AAI Limited v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2015] NSWSC 912

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: AAI Limited v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2015] NSWSC 912 Hearing dates: 13 November 2014 Decision date: 10 July 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Button J Decision: (1) The summons of the plaintiff of 13 March 2014 is dismissed. (2) The plaintiff must pay the costs of the third defendant. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – decision of the proper officer of the Motor Accidents Authority to dismiss an application for review of a medical assessment pursuant to s 63 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – whether reasonable cause to suspect that medical assessment was incorrect in a material respect – whether medical assessor should have undertaken "disentanglement" of causation with regard to psychological injuries – whether proper officer committed an error of law in refusing to order a review of the medical assessment Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3, 3A, 44, 58, 58(1)(d), 61, 62, 62(1)(b), 63, 63(2), 63(3), 65, 92(1)(a), 131 Cases Cited: Ackling v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited and Anor [2009] NSWSC 881 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Girgis & Ors [2011] NSWSC 1424 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Gonzalez [2013] NSWSC 362 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 26 Meeuwissen v Boden [2010] NSWCA 253 Nominal Defendant v GLG Australia Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 11; (2006) 228 CLR 529 Purkess v Crittenden [1965] HCA 34; (1965) 114 CLR 164 Seltsam Pty Limited v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 State of New South Wales v Burton [2006] NSWCA 12 Zotti v Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd [2009] NSWCA 323 Category: Principal judgment Parties: AAI Limited trading as AAMI (Plaintiff) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (First Defendant) Proper Officer, Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (Second Defendant) Vanessa Sproule (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Allars SC (Plaintiff) R Sheldon SC (Third Defendant) I Ryan (Third Defendant)