Flanagan v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1374

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Flanagan v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1374 Hearing dates: 9 August 2022; further written submissions filed 15, 16,17 and 18 August 2022. Date of orders: 12 October 2022 Decision date: 12 October 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Chen J Decision: (1) Order in the nature of certiorari moving into this Court and quashing the certificate issued by the third defendants, constituting a Review Panel of the second defendant, dated 14 November 2021. (2) Order that proceedings PIC matter number R10387530 is remitted to the second defendant to be referred, under s 7.26(6) of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW), to a review panel to be determined according to law. (3) Order that the first defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings in this Court. (4) Grant liberty to apply to either party to apply to have that costs order varied, upon application made in writing to the associate to Chen J by 19 October 2022, 5pm. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW ­– Judicial review of Review Panel assessment of permanent impairment under Division 7.5 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) – force or status of Motor Accident Guidelines – no legal obligation in cl 6.18 of the Guidelines to consider particular evidence – separate assessment of injury – no inconsistency between medical findings – failure to comply with cl 6.70 of the Guidelines – assessment of permanent impairment using incorrect AMA4 table – error on the face of the record and jurisdictional error established ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Judicial review – where error established – whether discretion to refuse relief should be exercised – whether relief futile – affected parties entitled to have matter determined according to law – further assessment may not reach the same conclusion – relief granted Legislation Cited: Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW), ss 4.11, 10.2, 7.19, 7.20, 7.21, 7.23, 7.26 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 44 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: AAI Limited v Boga [2020] NSWSC 1903 AAI Limited v Chan [2021] NSWCA 19 AAI Limited v McGiffen (2016) 77 MVR 348; [2016] NSWCA 229 AAMI Limited v Ali [2012] NSWSC 969 Ackling v QBE insurance (Australia) Ltd (2009) 75 NSWLR 482; [2009] NSWSC 881 Alam v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (2018) 85 MVR 219; [2018] NSWSC 1214 Ali v AAI Limited [2016] NSWCA 110 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr (2012) 83 NSWLR 302; [2012] NSWCA 13 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Ward (2010) 79 NSWLR 657; [2010] NSWSC 720 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Boyce v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2017] NSWSC 785 CIC Allianz Insurance Ltd v Pillay (2017) 82 MVR 490; [2017] NSWSC 1638 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 135; [2000] HCA 5 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 58 Day v SAS Trustee Corporation [2021] NSWCA 71 Dominice v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2017] NSWCA 171 Dominice v Allianz Insurance [2016] NSWSC 1241 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (2003) 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Golijan v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (2012) 62 MVR 286; [2012] NSWSC 1106 Haris v AAI Limited [2015] NSWSC 270 Hossain v Minster for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 Insurance Australia Group Ltd v Saraceni [2020] NSWSC 1045 Insurance Australia Ltd v Atkins [2020] NSWSC 67 Insurance Australia Ltd v Warren [2019] NSWSC 1126 Kirk v Industrial Court of NSW (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 McHenry v Insurance Australia Ltd (2019) 87 MVR 298; [2019] NSWCA 68 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 390 ALR 590; [2021] HCA 17 Norrington v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (2021) 96 MVR 170; [2021] NSWSC 548 NRMA Insurance Limited v Ainsworth (2011) 58 MVR 187; [2011] NSWSC 344 Nufarm Australia Ltd v Dow AgroSciences Australia Ltd (No 2) (2011) 282 ALR 24; [2011] FCA 757 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Shah [2021] NSWSC 288 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Ozone Theatres (Aust) Ltd (1949) 78 CLR 389; [1949] HCA 33 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 Rodger v De Gelder (2015) 71 MVR 514; [2015] NSWCA 211 Stanizzo v AAI Limited [2021] NSWSC 1077 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Emily Jane Flanagan (Plaintiff) Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (First Defendant) President of the Personal Injury Commission of NSW (Second Defendant) Shane Moloney & Richard Crane as a review panel constituted under section 7.26 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Canceri (Plaintiff) Mr K Rewell SC (First Defendant) Submitting Appearance (Second and Third Defendant)