QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Stewart [2009] NSWCA 66

Appeal Outcome: Appeal allowed, 2 February 2010 [2010] HCA 9

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Stewart [2009] NSWCA 66

HEARING DATE(S): 28 November 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 3 April 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; Gyles AJA at 9; Brereton J at 52

(1) The appeal asto liability is dismissed. DECISION: (2) The verdict and judgment below against QBE should be set aside and the matter remitted to the Dust DiseasesTribunal for orders to be made in accordance with the judgment of the majority. (3) As each party has had both success and failure on discrete issues there should be no order as to costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS: TORTS - negligence - where employee exposed to asbestos dust - whether supplier of asbestos goods negligent in failing to provide warnings and precautions - where breach of statutory duty not dealt with - INSURANCE - employer's indemnity insurance - statutory workers' compensation employer's indemnity policy - scope of insurer's liability under policy - where policy document not in evidence - onus of proof in relation to contents of cover

Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 Factories and Shops Act 1912 LEGISLATION CITED: Factories, Shops and Industries Act 1962 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Workers Compensation Act 1926

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

BI (Contracting) Pty Ltd v Strikwerda [2005] NSWCA 288 Balmain New Ferry Co Limited v Robertson [1906] HCA 83; (1906) 4 CLR 379 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 Bond Air Services Ltd v Hill [1955] 2 QB 417 Causer v Browne [1952] VLR 1 Curtis & Sons v Matthews (1918) 119 LT 78 Darlington Futures Limited v Delco Australia Pty Limited [1986] HCA 82; (1986) 161 CR 500 Di Cecco v Mercantile Mutual Insurance (Workers Compensation) Ltd [2002] NSWDDT 1; (2002) 23 NSWCCR 143 EM Baldwin & Son Pty Limited v Plane [1998] NSWCA 23; (1998) 17 NSWCCR 434 Gordon v Australian & New Zealand Theatres Ltd (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 512 Ho v Powell [2001] NSWCA 168; (2001) 51 NSWLR 572 CASES CITED: Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd v Retail Traders Mutual Indemnity Insurance Association (1942) 42 SR (NSW) 231 Maughan & Chapman v Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd (1987) 4 ANZ Insurance Cases 60-793 Neill v NSW Fresh Food and Ice Pty Ltd [1963] HCA 4; (1963) 108 CLR 362 Orica Ltd v CGU Insurance Ltd [2003] NSWCA 331; (2003) 59 NSWLR 14 Robertson v Balmain New Ferry Co Limited [1910] AC 295 Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Australia Ltd v Betta Industries Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 323; 24 NSWCCR 164 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council [2005] HCA 4; (2005) 220 CLR 517 Sydney Turf Club v Crowley [1972] HCA 25; (1972) 126 CLR 420 Vozza v Tooth & Co Ltd [1964] HCA 29; (1964) 112 CLR 316 Westminster Fire Office v Glasgow Provident Investment Society (1888) 13 App Cas 699 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 112; (1980) 146 CLR 40