Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited [2011] NSWSC 97

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited [2011] NSWSC 97 Hearing dates: 26 November 2010 Decision date: 02 March 2011 Before: Gzell J Decision: That Trustee justified in refusing to make payment in respect of the claims. Catchwords: INTERPRETATION - General Rules of Construction of Instruments - Trust Deed, Final Funding Agreement and James Hardie Former Subsidiaries (Winding up and Administration) Act 2005 establishing fund for payment of victims of James Hardie Asbestos - nervous shock claims in Dust Diseases Tribunal sustained on death of fathers from exposure to asbestos - "personal asbestos claim" defined in Act differently from definition in Trust Deed and Final Funding Agreement - whether definition in Act extended to personal injury arising from another person's exposure to asbestos - advice sought under s 55 of the Act Legislation Cited: James Hardie Former Subsidiaries (Winding Up and Administration) Act 2005 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 Interpretation Act 1987 Workers' Compensation Act 1916 (Qld) Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic) Solicitor-General Act 1969 Cases Cited: Coyle v John Watson Ltd [1915] AC 1 Boyle v Nominal Defendant [1959] SR (NSW) 413 Mangion v James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 100 Workers' Compensation Board (Q) v Technical Products Pty Ltd [1988] HCA 49; (1988) 165 CLR 642 Dickinson v Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust [1987] HCA 49; (1987) 163 CLR 500 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v RJ Green & Lloyd Pty Ltd (1966) 114 CLR 437 State Government Insurance Commission v Stevens Brothers Pty Ltd [1984] HCA 32; (1984) 154 CLR 552 Bropho v Western Australia [1990] HCA 24; (1990) 171 CLR 1 Coco v The Queen [1994] HCA 15; (1993-1994) 179 CLR 427 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited; Amaca Pty Limited (Plaintiffs) Solicitor-General for New South Wales (Intervenor) James Hardie 117 Pty Limited (Performing Subsidiary) Paraskevi Tamaresis & Jessie Winch (Interested parties) Representation: Counsel: A Meagher SC (Plaintiffs) M Izzo (Solicitor-General - NSW) I Jackman SC/ D Klineberg (James Hardie 117 Pty Limited) J Sheahan SC/ A Tokley (Paraskevi Tamaresis & Jessie Winch) Solicitors: DLA Phillips Fox (Plaintiffs) Crown Solicitors (Solicitor-General - NSW) Mallesons Stephen Jaques (James Hardie 117 Pty Limited) Turner Freeman (Paraskevi Tamaresis & Jessie Winch) File Number(s): 2010/293958