Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd v Cassidy & 2 Ors [2009] NSWSC 804

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd v Cassidy & 2 Ors [2009] NSWSC 804

HEARING DATE(S) : 3 April 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 31 July 2009

JUDGMENT OF : Fullerton J

DECISION : 1. The plaintiff's summons is dismissed. 2. No order as to costs.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Motor Accidents Compensation Act - claims resolution procedure - application for exemption - admission or denial of liability - withdrawal of an admission - amended notice - insurer's statutory duties - effect of s 81 notice - damages

LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules

Paice v Hill [2009] NSWCA 156 CASES CITED : QBE Insurance v Motor Accidents Authority [2008] NSWSC 434 The Nominal Defendant v Gabriel & Anor [2007] NSWCA 52; 71 NSWLR 150

Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd (Plaintiff) PARTIES : Belinda Cassidy (1st Defendant) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (2nd Defendant) Naeem Tariq Raja (3rd Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2008/30115

COUNSEL : B Gross QC (Plaintiff) A Mitchelmore (2nd Defendant)

SOLICITORS : McCourts Solicitors (Plaintiff) Crown Solicitor (2nd Defendant)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COMMON LAW DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST

FULLERTON J

31 JULY 2009

2008/30115

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED MOTOR INSURERS LIMITED v BELINDA CASSIDY & 2 ORS

JUDGMENT 1 HER HONOUR: By summons filed 15 September 2008 the plaintiff insurer, Australian Associated Motor Insurers Limited ("AAMI"), challenges the decision of the PCA, the Principal Claims Assessor of the second defendant, the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales ("the Authority"), refusing an application to exempt the third defendant's claim for damages from assessment under Part 4.4 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 ("the Act").