Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Banos [2013] NSWSC 1519

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Banos [2013] NSWSC 1519 Hearing dates: 11/10/13 Decision date: 17 October 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Subject to any objection being taken by the Principal Claims Assessor within 14 days, join the Principal Claims Assessor, Motor Accidents Claims Assessment and Resolution Service, as the fourth defendant to these proceedings; (2) Set aside the preliminary assessment under s. 92(1)(b) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) of the claims assessor that the claim is suitable for assessment under Part 4.4 of the Act made on 16th May 2013; and (3) Remit the matter to the Principal Claims Assessor to make arrangements for a different assessor to determine whether the claim is not suitable for assessment under Part 4.4 according to law, and subject to the outcome of that determination, if appropriate, to assess the claim in accordance with s.94 of the Act; (4) The first defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the proceedings on the ordinary basis after they have been agreed or assessed; (5) Direct the plaintiff within two business days to provide the Principal Claims Assessor with a copy of these orders and reasons for judgment. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - certiorari - jurisdictional error - plaintiff insurer challenges validity of two decisions of claims assessor of Motor Accidents Claims Assessment and Resolution Service - whether claims assessor identified a wrong issue or asked herself a wrong question in refusing discretionary exemption of the claim from the provisions of Part 4.4 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) - whether refusal of claims assessor to disqualify herself on the basis of reasonable apprehension of bias constituted jurisdictional error Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: -Abraham As Tutor for Abraham v St Marks Orthodox Coptic College (No 4) [2008] NSWSC 1031 -Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Girgis [2011] NSWSC 1424; 59 MVR 548 -Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Tarabay [2013] NSWSC 141; 62 MVR 537 -Attorney General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; 170 CLR 1 -Australian National Industries Ltd v Spedley Securities Ltd (1992) 26 NSWLR 411 -Brown v Lewis [2006] NSWCA 87, 65 NSWLR 587 -Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 -Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; 67 NSWLR 372 -Livesey v NSW Bar Association [1983] HCA 17, 151 CLR 288 -Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; 206 CLR 323 -Motor Accidents Authority (NSW) v Mills [2010] NSWCA 82, 78 NSWLR 125; 55 MVR 243 -Owen v Motor Accidents Authority (NSW) [2012] NSWSC 650; 61 MVR 245 -Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Applicant S154/2002 [2003] HCA 60; 77 ALJR 1909 -Re Refugee Tribunal and Anor; Ex parte H and Anor [2001] HCA 28; 179 ALR 425 -Rodger v De Gelder [2012] NSWCA 167; 61 MVR 140 -Smits v Roach [2006] HCA 36, 227 CLR 423 -Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2006] NSWSC 845 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance (plaintiff) Constantina Banos (first defendant) Elyse White (second defendant) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (third defendant) Representation: Counsel: MA Robinson SC, with OJ Dinkha (plaintiff) MA Campbell (first defendant) Submitting appearance (second and third defendants) Solicitors: Sparke Helmore Lawyers (plaintiff) Brydens (first defendant) Crown Solicitor's Office (NSW) (second and third defendants) File Number(s): 2013/207773