Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Cervantes [2011] NSWSC 1296

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Cervantes [2011] NSWSC 1296 Hearing dates: 5 August 2011 Decision date: 02 November 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (i) Judgment for the first defendant; (ii) Proceedings dismissed; (iii) The plaintiff pay the first defendant's costs of and incidental to the proceedings, as agreed or assessed; (iv) The plaintiff and the first defendant have seven days in which to notify the Court of any application for any different order for costs, in which case the matter will be listed for further directions. Leave is reserved, to the extent necessary, for any party to agitate any issue as to costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - certiorari - Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 - determination of claims assessor - alleged irrationality or error of law in conclusions of fact - rejection of particular medical evidence and evidence from one practitioner - use of buffer for past or future economic loss - future commercial care - no jurisdictional error - no error of law - proceedings dismissed Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Supreme Court Act 1970 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Kerr [2011] NSWSC 347 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Ward [2009] NSWCA 264 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Burton v Brooks [2011] NSWCA 175 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd [1993] FCA 456; (1993) 43 FCR 280 Craig v South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 Edwards v Santos Ltd [2011] HCA 8 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340 Husher v Husher (1999) HCA 47, (1999) 197 CLR 138 Insurance Australia Limited trading as NRMA Insurance v Helou [2008] NSWCA 240 MacArthur Districts Motor Cycle Sportsmen Inc & v Ardizzone [2004] NSWCA 145; (2004) 41 MVR 235 Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; (1996) 185 CLR 259 Nominal Defendant v Lane [2004] NSWCA 405 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 NRMA Insurance Limited v Ainsworth [2011] NSWSC 344 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 State of New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133, (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Williams v Twynam Agricultural Group Pty Ltd & Anor [2011] NSWSC 1098 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (plaintiff) Rita Cervantes (first defendant) Tom Goudkamp, CARS Assessor (second defendant) Motor Accidents Authority of new South Wales (third defendant) Representation: Counsel M.A. Robinson SC (for the plaintiff) Keith Rewell SC and Mark Cleary (for the first defendant) Solicitors Moray & Agnew (for the plaintiff) Gerard Malouf & Partners (for the first defendant) Crown Solicitor (for the second and third defendants) File Number(s): 2011/71087