Hellessey v MetLife Insurance Limited [2017] NSWSC 1284

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hellessey v MetLife Insurance Limited [2017] NSWSC 1284 Hearing dates: 5-9 December 2016, 27-28 April 2017 Date of orders: 25 September 2017 Decision date: 25 September 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Robb J Decision: (1) The second defendant's rejection of the plaintiff's claim was not valid and effective.

(2) The plaintiff has established that, at the assessment date, she was incapacitated by her psychological injury in a manner that satisfied the TPD definition in the policies.

(3) The parties should agree the amount to which the plaintiff is entitled and provide short minutes of order that state that amount. Catchwords: INSURANCE — Life insurance — Whether second defendant validly rejected plaintiff's claim — Whether plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled at the assessment date.

INSURANCE — Claims — Utmost good faith — Whether second defendant breached duty of utmost good faith — Whether second defendant 'constructively denied' the plaintiff's claim. Legislation Cited: Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) s 13. Cases Cited: Birdsall v Motor Traders Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (2015) 89 NSWLR 412; [2015] NSWCA 104 Butcher v Port [1985] 1 NZLR 491 Chammas v Harwood Nominees Pty Ltd (1993) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-175 Chapman v United Super Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 592 Edwards v Hunter Valley Co-op Dairy Co Ltd (1992) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-113 Folan v United Super Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 343 Gomez v Board of Trustees of the State Public Superannuation Scheme [2017] QSC 98 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Colella (2014) 47 VR 1; [2014] VSCA 205 Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd v Sayseng [2005] NSWCA 214; 13 ANZ Ins Cas 90-123 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125; [2008] HCA 36 Jones v United Super Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1551 Kamm v New South Wales (No 4) [2017] NSWCA 189 Lend Lease Real Estate Investments Ltd v GPT RE Ltd [2006] NSWCA 207 McArthur v Mercantile Mutual Life Insurance Co Ltd [2002] 2 Qd R 197; [2001] QCA 317 Mehmet v IOOF Investment Management Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1914 Minister for Administration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 New Zealand Shipping Company v Societe des Ateliers et Chantiers de France [1919] AC 1 Panos v FSS Trustee Corporation [2015] NSWSC 1217 Repatriation Commission v Hill (2005) 142 FCR 88; [2005] FCAFC 7 Shuetrim v FSS Trustee Corporation [2015] NSWSC 464 Suttor v Gundowda (1950) 81 CLR 418; [1950] HCA 35 TAL Life Ltd v Shuetrim (2016) 91 NSWLR 439; [2016] NSWCA 68 Tonkin v Western Mining Corporation Ltd [1998] WASCA 101 Weber v Tiss Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 67 Wells v Australian Aviation Underwriting Pool [2004] QCA 43 Wheeler v FSS Trustee Corporation [2016] NSWSC 534 Ziogos v FSS Trustee Corporation [2015] NSWSC 1385 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bernadette Hellessey (plaintiff) FSS Trustee Corporation (first defendant) MetLife Insurance Limited (second defendant) Representation: Counsel: B Dooley SC and P Bingham (plaintiff) G Watson SC and C Purdy (defendant)