Resolution Life Australasia Limited v AMP Limited; Munich Reinsurance Company of Australasia Limited v AMP Limited [2025] NSWCA 21

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Resolution Life Australasia Limited v AMP Limited; Munich Reinsurance Company of Australasia Limited v AMP Limited [2025] NSWCA 21 Hearing dates: 11 December 2024 Date of orders: 27 February 2025 Decision date: 27 February 2025 Before: Bell CJ at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Mitchelmore JA at [110] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Direct the appellant to file a notice of appeal within seven days in the form of the draft notice of appeal in the White Book and dispense with service. (3) Appeal allowed. (4) Set aside orders (1), (2), (3) and (5) made by the primary judge on 5 August 2024 and, in lieu, make the following orders: (a) leave be granted to the plaintiff to file a further amended statement of claim in substantially the form of Annexure A to the plaintiff's notice of motion filed on 5 July 2024; (b) the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants to pay the plaintiff's costs of its notice of motion filed on 5 July 2024; (c) dismiss the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth defendant's notice of motion filed 5 July 2024; (d) the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants to pay the cross-claimant's costs of their notice of motion filed on 5 July 2024. (5) The first to fifth respondents to pay the appellant's (RLA) costs in this Court (2024/318377). (6) The first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents to pay the appellant's (Munich) costs in this Court (2024/322184). Catchwords: APPEALS – leave to appeal – interlocutory orders – pleading dispute – striking out part of cross-claim – refusal of leave to amend statement of claim – whether arguable causal connection pleaded – whether questions reasonably arguable – whether injustice CIVIL PROCEDURE – pleadings – strike out application – amendment application – claims under Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth), s 55(3) – causal requirement in statutory norm – causal connection between contravening conduct and loss – whether literal construction untenable – whether material facts plead arguable causal connection between contravening conduct and loss – whether pleading has tendency to cause prejudice, embarrassment or delay in proceedings Legislation Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth), s 12DA Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 58, 64 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2, Australian Consumer Law, ss 2, 18, 21, 236 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 1041H, 1317H Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth), ss 3, 51, 52, 54B, 54C, 55(3) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101(2)(e) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 2, 52, 82 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 13.4(1)(b), 14.7, 14.8, 14.14, 14.28(1), 14.28(1)(a), 14.28(1)(b), 42.1, 64.10 Explanatory Memorandum to the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Obligations and Prudential Standards) Bill 2012 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Phillip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 39 Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd v Australian Window Furnishings (NSW) Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1073 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v GSF Australia Pty Limited (2005) 221 CLR 568; [2005] HCA 26 Bakewell v Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Ltd [2019] NSWCA 199; (2019) 372 ALR 349 Bartlett v Swan Television & Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-434 BHP Group Limited v Impiombato (2021) 286 FCR 625; [2021] FCAFC 93; Bond Corporation Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (1987) 14 FCR 215; [1987] FCA 122 Clarke v State of New South Wales [2015] NSWCA 27 Dank v Cronulla-Sutherland District Rugby League Football Club Ltd [2014] NSWCA 288 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Davis v Commonwealth (1986) 61 ALJR 32; [1986] HCA 66 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 GLJ v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Lismore [2023] HCA 32; (2023) 97 ALJR 857 Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459; [2001] HCA 52 HNOE Limited v Angus & Julia Stone Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 271 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 I & L Securities Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd (2002) 210 CLR 109; [2002] HCA 41 Imobilari Pty Ltd v Opes Prime Stockbroking Ltd [2008] FCA 1920; (2008) 252 ALR 41 Impiombato v BHP Group Limited (No 2) [2020] FCA 1720 Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia (No 2) (2000) 97 FCR 175; [2000] FCA 12 Kernel Holdings Pty Ltd v Rothmans of Pall Mall (Australia) Pty Ltd (1991) FCA 557; (1991) 217 ALR 171 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Limited (1998) 196 CLR 494; [1998] HCA 69 McKellar v Container Terminal Management Services Ltd [1999] FCA 1101; (1999) 165 ALR 409 Micallef v ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 274 Munich Reinsurance Company of Australasia Ltd v AMP Limited [2024] NSWSC 950 Mutual Life & Citizens' Assurance Company Ltd v Evatt (1970) 122 CLR 628 PPK Willoughby Pty Ltd v Baird [2019] NSWCA 48 Resolution Life Australasia Pty Ltd v NM Superannuation Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 138 Productivity Partners Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2024] HCA 27; (2024) 98 ALJR 1021 RSD Chartered Accountants v Bolitho [2014] VSCA 186; (2014) 102 ACSR 528 Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Smith (2017) 95 NSWLR 597; [2017] NSWCA 206 Shelton v NRMA Limited [2004] FCA 1393; (2004) 51 ACSR 278 Shimshon v MLC Nominees Pty Ltd (2021) 66 VR 277; [2021] VSCA 363 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 The Owners - Strata Plan No 84674 v Pafburn Pty Ltd (2023) 113 NSWLR 105; [2023] NSWCA 301 Travel Compensation Fund v Tambree (2005) 224 CLR 627; [2005] HCA 69 Wardley Australia Limited v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514; [1992] HCA 25 Wickstead v Browne (1992) 30 NSWLR 1; [1992] NSWCA 272 Wickstead v Browne (HCA, 30 April 1993, unreported); (1993) 10 Legal Rep SL 2 Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2024/318377