Claps v Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance [2015] NSWSC 1881

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Claps v Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance [2015] NSWSC 1881 Hearing dates: 1 December 2015 Date of orders: 11 December 2015 Decision date: 11 December 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison J Decision: (1) Substitute the State Insurance Regulatory Authority for the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales as the second defendant. (2) Declare that the Review Panel Certificate dated 20 April 2015 is void and of no force or effect. (3) Order that the Review Panel Certificate dated 20 April 2015 be set aside. (4) Remit the matter to a differently constituted Review Panel of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority for determination according to law. (5) Order Insurance Australia Ltd trading as NRMA Insurance to pay Mr Claps' costs of and incidental to the summons. (6) Otherwise make no order as to costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Motor Accidents Compensation Act – Review Panel decision – whether failure to consider substantial case – whether Review Panel properly or actually engaged with case that plaintiff suffered from a psychological or psychiatric response to his physical injuries – denial of natural justice Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Sprod [2011] NSWSC 1157; (2011) 59 MVR 250 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Sprod [2012] NSWCA 281; (2012) 81 NSWLR 626 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; (2006) 67 NSWLR 372 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2003] HCA 26; (2003) 77 ALJR 1088 Frost v Kourouche [2014] NSWCA 39; (2014) 86 NSWLR 214 Kennedy v Australian Fisheries Management Authority [2009] FCA 1485; (2009) 182 FCR 411 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; (1996) 185 CLR 259 Pham v NRMA Insurance Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1205; (2015) 72 MVR 272 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Palme [2003] HCA 56; (2003) 216 CLR 212 Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211 Sadsad v NRMA Insurance Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1219 Sanhueza v AAMI Ltd [2010] NSWSC 774; (2010) 56 MVR 34 VAW (Kurri Kurri) Pty Ltd v Scientific Committee [2003] NSWCA 297; (2003) 58 NSWLR 631 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael James Claps (Plaintiff) Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance (First defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (Second defendant) A Review Panel appointed by the Motor Accidents Authority (Third defendant) Representation: Counsel: E G Romaniuk SC with M G Gilbert (Plaintiff) M Robinson SC with J Gumbert (First defendant)