AAI Limited v State Insurance Regulatory Authority of New South Wales (formerly the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales) [2016] NSWCA 368

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: AAI Limited v State Insurance Regulatory Authority of New South Wales (formerly the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales) [2016] NSWCA 368 Hearing dates: 2 March 2016 Date of orders: 19 December 2016 Decision date: 21 December 2016 Before: McColl JA at [1], Macfarlan JA at [173], Simpson JA at [174] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal.

(2) AAMI to file the notice of appeal a draft of which appears in the White Book within seven days.

(3) Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: TRAFFIC LAW – motor accident legislation – action for damages – non-economic loss – medical assessment – medical dispute as to degree of permanent impairment of injured person as a result of injury caused by the motor accident – where incident in which claimant injured involved different phases – where some phases involved a motor vehicle and others involved driver physically assaulting claimant – whether medical assessor's functions included determining whether claimant's injuries were caused by "motor accident" as defined in Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3, 3A, 58, 131, 133

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 58(1)(d) Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment Act 2006 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment Act 2010 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment (Claims and Dispute Resolution) Act 2007 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ackling v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited and Anor (2009) 75 NSWLR 482; [2009] NSWSC 881 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Girgis (2011) 59 MVR 548; [2011] NSWSC 1424 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Gonzales [2013] NSWSC 362 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 568; [2005] HCA 26 Axiak v Ingram (2012) 82 NSWLR 36; [2012] NSWCA 311 Bayon v Bayon (2014) 69 MVR 360; [2014] NSWCA 434 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Agalianos (1955) 92 CLR 390; [1955] HCA 27 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 135; [2000] HCA 5 Gates v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1986) 160 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 3 Ingram v Axiak [2013] HCATrans 64 Kalil v Bray [1977] 1 NSWLR 256 Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (2014) 67 MVR 494; [2014] NSWCA 257 McKee v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (2008) 71 NSWLR 609; [2008] NSWCA 163 Meeuwissen v Boden (2010) 78 NSWLR 143; [2010] NSWCA 253 Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission v May (2016) 90 ALJR 626; [2016] HCA 19 Motor Accidents Authority of NSW v Mills (2010) 78 NSWLR 125; [2010] NSWCA 82 Nominal Defendant v Gabriel (2007) 71 NSWLR 150; [2007] NSWCA 52 Nominal Defendant v Hawkins (2011) 58 MVR 362; [2011] NSWCA 93; Pham v Shui (2006) 47 MVR 231; [2006] NSWCA 373 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Ozone Theatres (Aust) Ltd (1949) 78 CLR 389; [1949] HCA 33 R v Khazaal (2012) 246 CLR 601; [2012] HCA 26 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 Rodger v De Gelder (2015) 71 MVR 514; [2015] NSWCA 211 Siddik v WorkCover Authority of NSW (2008) 6 DDCR 228; [2008] NSWCA 116 Smalley v Motor Accident Authority of New South Wales (2013) 85 NSWLR 580; [2013] NSWCA 318 Spratt v Perilya Broken Hill Ltd; Spratt v Rowe (2016) 77 MVR 206; [2016] NSWCA 192 Whitfield v Melenewycz (2016) 77 MVR 420; [2016] NSWCA 235 Texts Cited: American Medical Association "Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment", 4th Edition, 3rd Printing (1995) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales, Claims Assessment Guidelines (11 July 2008) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales, Permanent Impairment Guidelines (1 October 2007) Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales, Medical Assessment Guidelines (11 July 2008) Second Reading Speech, Motor Accidents Compensation Bill, New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 3 June 1999 Second Reading Speech, Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment Bill, New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 9 March 2006 Category: Principal judgment Parties: AAI Limited trading as AAMI ABN 48 005 297 807 (Applicant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority of New South Wales (First Respondent) The Proper Officer, State Insurance Regulatory Authority of New South Wales (Second Respondent) Vanessa Sproule (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Allars SC (Applicant) Submitting Appearance (First and Second Respondents) R Sheldon SC and D D'Souza (Third Respondent)