Rahman v Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance [2022] NSWSC 1079

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Rahman v Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance [2022] NSWSC 1079 Hearing dates: 2 August 2022 Date of orders: 12 August 2022 Decision date: 12 August 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Basten AJ Decision: (1) Extend time for the filing of the summons seeking judicial review of the medical assessment certificate dated 26 July 2021 to 17 December 2021. (2) Dismiss the amended summons. (3) Order that the plaintiff pay the costs of the first defendant in this Court. Catchwords: TRAFFIC LAW AND TRANSPORT – traffic law – motor accident legislation – claim for damages – psychiatric injury – medical assessment – clinical examination ordered to address inconsistencies on the materials – no psychiatric injuries caused by motor accident ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – bias – actual or apprehended – no prejudgment – medical assessor formed firm but preliminary view on the papers – plaintiff given opportunity to address inconsistencies ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – ground of review other than procedural fairness – irrelevant and relevant considerations – medical assessor must form own opinion based on expertise – medical assessor may disregard or assign little weight to evidence – relevance of evidence is factual issue for medical assessor ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – remedies – discretionary factors – review of medical assessment certificate – refusal of relief if internal review on available ground not sought – refusal of relief if President's delegate not satisfied of error in material respect – concurrent internal appeal and judicial review Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 57, 58, 61, 63, 131 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Motor Accident Permanent Impairment Guidelines (1 June 2018), cll 1.40, 1.41 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244; 61 MVR 443 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Beale v Government Insurance Office of NSW (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Frost v Kourouche (2014) 86 NSWLR 214; [2014] NSWCA 39 Insurance Australia Group Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Keen [2021] NSWCA 287 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Milton [2016] NSWCA 156 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488; [2000] HCA 48 Lederer v Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance [2022] NSWSC 322 L & B Linings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 15 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507; [2001] HCA 17 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; [2001] HCA 22 Rodger v De Gelder (2011) 80 NSWLR 594; [2011] NSWCA 97 Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hafizur Rahman (Plaintiff) Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance (First Defendant) Wayne Mason (medical assessor, Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales) (Second Defendant) President, Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: JJ Ryan (Plaintiff) C Allan (First Defendant)