State of New South Wales v AXA Insurance Australia Limited (formerly known as Union Des Assurances De Paris I.A.R.D.) [2002] NSWCA 63

Reported Decision : (2002) 54 NSWLR 409 (2002) 12 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-522

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : State of New South Wales v AXA Insurance Australia Limited (formerly known as Union Des Assurances De Paris I.A.R.D.) [2002] NSWCA 63 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40665/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 7 March 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 18 March 2002

PARTIES : Appellant: State of NSW Respondent: AXA Insurance Australia Limited (formerly known as Union Des Assurances De Paris I.A.R.D.) JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Giles JA at 2; Ipp AJA at 3

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 257/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Delaney DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : S Kettle (Appellant) P Morris (Respondent) SOLICITORS : I V Knight, Crown Solicitor (Appellant) Moray & Agnew (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Insurance - exemption clause - liability excluded when defective design contributes to claim - injury caused by "porcupine ball" - whether unique surface of ball constitutes design - whether design defective - exemption clause applicable - s 6(4) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW). D LEGISLATION CITED : Fair Trading Act (1987) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Oswald v Bailey (1987) 11 NSWLR 715 Beavers v Westhaven Boatyard (1987) 4 ANZ Insurance Cases 60-809 Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Ltd v Queensland Government Railways (1968) 118 CLR 314 CASES CITED: Chalmers Leask Underwriting Agencies v Mayne Nickless Ltd (1982) 2 ANZ Insurance Cases 60-463 Wormell v R.H.M. Agriculture (East) Ltd [1987] 1 WLR 1091 VACC Insurance Ltd v BP Australia Ltd (1999) 47 NSWLR 716 West Wake Price & Co v Ching [1957] 1 WLR 45 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs