Registrar-General of New South Wales v LawCover [2013] NSWSC 1471

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Registrar-General of New South Wales v LawCover [2013] NSWSC 1471 Hearing dates: 18 September 2013 Decision date: 09 October 2013 Before: Harrison J Decision: Summons dismissed with costs Catchwords: INSURANCE - professional indemnity insurance - claim against a solicitor - whether LawCover policy in existence at time of event giving rise to the claim - where two separate events in contest - Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 s 6 - whether the happening of the event giving rise to a claim against a solicitor is the result of a fraudulent, wilful or negligent act or omission by him - claim upon the Torrens Assurance Fund - where Registrar-General subrogated to the claimant in respect of the claimant's rights and remedies against the solicitor in relation to loss caused by solicitor's default - whether Registrar-General able to show existence of a charge upon a LawCover policy of insurance indemnifying defaulting solicitor - whether loss caused by solicitor "compensable loss" for purposes of Real Property Act - whether loss or damage suffered "compensable under an indemnity given by a professional indemnity insurer" - whether indemnity otherwise potentially excluded by dishonesty clause - whether question of dishonesty already determined in earlier proceedings Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Real Property Act 1900 Cases Cited: Argyropoulos v Layton [2002] NSWCA 183 Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Limited v Moore [2013] NSWCA 212 Energize Fitness Pty Ltd v Vero Insurance Ltd [2012] NSWCA 213 Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15;(1988) 164 CLR 539 Owners - Strata Plan 50530 v Walter Construction & Ors [2006] NSWSC 552 Owners - Strata Plan 50530 v Walter Construction Group Limited (in liquidation) & Ors [2007] NSWCA 124; (2007) 14 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-734 Pedulla v Panetta [2011] NSWSC 1386 Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v Malouf [2008] NSWSC 834 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 142; (2001) 53 NSWLR 198 Tzaidas v Child [2004] NSWCA 252; (2004) 61 NSWLR 18 Vaccaro v Flammia [2008] NSWSC 1322 Wilson v Rigg [2002] NSWCA 246 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Registrar-General of New South Wales (Plaintiff) LawCover (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G A Sirtes SC & H Altan (Plaintiff) S R Donaldson SC & P A Horvath (Defendant) Solicitors: Gavin Bartier (Plaintiff) DLA Piper Australia (Defendant) File Number(s): 2012/384918 Publication restriction: Nil