Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211 Hearing dates: 4 May 2015 Decision date: 23 July 2015 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [119] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – medical review panel – assessment of degree of permanent impairment under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – failure to take into account relevant considerations – whether the failure to refer to particular evidence can constitute failure to take into account relevant considerations – failure to accord procedural fairness – whether failure to respond to a substantial argument based on a body of evidence – constructive failure to exercise jurisdiction – whether failure of review panel to apply itself to the real question to be decided – whether review panel misunderstood a significant body of evidence relevant to causation of injury – review panel certificate vitiated by jurisdictional error Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 40, 41 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) ss 44, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 131, 132, 133 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 69 Cases Cited: Abebe v Commonwealth of Australia [1999] HCA 14; 197 CLR 510 Ackling v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2009] NSWCA 881; 75 NSWLR 482 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244; 61 MVR 443 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Francica [2012] NSWSC 1577; 63 MVR 1 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; 67 NSWLR 372 Craig v The State of South Australia [1995] HCA 58; 184 CLR 163 D'Amore v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2013] NSWCA 187; 303 ALR 242 De Gelder v Rodger [2014] NSWSC 872 De Gelder v Rodger (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 1851 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2003] HCA 26; 77 ALJR 1088 Ex parte Hebburn Ltd; Re Kearsley Shire Council (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 416 Frost v Kourouche [2014] NSWCA 39; 86 NSWLR 214 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; 239 CLR 531 Lu v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCAFC 340; 141 FCR 346 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 McKee v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2008] NSWCA 163; 71 NSWLR 609 Meeuwissen v Boden [2010] NSWCA 253; 78 NSWLR 143 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; 206 CLR 323 Motor Accidents Authority of NSW v Mills [2010] NSWCA 82; 78 NSWLR 125 Owen v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2012] NSWSC 650; 61 MVR 245 Nufarm Australia Ltd v Dow AgroSciences Australia Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 757; 282 ALR 24 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam [2003] HCA 6; 214 CLR 1 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte HB [2001] HCA 34; 179 ALR 513 Rodger v De Gelder [2011] NSWCA 97; 80 NSWLR 594 Trazivuk v Motor Accidents Authority (NSW) [2010] NSWCA 287; 57 MVR 9 Wingfoot Australia Pty Ltd v Kocak [2013] HCA 43; 252 CLR 480; 88 ALJR 52 Category: Principal judgment Parties: James Norman Barr Rodger (Appellant) Adam De Gelder (First Respondent) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (Second Respondent) (Submitting Appearance) Dr Mark Burns, Dr John Carter and Dr Scott Harbison (in their capacity as a Medical Review Panel on behalf of the Second Respondent) (Third Respondents) (Submitting Appearance) Representation: Counsel: M A Robinson SC with A Poljak (Appellant) P Semmler QC with A Canceri (First Respondent)