Herbert v American Express Australia Limited [2017] NSWSC 367

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Herbert v American Express Australia Limited [2017] NSWSC 367 Hearing dates: 27 March 2017 Date of orders: 07 April 2017 Decision date: 07 April 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: See [122] Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – summary dismissal – no reasonable cause of action disclosed – proceedings vexatious

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether witness immunity applies in proceedings in Fair Work Commission – not necessary to decide

CONSUMER LAW – giving evidence in proceedings in Fair Work Commission not "in trade and commerce"

JURISDICTION – Federal Court has exclusive jurisdiction under Fair Work Act 2009 – no right of review in Supreme Court of decisions of Fair Work Commission

INSURANCE LAW – when entitlement to benefit depends on opinion of insurer – obligation of insured to provide information to enable opinion as to relevant matter to be formed – no breach by insurer when information not provided by insured Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law (Sch 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) Judicial Officers Act 1986 (NSW) Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Baltic Shipping Company v Dillon (1993) 176 CLR 344 Cabassi v Vila (1940) 64 CLR 130 Cannon v Tahche (2002) 5 VR 317 Coal & Allied Mining Services Pty Ltd v Lawler (2011) 192 FCR 78; [2011] FCAFC 54 Commonwealth of Australia v Griffiths (2007) 70 NSWLR 268; [2007] NSWCA 370 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Dafallah v Fair Work Commission (2014) 225 FCR 559; [2014] FCA 328 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 12 Edwards v The Hunter Valley Co-Op Dairy (1992) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-113 Favelle Mort Ltd v Murray (1976) 133 CLR 580 Fingleton v The Queen (2005) 227 CLR 166; [2005] HCA 34 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 Henderson v Henderson (1843) 67 ER 313 Herbert v American Express Australia Ltd [2016] FWC 1398 Herbert v Workers Compensation Commission [2016] NSWCATAD 28 Herbert v American Express Ltd & Ors [2016] NSWCATAP 47 Herbert v American Express Australia Ltd & Ors (No. 2) [2016] NSWCAT James v Medical Board of South Australia and Keogh (2006) 95 SASR 445; [2006] SASC 267 Little v Law Institute of Victoria (No. 3) [1990] VR 257 Maleknia v University of Sydney [2016] NSWCA 108 Maxwell v Highway Hauliers Pty Ltd (2014) 252 CLR 590; [2014] HCA 33 McGuirk v University of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1424 Miller v University of New South Wales (2003) 132 FCR 147; [2003] FCAFC 180 Pearson v Fremantle Harbour Trust (1929) 42 CLR 320 Pharm-a-care Laboratories Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (No.3) (2010) 267 ALR 494; [2010] FCA 361 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun (1981) 147 CLR 589 Rawlinson v Rice [1998] 1 NZLR 454