Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA v Richards [2023] NSWSC 909

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA v Richards [2023] NSWSC 909 Hearing dates: 12 July 2023 Date of orders: 3 August 2023 Decision date: 03 August 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt AJ Decision: 1. The member's decision is set aside. 2. The matter is remitted to the Personal Injury Commission for determination by a different member according to law. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — judicial review — motor vehicle accident — where defendant received statutory benefits under ss 3.11 and 3.28 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) for 26 weeks — where insurer declined entitlement to benefits after statutory period — where defendant successfully pursued a miscellaneous claims assessment before the Personal Injury Commission — alleged error of law, jurisdictional error and constructive failure to exercise jurisdiction — on whom the burden of proof falls where entitlements under Motor Accident Injuries Act to statutory benefits after 26 weeks are pursued before Commission — burden of proof falls to insurer — operation of res ipsa loquiter doctrine — whether inferences member drew about cause of accident impermissible — whether member failed to draw inferences which evidence required — whether errors warrant certificate to be set aside — found — certificate set aside and matter remitted to Commission Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5R, 5S Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW), Pts 4, 6, 7, 10, Divs 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 6.4, 7.6, 10.2, ss 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.10, 3.1, 3.11, 3.19, 3.28, 3.38, 3.44, 5.1, 5.3, 6.19, 6.21, 6.23, 6.25, 6.28, 6.3, 7.1, 7.9, 7.36, 7.40, 7.41, 7.42, Sch 2, cl 3 Motor Car Act 1951 (Vic), s 47 Personal Injury Commission Act 2020 (NSW), Pt 4, s 42, 43, 58 Personal Injury Commission Rules 2021 (NSW), Pts 4, 5, 8, rr 5, 34, 73 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: AAZ v NRMA Insurance Limited [2019] NSWSIRADRS 26 Anchor Products Limited v Hedges (1966) 115 CLR 493; [1966] HCA 70 Astley v Austrust Limited (1999) 197 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 6 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Chugg v Pacific Dunlop Ltd (1990) 170 CLR 249; [1990] HCA 41 Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Zisopoulos [2020] NSWCA 236 Dominello v Dominello & Anor; Dominello v The Nominal Defendant & Anor [2009] NSWCA 95 Dowling v Bowie (1952) 86 CLR 136; [1952] HCA 63 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Indigenous Affairs [2003] HCA 26; (2003) 77 ALJR 1088 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kroon v R (1990) 55 SASR 476 Leishman v Thomas (1957) 75 WN(NSW) 173 Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352; [1952] HCA 19 Origin Energy LPG Ltd (formerly Boral Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd) v BestCare Foods Ltd [2013] NSWCA 90 Pham v NRMA Insurance Ltd [2014] NSWCA 22 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 Richards v Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance [2022] NSWPIC 721 Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 121; [2000] HCA 18 Strong v Woolworths Limited & Anor (2012) 246 CLR 182; [2012] HCA 5 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council (2005) 220 CLR 517; [2005] HCA 4 Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128 Vines v Djordjevitch (1955) 91 CLR 512; [1955] HCA 19 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA (Plaintiff) Ms Wendy Richards (First Defendant) Bridie Nolan in their capacity as a Member appointed by the Minister under s 9 of the Personal Injury Commission Act (Second Defendant) The President, Personal Injury Commission (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Robinson SC (Plaintiff) Ms J Gumbert (Plaintiff) Mr C Barry KC (First Defendant) Mr J Hallion (First Defendant) Submitting Appearance (Second & Third Defendants)