Cook v Sirius International Insurance Corporation Australian Branch [2020] NSWSC 1631

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cook v Sirius International Insurance Corporation Australian Branch [2020] NSWSC 1631 Hearing dates: 6, 7 and 11 August 2020 Decision date: 17 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the plaintiffs' claim with costs. Catchwords: INSURANCE — Claims — Fraud — Proof — Where fires started in hotel — Where claim denied based on allegation that plaintiff started the fires Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 12 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), ss 13, 54, 56 Cases Cited: Bale v Mills (2011) 81 NSWLR 498; [2011] NSWCA 226 Belhaven & Stenton Peerage (1875) 1 App Cas 278 Berry v CCL Secure Pty Ltd [2020] HCA 27; (2020) 94 ALJR 715 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Chamberlain v R (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521; [1984] HCA 7 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414; [1999] HCA 2 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 McLennan v Insurance Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 300; (2014) 313 ALR 173 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd [1992] HCA 66; (1992) 67 ALJR 170 Oneflare Pty Ltd v Chernih [2017] NSWCA 195 Palmer v Dolman [2005] NSWCA 361 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332; [1994] HCA 4 Sharma v Insurance Australia Ltd [2017] NSWCA 307 Transport Industries Insurance Co Ltd v Longmuir [1997] 1 VR 125 Volonakis v Erceg [2019] NSWSC 1875 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Stephen William Cook (First Plaintiff) Christine Margaret Cook (Second Plaintiff) Sirius International Insurance Corporation Australian Branch (First Defendant) Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's of London Subscribing to Contract Number GH01613 (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: GM Watson SC with PG Cutler (Plaintiffs) J Sexton SC with J Lee (Defendants)