Dowsley v Westpac Life Insurance Services Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1208

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Dowsley v Westpac Life Insurance Services Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1208 Hearing dates: 18/06/2013 Decision date: 30 August 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) A declaration that on a true construction of the contract of insurance between the plaintiffs, Lisa and Garry Dowsley, and the defendant, Westpac Life Insurance Services Ltd, the aforesaid plaintiffs have exercised their right to buy-back the first plaintiff's Death Benefit under the terms of the policy of insurance (No Y0532784) to reinstate the full Death Benefit as it existed prior to the payment of the Living Benefit. (2) An order that the defendant, Westpac Life Insurance Services Ltd, perform its obligations under the aforesaid contract of insurance by reinstating the first plaintiff's Death Benefit under the aforesaid policy, subject to the payment of appropriate premiums calculated in accordance with the policy. (3) The defendant pay the plaintiffs' costs of and incidental to the proceedings, as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: CONTRACT - insurance - contra preferentem - reinstatement of Death Benefit to full value by exercise of contractual right at first and second anniversary of payment of trauma insurance - meaning of "within 30 days of" to include request made before anniversary date - each reinstatement power to operate independently Legislation Cited: Associated Dominions Assurance Society Pty Ltd v Balmford [1950] HCA 30; (1950) 81 CLR 161 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) [1982] HCA 24; (1982) 149 CLR 337 Darlington Futures Ltd v Delco Australia Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 82; (1986) 161 CLR 500 Dodds v Walker [1981] 1 WLR 1027 Ex parte Fallon (1793) 5 TR 283 Forster v Jododex Aust Pty LTd [1972] HCA 61; (1972) 127 CLR 421 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation [1984] HCA 64; (1984) 156 CLR 41 Lamont v Heron [1970] HCA 47; (1970) 126 CLR 123 Lester v Garland (1808) 15 Ves 248; [1803-1813] 33 ER 748 Mission Corporation Ltd v Telecom Auckland Ltd [1994] 2 NZLR 357 Moschi v Lep Air Services Ltd; Lep Air Services Ltd v Rolloswin [1973] AC 331 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 218 CLR 451 Pilcher v Logan (1914) 15 SR (NSW) 24 Prowse v McIntyre [1961] HCA 79; (1961) 111 CLR 264 STX Pan Ocean Co Ltd v Bowen Basin Coal Group Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 1240 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 Ward v Walton [1989] 66 NTR 20; (1989) 99 FLR 21 Williams v Burgess (1840) 10 LJQB 10 Cases Cited: Limitation Act 1981 (NT) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lisa Dowsley (First Plaintiff) Garry Dowsley (Second Plaintiff) Westpac Life Insurance Services Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R de Meyrick (First and Second Plaintiffs) R Cavanagh SC (Defendant) Solicitors: Beston Macken McManis (First and Second Plaintiffs) HWL Ebsworth (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/244338 Publication restriction: None