Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244 Hearing dates: 26 July 2012 Decision date: 08 August 2012 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Basten JA at [2]; Macfarlan JA at [50] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal from the judgment delivered on 2 November 2011 in the Common Law Division. (2) Order that the appellant pay the costs of the first respondent of the appeal. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - failure to take into account relevant considerations - whether failure to refer to particular evidence can constitute failure to take into account relevant consideration - whether applicant entitled to rely on the reasons of the decision maker - whether necessary for applicant to rely on submissions before decision maker - need to identify source of legal obligation to consider mandatory factors - whether decision maker considered evidence - whether evidence is a relevant consideration for the purposes of judicial review

DAMAGES - motor vehicle accident - future economic loss - use of buffer - whether decision to award damages by way of buffer is an evaluative judgment - whether buffer manifestly unreasonable given likely future loss Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 55 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 94, 125, 126, 146 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13; 60 MVR 194 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99; 172 IR 453 Craig v South Australia [1995] HCA 58; 184 CLR 163 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2003] HCA 26; 77 ALJR 1088 The King v Connell; Ex parte The Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd [1944] HCA 42; 69 CLR 407 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZJSS [2010] HCA 48; 243 CLR 164 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; 197 CLR 611 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex part Miah [2001] HCA 22; 206 CLR 57 Swift v SAS Trustee Corporation [2010] NSWCA 182 Texts Cited: Aronson, Dyer and Groves Judicial Review of Administrative Action (2009, 4th ed) at [4.220] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (Appellant) Rita Cervantes (First Respondent) Tom Goudkamp (Second Respondent) Motor Accidents Authority of NSW (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: