Poole v Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1832

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Poole v Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1832 Hearing dates: 18 August - 2 September and 21 - 24 October 2014 Decision date: 19 December 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Commercial List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Insured entitled to indemnity Catchwords: INSURANCE - indemnity - directors and officers cover - whether insured entitled to indemnity for legal costs incurred at an ICAC hearing - whether insured knew that submission made to Government Department false or misleading - whether insured knew that public inquiry into grant of mining exploration licence likely - whether insured fraudulently in breach of duty of disclosure - whether insured fraudulently misrepresented the position when answering questions in proposal; EVIDENCE - allegation of fraudulent misrepresentation and non-disclosure - onus - whether clear and cogent proof established - whether Jones v Dunkel inferences to be drawn where case of fraud sought to be established in part from documentary and circumstantial evidence Legislation Cited: Coal Mine Health and Safety Act 2002 Evidence Act 1995 Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) Mining Act 1992 Cases Cited: Advance (NSW) Insurance Agencies Pty Ltd v Matthews (1987) 4 ANZ Ins Cas 60-813 Australian Securities and Investments Commissions v Hellicar [2012] HCA 17; 247 CLR 347 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chamberlain v R (No. 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521 CGU Insurance Ltd v Porthouse (2008) 235 CLR 103 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Beard (1999) 47 NSWLR 735 Derry v Peek (1889) 14 App Cas 337 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; 88 ALJR 447 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Maynard v Goode (1926) 37 CLR 529 Midaz Pty Ltd v Peters McCarthy Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd [1999] 1 Qd R 279 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449 Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; 218 CLR 451 Palmer v Dolman [2005] NSWCA 361 Pendlebury v Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd (1912) 13 CLR 676 Plasteel Windows Australia Pty Ltd v CE Heath Underwriting Agencies Pty Ltd (1990) 19 NSWLR 400 Prepaid Services Pty Ltd v Atradius Credit Insurance NV [2013] NSWCA 252 Rejfek v McElory [1965] HCA 46; 112 CLR 517 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] HCA 18; 200 CLR 121 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; 219 CLR 165 Vines v Australian Securities & Investments Commissions [2007] NSWCA 75; 73 NSWLR 451 Texts Cited: K Sutton, Insurance Law in Australia, (3rd ed, 1999) N Seddon, R Bigwood and M Ellinghaus, Chesire & Fifoot Law of Contract, (10th Edition 2012, LexisNexis Butterworths) J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew John Poole (Plaintiff) Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A P Coleman SC with J E Curtin (Plaintiff) A Leopold SC with T M Mehigan (Defendant) Solicitors: Horton Rhodes (Plaintiff) Clyde & Co (Defendant) File Number(s): SC 2013/336778