Provident Capital Ltd v Gould [2009] NSWSC 1458

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Provident Capital Ltd v Gould [2009] NSWSC 1458 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 2 July 2009, 29 July 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 22 December 2009

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : Rothman J

(i) Leave be granted to the plaintiff under s 6(4) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 to commence proceedings and/or join to the current proceedings Lexon Insurance Pty Ltd;

(ii) Pursuant to Rule 6.24(1) of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Lexon Insurance Pty Ltd be joined as a party to these proceedings; DECISION : (iii) Costs of the application be costs in the cause;

(iv) Each party's rights are reserved to apply for any special or different order as to costs.

CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE – insurance – construction and effect of s.6 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) – circumstances in which a plaintiff can proceed directly against insurer of party alleged to be liable to pay damages to the plaintiff – claims-made policy – coincidence of year of claim and completion of tort – claim for exclusion of liability for dishonesty – issue arguable and matter for trial judge

Civil Procedure Act 2005 LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

CATEGORY : Procedural and other rulings

Campbell v Mutual Life and Citizens Fire and General Insurance Co (New Zealand) Limited [1971] NZLR 240 Commonwealth v Cornwell [2007] HCA 16; (2007) 229 CLR 519 FAI General Insurance Co. Ltd v Brian Albert McSweeney & Ors; Travel Compensation Fund v FAI General Insurance Co. Ltd [1997] FCA 152; (1997) 73 FCR 379 Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15; (1988) 164 CLR 539 McCarthy v St Paul International Insurance Co Ltd [2007] FCAFC 28; (2007) 157 FCR 402 Oswald v Bailey (1987) 11 NSWLR 715 CASES CITED : Perre v Apand Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 36; (1999) 198 CLR 180 Scarcella v Lettice [2000] NSWCA 289; (2000) 51 NSWLR 302 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman [1985] HCA 41; (1985) 157 CLR 424 The Owners - Strata Plan No. 50530 v. Walter Construction Group Limited (In Liquidation) & Ors. [2007] NSWCA 124 Triden Properties Ltd v Capita Financial Group Ltd (NSWCA, Clarke, Scheller and Powell JJA, 15 November 1995, unreported) Tzaidas v Child [2004] NSWCA 252; (2004) 61 NSWLR 18 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; (1992) 175 CLR 514