Preston v AIA Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 165

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Preston v AIA Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 165 Hearing dates: 22 April 2014 Decision date: 30 May 2014 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [2]; Sackville AJA at [7] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. Appellant pay the Respondent's costs 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: INSURANCE - accident insurance - appellant unable to work due to injured ankle - whether appellant's disability resulted from an accidental injury "solely, directly and independently of a pre-existing condition" - effect of a previous injury to both ankles

INSURANCE - accident insurance - whether insurer admitted it had accepted the appellant's claim under the policy Cases Cited: Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner [2008] HCA 57; 238 CLR 570 American Home Assurance v Saunders (1987) 11 NSWLR 363 Australian Casualty Co Ltd v Federico [1986] HCA 32; 160 CLR 513 Commonwealth v Verwayen [1990] HCA 39; 170 CLR 394 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; 306 ALR 25 Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York v Mitchell [1917] AC 592 Giles v National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Ltd (1986) 4 ANZ Ins Cas 60-751 Jason v Batten (1930) Ltd [1969] 1 Lloyd's Rep 281 Lipertis v Australian Casualty Company Pty Ltd [1983] 2 VR 280 Penn v Standard Life Insurance Company (1912) 76 SE 262 Preston v AIA Australia Ltd [2013] NSWSC 282 Silverstein v Metropolitan Life Ins Co (1930) 171 NE 914 (Court of Appeals, NY) Wayne Tank and Pump Company Ltd v Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd [1974] 1 QB 57 Wells v Australian Aviation Underwriting Pool Pty Ltd [2003] QSC 226 Texts Cited: Oxford English Dictionary Online (May 2014, Oxford University Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Stephen Preston (Appellant) AIA Australia Limited (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: In person (Appellant) R A Cavanagh SC / S J Walsh (Respondent) Solicitors: Turkslegal (Respondent) File Number(s): 2013/142431 Publication restriction: None Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Preston v AIA Australia Ltd [2013] NSWSC 282 Date of Decision: 2013-04-03 00:00:00 Before: Lindsay J File Number(s): 2011/27942