Green v AMP Life [2005] NSWSC 370

Reported Decision : (2005) 13 ANZ Insurance Cases 90-124

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Green v AMP Life [2005] NSWSC 370

HEARING DATE(S) : 21-22/2/05; 24/2/05; 24/3/05

JUDGMENT DATE : 6 May 2005

JURISDICTION : Equity

JUDGMENT OF : Campbell J

DECISION : Plaintiff's claim dismissed. Declaration of terms in which insurance policy has been amended.

CATCHWORDS : INSURANCE - life insurance - whether a disability income protection policy not necessarily of more than three years duration is a life policy - CONTRACT - whether variation of contract agreed - whether defendant estopped from asserting variation to contract agreed - TRADE PRACTICES - misleading and deceptive conduct - alleged to arise from terms in which notification of acceptance for insurance given - DAMAGES - circumstances in which a person insured under a policy providing periodical payments during disability can recover a lump sum for loss of future benefits under the policy - INSURANCE - group insurance policy taken out by trustees - consideration of nature of legal rights of person insured under such a policy - DAMAGES - assessment of damages for personal injury - RECTIFICATION - when available

Industrial Relations Act 1996 Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

AFG Insurances Ltd v City of Brighton (1972) 126 CLR 655 AMP Financial Planning v Green [2004] NSWSC 1099; (2004) 51 ACSR 693 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Broadlands Properties Ltd v Guardian Assurance Co Ltd (1984) 3 ANZ Ins Cas 60-552 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 60; (2004) 79 ALJR 308 Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) v Carlenka Pty Ltd (1995) 41 NSWLR 329 Cullen v Trappel (1980) 146 CLR 1 DTR Nominees Proprietary Limited v Mona Homes Proprietary Limited & Anor (1978) 138 CLR 423 Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Slade and Nelson (1996) 38 NSWLR 636 CASES CITED : Galaxidis v Galaxidis [2004] NSWCA 111 GR Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Judd v Suncorp Insurance & Finance (1987) 5 ANZ Ins Cas 60-832 Malec v JC Hutton Proprietary Limited (1990) 169 CLR 638 NSW Medical Defence Union Ltd v Transport Industries Insurance Co Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 740 Russell Young Abalone Pty Ltd v Traders Prudent Insurance Co Ltd (1993) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-182 Todorovic v Waller (1981) 150 CLR 402 Trident General Insurance Co Ltd v McNiece Bros Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 107 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387