Max Hams & Anor v CGU Insurance Limited [2002] NSWSC 843

Reported Decision : (2002) 12 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-542

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Max Hams & Anor v CGU Insurance Limited [2002] NSWSC 843 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50022/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 27/8/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 27 August 2002

Max Hams (First Plaintiff) PARTIES : Judith Hams (Second Plaintiff) CGU Insurance Limited JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J

COUNSEL : Mr M Cashion SC (Plaintiffs) Mr P Taylor SC (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Maurice Blackburn Cashman (Plaintiffs) Deacons (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : Interest - S.57 Insurance Contracts Act, 1984 - Date from which it was unreasonable for insurer to have withheld payment on claim - discretionary judgment LEGISLATION CITED : Insurance Contracts Act 1984 Bankstown Football Club Limited v CIC Insurance Limited (unreported NSW Supreme Court, Cole J, 17 December 1993) CIC Insurance Limited v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Harrison v Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (unreported, NSWSC 30 July 1996, BC 9603264) CASES CITED : Jiwira Pty Limited v MMI General Insurance Limited (unreported, NSWSC, 7 February 1997, BC 9700107) Legal & General Insurance Australia Limited v Eather (1986) 6 NSWLR 390 Settlement Wine Company Pty Limited v National and General Insurance Co Limited (1994) 8 ANZ Ins Cas 61-209 Swanson v Guild Insurance Co Limited (unreported, QSC, 17 August 1990) Zurich Australia Insurance Limited v Fruhauf Finance Corporation Pty Limited (1993) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-177 DECISION : Interest under s 57 Insurance Contracts Act to be calculated from 21 June 2000. Orders made in terms of the short minutes