GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL v GIO GENERAL LTD [2003] NSWCA 34

Reported Decision : (2002-2003) 56 NSWLR 542 (2003) 12 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-566

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL v GIO GENERAL LTD [2003] NSWCA 34 HEARING DATE(S) : 12 February 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 March 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Meagher JA at 2; Sheller JA at 3 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : INSURANCE - Professional indemnity policy - Claims made policy - Indemnity for claims made outside period of policy - Requirement of immediate notice of occurrence which might give rise to claim - Failure to give notice - Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) ss40, 54 LEGISLATION CITED : Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) Antico v Heath Fielding Australia Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 652 CA & MEC McInally Nominees Pty Ltd v H T W Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd (2001) 11 ANZ Ins Cas 61-507 Einfeld v HIH Casualty and General Insurance Ltd (1999) 166 ALR 714 FAI General Insurance Co Ltd v Australian Hospital Care Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 641 CASES CITED : FAI General Insurance Co Ltd v Perry (1993) 30 NSWLR 89 Greentree v FAI General Insurance Co Ltd (1998) 44 NSWLR 706 Khoury v Government Insurance Office (NSW) (1984) 165 CLR 622 Newcastle City Council v GIO General Ltd (1997) 191 CLR 85 Permanent Trustee v FAI (1998) 44 NSWLR 186 Reid Crowther & Partners v Simcoe & Erie General Insurance Co (1993) 1 SCR 252 PARTIES : Gosford City Council - Appellant GIO General Ltd - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40539/02 COUNSEL : D L Davies SC/M Fraser - Appellant D L Williams - Respondent SOLICITORS : P J Donnellan & Co - Appellant Ebsworth & Ebsworth - Respondent