IAG Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Abiad [2018] NSWSC 1422

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: IAG Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Abiad [2018] NSWSC 1422 Hearing dates: 14 September 2018 Date of orders: 21 September 2018 Decision date: 21 September 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison J Decision: (1) An order in the nature of certiorari quashing the orders of the fourth defendant made on 7 and 8 February 2018. (2) An order in the nature of mandamus remitting the matters to the third defendant for allocation to a different claims assessor to determine the plaintiff's exemption applications in accordance with law. (3) Reserve costs. (4) Direct the plaintiff and the first and second defendants within 21 days to provide my Associate with written submissions not exceeding three pages addressing the question of who should pay the costs of these proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – grounds of review – where application for exemption – where allegations of false or misleading statements in a material particular in relation to injuries, loss or damage – whether assessor asked and answered the correct question – whether assessor misconstrued the nature of the power he was required to exercise – whether assessor constructively failed to exercise jurisdiction – whether assessor made a final determination or a preliminary assessment of the allegations of false or misleading statements – whether claim not suitable for CARS assessment – error demonstrated – decision quashed and remitted Legislation Cited: Commonwealth Constitution, s 73 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 69, 92, 94, 98, 99, 106, 117 Motor Accidents Compensation Regulation 2015 (NSW), sch 1 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 59.10 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Ltd v Tarabay (2013) 62 MVR 537; [2013] NSWSC 141 Allianz Australia Ltd v Ward [2009] NSWCA 264 Checchia v Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance (2009) 54 MVR 55; [2009] NSWSC 1005 D A Christie Pty Ltd v Baker [1996] 2 VR 582 Garcia v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW (2009) 54 MVR 102; [2009] NSWSC 1056 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Milton (2016) 78 MVR 391; [2016] NSWSC 1521 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Hutton-Potts (2010) 57 MVR 194; [2010] NSWSC 1446 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Banos (2013) 65 MVR 312; [2013] NSWSC 1519 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Taylor (2017) 80 MVR 190; [2017] NSWSC 507 Kirk v Industrial Court of NSW (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Nominal Defendant v Manning (2000) 50 NSWLR 139; [2000] NSWCA 80 QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW (2013) 63 MVR 470; [2013] NSWSC 549 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Fowler (1980) 31 ALR 565 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Ozone Theatres (Aust) Ltd (1949) 78 CLR 389; [1949] HCA 33 Riverina Transport Pty Ltd v Victoria (1937) 57 CLR 327; [1937] HCA 33 Sasterawan v Morris [2008] NSWCA 70 Texts Cited: The Hon JJ Spigelman AC, "The Centrality of Jurisdictional Error" (2010) 21 Public Law Review 77 Category: Principal judgment Parties: IAG Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance (Plaintiff) Karim Abiad (First Defendant) Sakine Alameddine (Second Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority of New South Wales (SIRA) (Third Defendant) Richard Buckley, in his capacity as a claims assessor of SIRA (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Robinson SC with B Wilson (Plaintiff) N Chen SC with J de Greenlaw (First and Second Defendants)