AAI Ltd trading as GIO v Moon [2020] NSWSC 714

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: AAI Ltd trading as GIO v Moon [2020] NSWSC 714 Hearing dates: 17 April 2020, supplementary written submissions closed 14 May 2020 Date of orders: 11 June 2020 Decision date: 11 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Wright J Decision: (1) The summons filed on 23 October 2019 is dismissed.

(2) The plaintiff is to pay the first defendant's costs as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Judicial Review – Error of law on the face of the record – Jurisdictional error – Whether DRS claims assessor erred in law in construing the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW), ss 8.3(4), 8.10(3) and (4) – Whether claims assessor erred in permitting payment of legal costs incurred by a claimant for statutory benefits where costs exceeded the maximum costs fixed by the regulations – No error of law in assessor's determination

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) – Construction of ss 7.37(3), 7.42, 8.3(3) and (4), and 8.10 of the Act – Whether DRS may permit payment of reasonable and necessary legal costs incurred by claimant for statutory benefits where costs exceed the maximum fixed by the regulations

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) – Construction of s 8.10 and "incurred" in s 8.10(1)

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) – Construction of ss 8.3(3) and (4) – Application of maxim generalia specialibus non derogant Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) Motor Accident Injuries Regulation 2017 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v Westpac Securities Administration Limited [2019] FCAFC 187; 373 ALR 455 Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Fine (2014) 87 NSWLR 1; [2014] NSWCA 327 Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) v Consolidated Media Holdings Limited (2012) 250 CLR 503; [2012] HCA 55 The Commonwealth v Baume (1905) 2 CLR 405; [1905] HCA 11 Goodwin v Phillips (1908) 7 CLR 1 at 14; [1908] HCA 55 The Great Fingall Consolidated Ltd. v. Sheehan (1905) 3 CLR 176; [1905] HCA 43 Legal Services Board v Gillespie-Jones (2013) 249 CLR 493; [2013] HCA 35 Master Education Services Pty Ltd v Ketchell (2008) 236 CLR 101; [2008] HCA 38 Nilsen Development Laboratories Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 144 CLR 616; [1981] HCA 6 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Smith v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 338; [1994] HCA 60 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Webster v McIntosh [1980] FCA 156; 32 ALR 603 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont, Law of Costs (4th ed, 2018, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: AAI Limited trading as GIO (Plaintiff) Jason Moon (First Defendant) Belinda Cassidy (Second Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Sexton SC (Plaintiff) A J Stone SC with J Gumbert (First Defendant)