Allianz v Fyna [2001] NSWSC 657

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Allianz v Fyna [2001] NSWSC 657 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50095/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 31/07/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 6 August 2001

PARTIES : Allianz Australia Workers' Compensation (NSW) Limited - Plaintiff Fyna Formwork Pty Limited - Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

COUNSEL : Mr D.R. Pritchard - Plaintiff Mr G.M. McGrath - Defendant SOLICITORS : P.W. Turk & Associates - Plaintiff Conway Maccallum - Defendant CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS - corporate character - new company adopts name simultaneously relinquished by existing company with same controllers - confusion as to which contracts - CONTRACTS - general contractual principles - formation of contract by conduct - no need for offer and acceptance - representations by one party cause insurer to contract with it on basis of prior insurance contract with another party - insurer willing to contract with all-comers - ESTOPPEL - general principles - insurer induced to meet claims by party later denying insurance contract - estoppel established - WORKERS COMPENSATION - insurance or levy - insurer's right to recover premium not prejudiced by employer's application for premium review Corporations Law LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1987 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Smith v Hughes [1871] LR 6 QB 597 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422 Re The Bank of Adelaide (1979) 22 SASR 481 CASES CITED : Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1998) 5 BPR 11,110 Groves v BMW Australia Finance Pty Ltd [2001] QCA 16 SVI Systems Pty Ltd v Divergent Technologies Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 279 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 GIO Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd v Rigby Jones Pty Ltd (unreported, NSWCA, 18 June 1998) DECISION : Judgment for the plaintiff for $4,446,806.04 including interest; Defendant pay the plaintiff's costs