Dominice v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2017] NSWCA 171

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dominice v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2017] NSWCA 171 Hearing dates: 23 June 2017 Date of orders: 23 June 2017 Decision date: 12 July 2017 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Simpson JA at [13]; Emmett AJA at [74] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed.

2. Order the appellant to pay the respondent's costs in this court. Catchwords: TRAFFIC LAW AND TRANSPORT – compensation for injury suffered in motor accident – assessment of whole person impairment – proper officer's satisfaction that reasonable cause existed to suspect that the assessment was incorrect in a material respect – referral to review panel

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – jurisdictional error – jurisdictional fact, unreasonableness and irrelevant consideration – whether satisfaction of proper officer reviewable

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – error of law on the face of the record – whether reasons of officer of administrative body engaged Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69(3) and (4) Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 44, 57, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65, 131 State Insurance and Care Governance Act 2015 (NSW), s 17; Sch 4 cl 4 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 69, 75, 101 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 BHP Billiton Ltd v Dunning [2013] NSWCA 421 Dominice v Allianz Insurance [2016] NSWSC 1241 Elliott v Insurance Australia t/as NRMA Insurance [2014] NSWSC 1848 Meeuwissen v Boden (2010) 78 NSWLR 143; [2010] NSWCA 253 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Nguyen v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2011] NSWSC 351 Public Service Board of New South Wales v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656; [1986] HCA 7 QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited v Davies [2016] NSWSC 536 QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Miller (2013) 67 MVR 322; [2013] NSWCA 442 Rodger v De Gelder [2011] NSWCA 97 Rodger v De Gelder [2015] NSWCA 211 Texts Cited: Medical Assessment Guidelines, cl 14.8 Permanent Impairment Guidelines 2007 (NSW), cll 1.23, 1.42, 1.43, 2.4 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jessye Dominice (Appellant) Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (First Respondent) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A C Canceri/J E Doyon (Appellant) W Fitzsimmons/J Gumbert (First Respondent) Submitting appearance (Second Respondent)