David John Francica v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2015] NSWSC 1140

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: David John Francica v Allianz Australia Insurance Limited [2015] NSWSC 1140 Hearing dates: 3 December 2014 Date of orders: 24 July 2015 Decision date: 24 July 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) A declaration that the Review Panel Certificate (including reasons) of the Motor Accidents Authority issued on 2 December 2013 in relation to the plaintiff and the subsequent Replacement Review Panel Certificate (including reasons) issued on 6 February 2014 is affected by error of law on the face of the record and by jurisdictional error;

(2) An order in the nature of certiorari setting aside the aforesaid Review Panel Certificate issued on 2 December 2013;

(3) An order in the nature of certiorari setting aside the aforesaid Replacement Review Panel Certificate issued on 6 February 2014;

(4) An order in the nature of mandamus that the Motor Accident Authority deal with the review in accordance with law;

(5) The first defendant shall pay the plaintiff's costs of and incidental to these proceedings;

(6) The parties, and each of them, have liberty within 14 days to apply to the Court for any special or different order as to costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Medical reassessment under Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 – Review panel decision on causation of plaintiff's shoulder injury – whether review panel applied wrong test of causation – whether review panel failed to consider relevant material – whether review panel denied plaintiff procedural fairness Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Supreme Court Act 1970 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2011] NSWSC 1296 Allianz Australian Insurance Ltd v Ward [2009] NSWCA 264 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Ballantyne v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2007] NSWCA 239 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 3; (1990) 170 CLR 321 Comptroller-General of Customs v Kawasaki Motors Pty Ltd (No 1) (1991) 32 FCR 219 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Craig v State of South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 Davis v Council of the City of Wagga Wagga [2004] NSWCA 34 De Gelder v Rodger (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 1355 Edwards v Santos Limited [2011] HCA 8; (2011) 242 CLR 421 Eshetu v Minister of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1997) 71 FCR 300 Frost v Kourouche [2014] NSWCA 39; (2014) 86 NSWLR 214 Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister of Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; (2013) 249 CLR 332 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZGUR [2011] HCA 1; (2011) 241 CLR 594 NRMA Insurance Limited v Ainsworth [2011] NSWSC 344 Owen v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2012] NSWSC 650 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman [1980] HCA 13; (1980) 144 CLR 13 Category: Principal judgment Parties: David John Francica (Plaintiff) Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (First Defendant) Motor Accidents Authority of NSW (Second Defendant) Dr T Rosenthal, Dr P Burke and Dr C Oates (in their capacity as a Medical Review Panel on behalf of the Second Defendant) (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A C Canceri (Plaintiff) Mr K P Rewell (First Defendant)