Banovic v United Super Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1470

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Banovic v United Super Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1470 Hearing dates: 20-21 February 2014 Decision date: 27 October 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hall J Decision: Parties to bring in Short Minutes of Order Catchwords: SUPERANNUATION - Insurance - Claim for a total and permanent disablement benefit - Whether plaintiff totally and permanently disabled within the meaning of the relevant superannuation trust deed and insurance policy - Whether plaintiff is unlikely ever to be able to engage in any regular remuneration work for which the plaintiff is reasonably fitted by education, training or experience - Trustee and insurer declined the plaintiff's claim on three occasions - Duty on a trustee of a superannuation fund in determining a claim for a total and permanent disablement benefit - Duty on an insurer in determining a claim for a total and permanent disablement benefit - Whether the trustee and insurer unreasonably declined the plaintiff's claim for a total and permanent disablement benefit - Review of decisions made by the trustee and insurer Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Cases Cited: Alcoa of Australia Retirement Plan Pty Ltd v Frost [2012] VSCA 238 Baker v Local Government Superannuation Scheme Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1173 Chapman v United Super Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 592 Diosdado Sayseng v Kellogg Superannuation Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 583 Edwards v Hunter Valley Co-Op Dairy Co Ltd (1992) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-113 Erzurumlu v Kellogg Superannuation Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1115 Finch v Telstra Super Pty Ltd (2010) 242 CLR 254 Halloran v Harwood Nominees Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 913 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Dargan [2013] NSWCA 57 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Sayseng (2005) 13 ANZ InsCas 90-123 Lazarevic v United Super Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 96 McArthur v Mercantile Mutual Life Assurance Company Limited (2001) 11 ANZ InsCas 61-501 Nile v Club Plus Superannuation Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 55 Savelberg v United Super Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1482 Sayseng v Kellogg Superannuation Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 945 Szuster v Hest Aust Ltd [2000] SADC 2 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Milko Banovic (Plaintiff) United Super Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: DS Weinberger (Plaintiff) SJ Walsh (Defendants) Solicitors: NSW Compensation Lawyers (Plaintiff) TurksLegal (Defendants) File Number(s): 2012/220034