Silbermann v. CGU Insurance Limited; Rich v. CGU Insurance Limited; Greaves v. CGU Insurance Limited [2003] NSWCA 203

57 NSWLR 469 Reported Decision : (2003) 12 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-571 (2003) 21 ACLC 1425

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Silbermann v. CGU Insurance Limited; Rich v. CGU Insurance Limited; Greaves v. CGU Insurance Limited [2003] NSWCA 203 revised - 31/07/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 23 May 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 July 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Beazley JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 2; Tobias JA at 63 DECISION : 1. In each matter, leave to appeal granted. ; 2. In each matter, appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : INSURANCE - Liability insurance policy - Exclusion clause - Dishonesty and fraud - Requirement of judgment or final adjudication - Whether insurer can resist giving indemnity prior to judgment or final adjudication. Baldry v. Jackson [1976] 2 NSWLR 415 Darlington Futures Pty. Ltd. v. Delco Australia Pty. Ltd. (1986) 161 CLR 500 Distillers Bio-Chemicals (Aust) Pty. Ltd. v. Ajax Insurance Co. Ltd. 91974) 130 CLR 1 CASES CITED : Fire & All Risk Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Powell (1966) VR 513 Hammer Waster Pty. Ltd. v. QBE Mercantile Mutual Ltd. [2002] NSWSC 1006 MGICA Ltd. v. United City Merchants (Australia) Ltd. (1986) 4 ANZ InsCas 60-729 Provincial Insurance Aust. Pty. Ltd. v. Consolidated Wood Products Pty. Ltd. (1991) 25 NSWLR 541 Sherry v. FAI Insurance Ltd. (In Liq) [2002] SASC 3 John David Rich - claimant PARTIES : Mark Silbermann - claimant John Huyshe Greaves - claimant CGU Insurance Limited - opponent in each matter FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40066/03; 40065/03; 40076/03 Mr. D.L. Williams for Rich and Silbermann COUNSEL : Mr. A.J.L. Bannon SC for Greaves Mr. C.G. Gee QC with Mr. A.W. Street SC and Mr. E. Romaniuk for CGU Insurance Joanne Kelly, Darlinghurst for Rich and Silbermann SOLICITORS : Watson Mangioni, Sydney for Greaves Collins Biggers & Paisley, Sydney for CGU Insurance