Samir Haris v AAI Limited [2015] NSWSC 270

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Samir Haris v AAI Limited [2015] NSWSC 270 Hearing dates: 12 February 2015 Date of orders: 23 March 2015 Decision date: 23 March 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Administrative Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court declares that:

(1) The decision and certificate issued by the Review Panel in matter number 2013/02/2532 issued on 10 April 2014 is vitiated by jurisdictional error.

The Court makes an order that:

(2) An order in the nature of certiorari removing into the Court the Certificate and decision of the Review Panel dated 10 April 2014 in matter number 2013/02/2532 and quashing that decision.

The Court further orders that:

(3) Matter number 2013/02/2532 be remitted to the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales to be determined in accordance with law.

(4) AAI is to pay the Mr Haris' costs as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) - decision of delegate of the Proper Officer – whether there was reasonable cause to suspect that a medical assessment was incorrect in a material respect - decision of Medical Review Panel - whether incorrect test of causation applied - whether procedural fairness denied - whether futile to remit decision – whether possible to set aside only the part of the assessment affected by error Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) MAA Permanent Impairment Guidelines Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ackling v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (2009) 75 NSWLR 482; [2009] NSWSC 881 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Mackenzie (2014) 66 MVR 124; [2014] NSWSC 67 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Sprod (2011) 59 MVR 250; [2011] NSWSC 1157 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Ward (2010) 79 NSWLR 657; [2010] NSWSC 720 Area Concrete Pumping Pty Ltd v Inspector Barry Childs (WorkCover) (2012) 223 IR 86; [2012] NSWCA 208 Bojko v ICM Property Service Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 175 Bugat v Fox (2014) 67 MVR 150; [2014] NSWSC 888 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Chase Oyster Bar Pty Ltd v Hamo Industries Pty Ltd (2010) 78 NSWLR 393; [2010] NSWCA 190 Coote v Kelly [2013] NSWCA 357 Craig v State of South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 De Gelder v Rodger (No 2) (2014) 68 MVR 340; [2014] NSWSC 1355 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission (NSW); Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Childs) (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Martin v Kelly [2008] NSWSC 577 McKee v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (2008) 71 NSWLR 609; [2008] NSWCA 163 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIAI (2009) 83 ALJR 1123; [2009] HCA 39 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS (2010) 240 CLR 611; [2010] HCA 16 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; (1996) 185 CLR 259 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v SGLB (2004) 207 ALR 12; [2014] HCA 32 Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales v Mills (2010) 78 NSWLR 125; [2010] NSWCA 82 Owen v Motor Accidents Authority (NSW) (2012) 61 MVR 245; [2012] NSWSC 650 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission [1986] HCA 54; (1986) 67 ALR 21 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon (2005) 79 ALJR 1816; [2005] HCA 57 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 88 ALJR 52; [2013] HCA 43 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Samir Haris (Plaintiff) AAI Limited trading as AAMI (First Defendant) The Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (Second Defendant) The Medical Review Panel (Third Defendant) Janet Ashpole, Proper Officer, Medical Assessment Service (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E Romaniuk SC with T Hickey (Plaintiff) K Rewell SC (Defendant)