Oberlechner v Watson Wyatt Superannuation Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 906

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Oberlechner v Watson Wyatt Superannuation Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 906

HEARING DATE(S) : 29 – 31 May, 12, 13 & 16 July 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 16 August 2007

JURISDICTION : Equity

JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J

DECISION : Second defendant's rejection of plaintiff's claim set aside. As against the second defendant it was determined that the plaintiff was as at November 2005 totally and permanently disabled within the meaning of the insurance policy.

CATCHWORDS : INSURANCE [127] – Accident and sickness insurance – The contract – Risks – Insurance against total and permanent disablement – Incapacity in opinion of insurer – Insurer's obligation to form opinion – Duty of good faith – Obligation to act reasonably.

LEGISLATION CITED : Contracts Review Act 1980

Alfredo Oberlechner v EDS (Australia) Pty Limited NSWCC 16 August 2002 unreported Beverley v Tindall Life Insurance Co Ltd [1999] WASCA 198 Chammas v Harwood Nominees Pty Ltd (1993) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-175 Diosdado Sayseng v Kellogg Superannuation Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 583 Edwards v The Hunter Valley Co-op Dairy Co Limited (1992) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-113 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Limited v Sayseng [2005] NSWCA 214 CASES CITED : McArthur v Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company Limited [2002] QdR 197 Muinos v Johnson and Johnson Retirement Benefits Ltd NSWSC 5 December 1996 unreported Oberlechner v Tower Australia Limited NSWSC 6 September 2002 unreported Sayseng v Kellogg Superannuation Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 945 Tower Australia Ltd v Farkas (2005) 64 NSWLR 253 Vidovic v Email Superannuation Pty Ltd NSWSC 3 March 1995 unreported White v Board of Trustees [1997] 2 QdR 659 Willis v The Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 105