was decided on 4 August 2025 in the District Court.

Which judge decided [2025] SGDC 150?

[2025] SGDC 150 was delivered by Kim Bum Soo in the District Court on 4 August 2025. The case concerned Damages.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGDC 150 cite?

[2025] SGDC 150 cites 24 prior decisions, including 2 from foreign jurisdictions.

Cases Cited (24)

SG (15)

[2001] SGCA 27 [2006] SGHC 79 [2010] SGCA 22 [2011] SGHC 169 [2013] SGHC 77 [2016] SGHC 266 [2017] SGHC 189 [2019] SGHC 136 [2020] SGDC 130 [2021] SGCA 111 [2023] SGDC 72 [2023] SGHC 215 [2023] SGHC 334 [2024] SGCA 28 [2025] SGHC 11

SLR (7)

[1993] 1 SLR(R) 407 [1996] 3 SLR(R) 513 [2004] 3 SLR(R) 288 [2008] 2 SLR(R) 623 [2010] 2 SLR 1154 [2018] 1 SLR 1037 [2019] 1 SLR 145

UK (2)

[1904] 2 KB 658 [1964] AC 326

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGDC 150)