Chahrouk v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2021] NSWSC 1457

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chahrouk v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2021] NSWSC 1457 Hearing dates: 9 September 2021 Date of orders: 10 November 2021 Decision date: 10 November 2021 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court Orders: (1) That the decision of the third defendant issued by the second defendant be set aside. (2) The proceedings are remitted to the President of the Personal Injury Commission of NSW to be determined according to law. (3) The first defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Judicial review – Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 – State Insurance Regulatory Authority – Dispute Resolution Service – Medical Assessor's Certificate – Review Panel's Certificate – Minor injury – Denial of procedural fairness – Jurisdictional error – Failure to exercise jurisdiction – Failure to conduct new assessment – Irrelevant consideration – Failure to respond to a clearly articulated argument – Failure to provide reasons – Failure to inquire Legislation Cited: Motor Accident Injury Act 2017 (NSW), ss 1.6, 7.23, 7.26 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Accident Compensation Act 1985 (VIC) Cases Cited: Abeebe v Commonwealth of Australia [1999] HCA 14 Alchm v Daley (2009) NSWCA 418 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Francica [2012] NSWSC 1577 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) NSWCA 284 Collector of Customs v Pozzolianic [1993] FCA 322; 43 FCR 280 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd [2013] FCAFC 148 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163 Dramchmkov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2003] HCA 26 Ejueyitsi v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2006) 151 FCR 289 Ex parte Hebburn Ltd, Re Kearsley Shire Council [1947] NSWStRp 24 Frost v Kourouche (2016) NSWLR 214 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIAI [2009] HCA 39 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 North v Homolka [2014] VSC 478 Raina v CIC Allianz Insurance Limited [2021] NSWSC 13 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57 Robson v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1558 Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211 SZCBT v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2007] FCA 9 Dagher v IAG Limited t/as NRMA Insurance [2020] NSWSC 1467 Wei v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2015) 257 CLR 22 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Limited v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hassan Chahrouk (Plaintiff) Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (First Defendant) The President of the Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales (Second Defendant) Medical Review Panel constituted by Medical Assessors Ian Cameron, Margaret Gibson and Thomas Rosenthal (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J. Gumbert with M. Jones (Plaintiff) K. Rewell SC (First Defendant)