AON Risk Services Australia Limited v Lumley General Insurance Limited [2005] FCA 133

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AON Risk Services Australia Limited v Lumley General Insurance Limited [2005] FCA 133 INSURANCE – whether contract of insurance created in favour of hotel proprietor at instance of insurance broker – longstanding underwriting relationship between insurance broker and insurer/underwriter – destruction of hotel by fire – denial of liability to indemnify upon basis that no contract of insurance brought into existence – whether insurance incepted by operation of bordereau relationship between insurance broker and insurer/underwriter – implications of practice of bordereau whether contract of insurance alternatively created by offer and acceptance between the insurance broker and insurer/underwriter Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 916A and 916E(2) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 applied Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Limited v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Limited (1985-1986) 160 CLR 226 applied Kelan Pty Limited v General Accident Insurance Co Australia Limited (1987) 8 ANZ Ins Cas 61‑285 (affirmed on appeal (1997) 9 ANZ Ins Cas 61-369) applied Sickness and Accident Insurance Association v General Accident Corporation (1982) 19R 977 referred to McElroy v London Assurance Corporation (1897) 24R 287 referred to Prudential Insurance Co. v Commissioner of Inland Revenue [1904] 2 KB 658 referred to Wenzel and Another v Australian Stock Exchange Ltd (2002) 125 FCR 570 referred to Re National Savings Bank Association (Hebb's Case) (1867) LR 4 Eq 9 referred to Yona International Limited v La Reunion Francaise Societe Anonyme D'Assurances et de Reassurances and Others [1996] 2 Lloyds Rep 84 referred to Prime Forme Cutting Pty Ltd v Baltica general Insurance Co Ltd (1991) 6 ANZ Ins Cas 61-028 referred to MLC Life Ltd v Navari Pty Ltd (1996) 9 ANZ Ins Cas 61-332 referred to Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 applied Johnson v American Home Assurance Co (1997-1998) 192 CLR 266 referred to Provincial Insurance Co Ltd v Morgan [1933] AC 240 referred to Challenge Charter Pty Ltd v Curtain Bros (Qld) Pty Ltd [2004] VSC 1 applied AON RISK SERVICES AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RIFON PTY LIMITED (AS TRUSTEE FOR THE ROXY TRUST), ARDILO PTY LIMITED (AS TRUSTEE FOR THE ROXY OPERATIONS TRUST) AND LUMLEY GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED N 550 OF 2003 CONTI J 25 FEBRUARY 2005 SYDNEY