A NEWCASTLE council parking officer who was screamed at and abused by his manager for an hour for using a disability parking permit suffered a permanent psychological injury, according to the NSW Personal Injury Commission.
Andrew Partridge was assessed as having 17 per cent whole-person impairment after an incident at City of Newcastle involving his manager and the chief executive officer in 2020.
The commission heard the manager claimed Mr Partridge's use of a disabled parking permit was "fraudulent", and that as a parking officer he should not have used the permit.
"He reported she had breached his privacy and that everybody at work knew about the issue and they breached his trust," the decision reads.
"When she was investigated, she elected to leave and the CEO gave her a glowing review."
Mr Partridge, who had "no prior psychiatric difficulty", but suffers from an ongoing back issue and had an ankle injury, said despite his complaint against the manager being upheld, he was "upset" that after she resigned that the CEO gave her a "glowing commendation".
He described the situation as stressful and said he felt unsupported.
The 53-year-old, who worked at the council from 2008 to 2020, took sick leave after the incident and did not return to work.
An initial medical assessment determined Mr Partridge suffered 8 per cent impairment, but he lodged an appeal claiming the assessment was based on incorrect criteria.
City of Newcastle argued that the initial medical assessment was adequate and should be confirmed.
But the commission's appeal panel agreed with Mr Partridge and Michael Hong was appointed to conduct a new medical assessment.
Mr Partridge told Dr Hong that he thought about what happened at the council "all the time".
"He thinks about how horrible he was treated, and explained he does not trust people and cannot handle social interaction," the decision reads.
"He said he became frightened of people and avoids everybody and that 'I don't have an easy life'."
The commission heard that Mr Partridge spent most of his time at home alone and had become very forgetful.
He often goes into a room and forgets what he is meant to be doing there.
After the incident, Mr Partridge said he felt shocked, depressed and anxious.
Dr Hong described him as have "chronic anxiety and depressive symptoms", consistent with a "major depressive disorder, caused by his employment".
"He said he struggles to go out to the shops," the judgement reads. "Mr Partridge does not like to go to places with a lot of people as he does not feel safe."
Apart from his family, he has no other visitors. He has a few friends, but he does not see them.
Dr Hong said he "avoids all social and recreational activities".
"Mr Partridge normally enjoyed gardening, cooking and beekeeping," the decision reads. "He said he was a very sociable and outgoing person, but now he does not want to go anywhere. He struggles to 'keep my head above water' and struggles to interact with anybody."
Dr Hong found there was no inconsistency in Mr Partridge's presentation and the appeal panel confirmed the new medical assessment certificate assessing him as 17 per cent impaired.
