Amlin Corporate Member Ltd v Austcorp Project No 20 Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 78

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Amlin Corporate Member Ltd v Austcorp Project No 20 Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 78 Citation: Amlin Corporate Member Ltd v Austcorp Project No 20 Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 78

Appeal from: Austcorp Project No 20 Pty Ltd v LM Investment Management Ltd, in the matter of Bellpac Pty Ltd (receivers and managers appointed) (in liq) (No 2) [2014] FCA 44

Parties: AMLIN CORPORATE MEMBER LIMITED (UK COMPANY NO 02969411) TRADING AS AMLIN SYNDICATE 2001 AT LLOYD'S and MARKEL CAPITAL LIMITED (UK COMPANY NO 03114572) TRADING AS MARKEL SYDNICATE 3000 AT LLOYD'S AND THE CHANNEL SYNDICATE LLP (UK COMPANY NO OC359898) TRADING AS CHANNEL SYNDICATE 2014 AT LLOYD'S v AUSTCORP PROJECT NO 20 PTY LIMITED ACN 111 470 725, COMPROMISE CREDITORS MANAGEMENT PTY LIMITED ACN 122 143 220 and LM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LTD (IN LIQ) ACN 077 208 461

File number(s): NSD 189 of 2014

Judge(s): ALLSOP CJ, MIDDLETON & GLEESON JJ

Date of judgment: 30 June 2014

Catchwords: INSURANCE – professional indemnity insurance – claims made policy – definition of "claim" and "counter-claim" – whether Commercial List Response in NSW Supreme Court proceedings constituted a "claim" to which the insurance policy responds – definition of "civil liability" – principles for determining whether insurer liable to indemnify – appeal dismissed PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for leave to appeal interlocutory decision – leave granted

Cases cited: AWA v Exicom (1990) 19 NSWLR 705 Capel v Butler (1825) 57 ER 421 China & South Seas Bank v Tan [1990] 1 AC 536 Chittick v Maxwell (1993) 118 ALR 728 DÉcor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1991) 33 FCR 397; [1991] FCA 655 Deutsche National Bank v Paul [1898] 1 Ch 283 Ex parte Bucknell (1936) 56 CLR 221, [1936] HCA 67 GE Capital Australia v Davis (2002) 180 FLR 250 Hall v Bonnett [1956] SASR 10 Johnston v Cameron (2002) 124 FCR 160; [2002] FCAFC 251 Kyriackou v ACE Insurance Ltd [2013] VSCA 150 Littlewood v George Wimpey & Co Ltd and BOAC [1953] 1 QB 501 Lord v Direct Acceptance Corporation Ltd (1993) 32 NSWLR 362 Mayne Nickless Limited v Multigroup Distribution Services Pty Limited (2001) 114 FCR 108, [2001] FCA 1620 Minogue v Williams [2000] FCA 125 Myers v Simcoe & Erie General Insurance Co (1994) 115 DLR (4th) 607 Myers v Simcoe & Erie General Insurance Co (1994) 18 OR (3d) 475 Pearl v Deacon (1857) 53 ER 328 Strange v Fooks (1863) 66 ER 765 Taylor v Bank of New South Wales (1886) 11 App Cas 596 Ultimate Property Group Pty Ltd v Lord (2004) 60 NSWLR 646 Walton v National Employers' Insurance Association [1973] 2 NSWLR 73 Watts v Shuttleworth (1861) 158 ER 510 Wulff v Jay (1872) LR 7 QB 756