Hart v MetLife Insurance Limited [2022] NSWSC 1157

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hart v MetLife Insurance Limited [2022] NSWSC 1157 Hearing dates: 8 - 10 August 2022 Date of orders: 31 August 2022 Decision date: 31 August 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Black J Decision: Answers to separate questions: 1. The Second Defendant did not breach its duty and obligations in considering and declining the Plaintiff's claims on 9 August 2021 2. The Second Defendant did not breach any duty or obligation to the Plaintiff in failing since 15 November 2021 to reconsider the Plaintiff's claims. 3. Given the answers above, the third question does not arise. Parties to bring in agreed short minutes to give effect to this judgment or their respective short minutes of order and submissions within 7 days. Catchwords: INSURANCE — Claims — Where plaintiff originally made a claim for workers compensation in relation to a back injury and received adjustments to her employment duties — Where plaintiff was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and claimed it amounted to total and permanent disablement ("TPD") — Where defendant insurer denied the plaintiff's claim for payment of a benefit under two policies on the basis of TPD — Whether the plaintiff's psychical or psychological injuries engaged either policy at the relevant times —Whether the defendant breached any of its duties or obligations in considering and denying the plaintiff's claim — Whether the defendant breached any duty or obligation in failing to reconsider the plaintiff's claims Cases Cited: - Beverley v Tyndall Life Insurance Co Ltd (1999) 21 WAR 327; [1999] WASCA 198 - Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme v Gomez [2018] QCA 67 - Carroll v United Super Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 403 - Edwards v The Hunter Valley Co-op Dairy Co Ltd & Anor (1992) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-113 - Gilberg v Maritime Super Pty Ltd (2009) NSWCA 325 - Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Jones [2017] NSWCA 233 - Hannover Life Re of Australasia Limited v Sayseng (2005) 13 ANZ Ins Cas 90-123; [2005] NSWCA 214 - Heitman v Guardian Assurance Co Ltd (1992) 7 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-107 - Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 - MetLife Insurance Ltd v Hart [2021] FCA 410 - MetLife Insurance Ltd v Hellessey [2018] NSWCA 307 - MetLife Insurance Ltd v MX [2019] NSWCA 228 - Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 - MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 95 ALJR 441; [2021] HCA 17 - Newling v FSS Trustee Corporation and MetLife Insurance Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1405 Newling v MetLife Insurance Ltd [2019] NSWCA 149 - Nile v Club Plus Superannuation Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 55 - Savelberg v United Super Pty Ltd trading as Cbus Superannuation Fund & Anor [2011] NSWSC 1482 - TAL Life Ltd v Shuetrim (2016) 91 NSWLR 439; [2016] NSWCA 68 - Tomlinson v Ramsay Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507; [2015] HCA 28 - Ziogos v FSS Trustee Corporation as Trustee of the First State Superannuation Scheme Category: Principal judgment Parties: Marie Hart (Plaintiff) Aware Super Pty Ltd (First Defendant) MetLife Insurance Ltd (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Coombes (Plaintiff) S Lloyd SC/J Harrison (Second Defendant)