CIVIL AVIATION (CARRIERS' LIABILITY) ACT 1959 - SECT 35 Liability in respect of death

CIVIL AVIATION (CARRIERS' LIABILITY) ACT 1959 - SECT 35

  (1)   The provisions of this section apply in relation to liability imposed by this Part on a carrier in respect of the death of a passenger (including the injury that resulted in the death).

  (2)   Subject to section   37, the liability under this Part   i s in substitution for any civil liability of the carrier under any other law in respect of the death of the passenger or in respect of the injury that has resulted in the death of the passenger.

  (3)   Subject to the next succeeding subsection, the liability is enforceable for the benefit of such of the passenger's family members as sustained damage by reason of his or her death.

  (4)   To the extent that the damages recoverable include loss of earnings or profits up to the date of death, or funeral, medical or hospital expenses paid or incurred by the passenger before his or her death or by his or her personal representative, the liability is enforceable for the benefit of the personal representative of the passenger in his or her capacity as personal representative.

  (6)   The action to enforce the liability may be brought by the personal representative of the passenger or by a person for whose benefit the liability is, under the preceding provisions of this section, enforceable, but only one action shall be brought in respect of the death of any one passenger, and such an action, by whomsoever brought, shall be for the benefit of all persons for whose benefit the liability is so enforceable who are resident in Australia or, not being resident in Australia, express the desire to take the benefit of the action.

  (7)   The damages recoverable in the action include loss of earnings or profits up to the date of death and the reasonable expenses of the funeral of the passenger and medical and hospital expenses reasonably incurred in relation to the injury that resulted in the death of the passenger.

  (8)   In awarding damages, the court or jury is not limited to the financial loss resulting from the death of the passenger.

  (9)   Subject to the next succeeding subsection, the amount recovered in the action, after deducting any costs not recovered from the defendant, shall be divided amongst the persons entitled in such proportions as the court (or, where the action is tried with a jury, the jury) directs.

  (10)   The court may at any stage of the proceedings make any such order as appears to the court to be just and equitable in view of the provisions of this Part   l imiting the liability of the carrier and of any proceedings which have been, or are likely to be, commenced against the carrier, whether in or outside Australia.