NSW Caselaw
Reported Decision : (2005) 13 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-643
New South Wales Court of Appeal
CITATION: Lasermax Engineering Pty Limited v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited & 2 Ors [2005] NSWCA 66
HEARING DATE(S): 25 February 2005
JUDGMENT DATE: 16 March 2005
JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; Tobias JA at 11; McColl JA at 12
DECISION: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Judgment of Einstein J set aside. (3) The separate question, namely, whether on the agreed and assumed facts the damage to the plaintiff's Laser was "directly caused" by fire within the meaning of the Policy be answered, "Yes". (4) Respondents to pay the appellant's costs of the hearing before Einstein J and of the appeal.
CATCHWORDS: INSURANCE - causation - proximate cause - CONTRACTUAL CONSTRUCTION - presumed intention of parties - use of dictionaries. (D)
Legal Profession Act 1978 (NSW) Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1942 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943 (WA) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Transport Accident Act 1986 (Vic)
American Home Assurance Co v Saunders (1987) 11 NSWLR 363 Antaios Compania Naviera SA v Salen Rederierna AB [1985] AC 191 Arbuthnott v Fagan (Court of Appeal, 30 July 1993, unreported) Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1973) 129 CLR 99 Australian Casualty Co Ltd v Federico [1986] HCA 32; [1986] 160 CLR 513 Becker, Gray & Company v London Assurance Corporation [1918] AC 101 Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co of Canada v Sherwin-Williams Co of Canada Ltd [1951] AC 319 City Centre Cold Store Pty Ltd v Preservatrice Skandia Insurance Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 739 Container Handlers Pty Limited v Insurance Commission of Western Australia & Ors [2001] WASCA 304; (2001) 25 WAR 42 De Vaux v Salvador (1836) 4 Ad & El 420; (1836) 111 ER 845 Dickinson v Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust [1987] HCA 49; (1987) 163 CLR 500 Everett v London Assurance Corporation (1865) 19 CB (NS) 126 Government Insurance Office (NSW) v R J Green & Lloyd Pty Ltd [1966] HCA 6; (1966) 114 CLR 437 HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Waterwell Shipping Inc & Anor (1998) 43 NSWLR 601 House of Peace Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council [2000] NSWCA 44; (2000) 48 NSWLR 498 Insurance Commission of Western Australia v Container Handlers Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 24; (2004) 78 ALJR 821 International Fina Services AG v Katrina Shipping Ltd (The Fina Samco) [1995] 2 Lloyd's Rep 344 Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society [1998] 1 WLR 896 J J Lloyd Instruments Ltd v Northern Star Insurance Co Ltd (The Miss Jay Jay) [1987] 1 Lloyd's Rep 32 Johnson v American Home Assurance Company [1998] HCA 14; (1998) 192 CLR 266 Lasermax Engineering Pty Ltd QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited & Ors [2004] NSWSC 483; (2004) 13 ANZ Ins Cas 61-615 Leyland Shipping Co Ltd v Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd [1918] AC 350 Life Insurance Co of Australia Ltd v Phillips [1925] HCA 18; (1925) 36 CLR 60 Lumley General Insurance Ltd v Vintix Pty Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 652 CASES CITED: Lynn Gas & Electric Co v Meriden Fire Ins Co 33 NE 690 (1893) Marsden v City & County Assurance Co (1865) LR1CP 232 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd [2000] HCA 65; (2000) 203 CLR 579 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1 National & General Insurance Co Ltd v Chick [1984] 2 NSWLR 86 National Insurance Co of New Zealand Ltd v Espagne [1961] HCA 15; (1961) 105 CLR 569 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 78 ALJR 1045; Phillips and Stratton v Dorintal Insurance Ltd [1987] 1 Ll LR 482 Provincial Insurance Aust Pty Ltd v Consolidated Wood Products (1991) 25 NSWLR 541 Re Etherington and Lancashire and Yorkshire Accident Insurance Company [1909] 1 KB 591 Re Polemis & Furness, Withy & Company Limited [1921] 3 KB 560 Reischer v Borwick [1894] 2 QB 548 Stanley v Western Insurance Co (1868) LR3Exch 71 State Chamber of Commerce and Industry v Commonwealth of Australia [1987] HCA 38; (1987) 163 CLR 329 State Government Insurance Commission v Sinfein Pty Ltd (1996) 15 WAR 434 Symington & Co v Union Insurance Society of Canton Ltd (1928) 97 LJKB 646 Thames & Mersey Marine Insurance Company Ltd v Hamilton, Fraser & Co (1887) 12 App Cas 484 Transport Accident Commission v Hoffman [1989] VR 187 Transport Accident Commission v Jewell [1995] 1 VR 300 Transport Accident Commission v Treloar [1992] 1 VR 447 Vintix Pty Ltd v Lumley General Insurance Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 627 Wayne Tank & Pump Co Ltd v Employers Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd [1977] 1 QB 57 Wilson v Anderson [2002] HCA 29; (2002) 213 CLR 401 Yorkshire Dale Steamship Co Ltd v Minister of War Transport [1942] AC 691
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