Ali v AAI Limited [2016] NSWCA 110

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ali v AAI Limited [2016] NSWCA 110 Hearing dates: 29 April 2016 Decision date: 16 May 2016 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [74]; Simpson JA at [100] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal and set aside orders 2-5 made in the Common Law Division on 4 August 2015.

(2) In place thereof dismiss the summons filed on 28 January 2014.

(3) Order that the plaintiff pay the costs of the first defendant (Abbas Ibrahim Ali) in the Common Law Division.

(4) Order that the first respondent (AAI Ltd) pay the appellant's cost in this Court. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – motor vehicle accident – review of certificate of medical assessor – scope of statutory duty to give reasons – extent of reference to large volume of material supplied by parties – relevant consideration – obligation to consider matters identified by statute – obligation to consider material supplied by parties – irrelevant consideration – whether "unreliable" evidence to be completely disregarded

TORTS – motor vehicle accident – assessment of damages – claim for non-economic loss – certificate as to degree of permanent impairment – assessment by medical assessor – operation of Part 3.4, Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW)

STATUTES – legal status of Motor Accident Authority Guidelines – whether the Guidelines have the force of delegated legislation – whether a breach of the Guidelines amounts to judicially reviewable error Legislation Cited: Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic), s 68 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 40, 41 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 44, 45, 57, 58, 61, 63, 65, 94, 106, 131, 133 Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW), ss 8, 37, 46 Professional Standards Act 1994 (NSW), s 13 Statutory and Other Officers Remuneration Act 1975 (NSW), Pt 3, s 19A Stock Medicines Act 1989 (NSW), ss 46, 47 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Pt 59, r 59.4 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr (2012) 83 NSWLR 302; [2012] NSWCA 13 Ballantyne v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2007] NSWCA 239 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2003] HCA 26; 77 ALJR 1088 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; [2001] HCA 22 Sean Investments Pty Ltd v MacKellar (1981) 38 ALR 363 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Texts Cited: M Aronson and M Groves, Judicial Review of Administration Action (2013, LawBook Co, 5th ed), [5.20]-[5.40]