Hugo v Vero Insurance Limited [2009] NSWDC 231

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Hugo v Vero Insurance Limited [2009] NSWDC 231

HEARING DATE(S): 30 June 2009; 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 July 2009 EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 9 July 2009

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Gibson DCJ

(1) The parties have liberty to bring in Short Minutes of Order reflecting the agreed sum of damages under the heads of damage set out in paragraph 88 of my judgment. DECISION: (2) Defendant pay plaintiffs' costs. (3) Liberty to restore in relation to interest and costs. (4) Exhibits retained for 28 days.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT - plaintiffs claim on insurance policy for storm damage - interpretation and construction of insurance contracts - claim for loss of opportunity to rent, claims preparation costs and other disbursements - assessment of loss claimable under the policy

CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Cachia v Hanes (1994) 179 CLR 403 Caine v Lumley General Insurance Limited [2008] NSWCA 4 Chandris v Union of India [1956] 1 All ER 358 CASES CITED: Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (1982) 149 CLR 337 Council of the City of Wollongong v Vero Insurance Ltd [2009] NSWSC 475 Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Limited v Withers (1988) 5 ANZ Insurance Cases 60-853 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 461 Reardon Smith Line v Yngvar Hansen-Tangen [1976] WLR 989

TEXTS CITED: N B Rao, "The Interpretation and Construction of Insurance Contracts" (2008) 19 ILJ 193 Ipp J, "Problems with Fact-finding" (2 September 2006) Lawlink, Supreme Court of New South Wales <http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/Supreme_Court/ll_sc.nsf/pages/SCO_ipp020906>