Tambakeras v UniSuper Limited [2022] NSWSC 1162

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tambakeras v UniSuper Limited [2022] NSWSC 1162 Hearing dates: 17, 18, 19 and 20 August 2021. Further written submissions 3 and 8 September 2021. Date of orders: 30 August 2022 Decision date: 30 August 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: Plaintiff's Amended Statement of Claim is dismissed. Catchwords: SUPERANNUATION – Plaintiff applied for benefits including a Disablement benefit under trust deed – Whether decisions to refuse payment of Disablement benefit involved breaches of trustee's duties – Whether trustee gave properly informed consideration to application – Whether there were conflicts in the medical evidence before the trustee that it was required to resolve – Whether trustee acted in good faith and was required to provide the plaintiff access to particular materials – Whether definition of Disablement was satisfied – Construction of superannuation trust deed – Whether trustee was required to consider the exercise of discretions – Whether the consent judgment sum could be offset against a Disablement benefit payment Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Superannuation Industry Superannuation Act 1993 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alcoa of Australia Retirement Plan Pty Ltd v Frost [2012] VSCA 238 Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme v Gomez [2018] QCA 67 BTR Engineering (Australia) Ltd v Dana Corp [2000] VSC 246 Buswell v TAL Life Ltd (2018) [2018] NSWSC 1507 Carroll v United Super Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 403 Commonwealth Bank Officers Superannuation Corporation Pty Ltd & Anor v Beck & Anor [2016] NSWCA 218 Coutts v Close [2014] FCA 19 Cullinane v Mercer Benefit Nominees Ltd [2006] FCAFC 82 Edington v Board of Trustees of State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [2016] QCA 247 Edington v Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [2015] QSC 245 Finch v Telstra Super Pty Ltd (2010) 242 CLR 254; [2010] HCA 36 FSS Trustee Corp v Eataugh [2017] VSCA 218 Gilberg v Maritime Super Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 325 Halloran v Harwood Nominees Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 913 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Dargan [2013] NSWCA 57 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Jones [2017] NSWCA 233 Hannover Life Re of Australia Ltd v Sayseng [2005] NSWCA 214 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Karger v Paul [1984] VR 161 Lutheran Church of Australia South Australia District Inc v Farmers Co-operative Executives and Trustees Ltd (1970) 121 CLR 628 Manglicmot v Commonwealth Bank Offices Superannuation Corp Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 204 McArthur v Mercantile Mutual Life Insurance Co Ltd [2002] 2 Qd R 197 MetLife Insurance Ltd v MX [2019] NSWCA 228 Newcrest Mining v Thornton (2012) 248 CLR 555 Owies v JJE Nominees Pty Ltd (in its capacity as the trustee for the Owies Family Trust) [2022] VSCA 142 Rapa v Patience (Supreme Court (NSW), McLelland J, 4 April 1985, unrep) Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Lam [2003] HCA 6 Reavill Farm Pty Ltd v Burrell Solicitors Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 156 SZLPH v Minister for Immigration & Border Protection (2018) 266 FCR 105; [2018] FCAFC 145 TAL Life Ltd v Shuetrim; MetLife Insurance Ltd v Shuetrim (2016) 91 NSWLR 439; [2016] NSWCA 68 Telstra Super Pty Ltd v Flegeltaub [2000] VSCA 180 Wareham (as trustees of the Swanson Superannuation Fund) v Marsella (both personally and as executor of the estate of Marsella also known as Swanson) [2020] VSCA 92 Ziogos v FSS Trustee Corporation as Trustee of the First Sate Superannuation Scheme [2015] NSWSC 1385 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming, Jacobs' Law of Trusts in Australia (8th ed, 2016, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Marc Tambakeras (Plaintiff) UniSuper Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A M Coombes (Plaintiff) D A Lloyd SC with N J Olsen (Defendant)