Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Asaner [No 2] [2016] NSWSC 1078

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Asaner [No 2] [2016] NSWSC 1078 Hearing dates: 6 May 2016 Date of orders: 05 August 2016 Decision date: 05 August 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Set aside the decision of the third defendant made on 28th August 2015 refusing the plaintiff's application for referral for further medical assessment under s 62(1)(a) of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW); (2) Remit the matter to the second defendant for the determination of the application by its proper officer according to law; (3) The first defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 – decision of a proper officer – referral for further medical assessment – whether proper officer misconstrued s 62(1A) precondition to referral for further assessment on basis of "additional relevant information" – whether jurisdictional error – meaning of "additional relevant information" – whether s 62(1)(a) includes information relating to issues considered in earlier assessment Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 62(1), 62(1A) Cases Cited: Alavanja v NRMA Insurance Limited [2010] NSWSC 1182 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; 170 CLR 1 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; 170 CLR 321 Buck v Bavone [1976] HCA 24; 135 CLR 110 Garcia v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1056 Henderson v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited [2013] NSWCA 480; 66 MVR 69 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1 Insurance Australia Limited v Clewley [2015] NSWSC 1805 Jubb v Insurance Australia Limited [2016] NSWCA 153 Nguyen v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2011] NSWSC 351 QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited v Miller [2013] NSWCA 442; 67 MVR 322 Rodger v Degelder [2011] NSWCA 97; 80 NSWLR 594 QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited v Miller [2013] NSWCA 442; 67 MVR 322 Singh v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 1443 Texts Cited: Motor Accident Medical Assessment Guidelines (Version 4) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA (Plaintiff)