Amne Taha v Westpac General Insurance Limited [2007] NSWDC 270

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Amne Taha v Westpac General Insurance Limited [2007] NSWDC 270

HEARING DATE(S): 20/11/07 - 23/11/07

JUDGMENT DATE: 13 December 2007

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Rolfe DCJ

DECISION: Verdict and Judgment for the Defendant.

CATCHWORDS: Claim on House Insurance Policy for fire damage - Insurer Contended that Plaintiff or person acting with her consent lit the fires - Burden of Proof - Circumstantial Evidence - Unknown random arsonist scenario - Evidence revealing consciousness of guilt

LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995

MMI General Insurance Ltd v Baktoo (2001) 48 NSW LR 605 At 613 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 at 361 Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 at 521 Chamberlain v The Queen (No. 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521 at 535-539, 570 and 599 CASES CITED: Transport Industries Insurance Co Ltd v Longmuir (1997) 1 VR 125 Girlock (Sales) Pty Ltd v Hurrell (1982) 149 CLR 155 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Winstanley v Allianz Insurance Co Ltd (1984) 3A NZ INS CAS 60-567 Edwards v R (1993) 178 CLR 193

PARTIES: Amne Taha (Plaintiff) Westpac General Insurance Limited (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S): 300/07

COUNSEL: M Tibbey (Plaintiff) D McLure (Defendant)

JUDGMENT

1 In February 1999 the plaintiff, Amne Taha, and her husband, Fayez Taha, purchased the property known as 278 Clyde Street Granville (the "Property"). The plaintiff and her husband borrowed $170,000 from Westpac Banking Corporation to assist them in the purchase of the Property.