Zurich Australia Insurance Limited v Drca and Ors [2018] NSWSC 1945

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Zurich Australia Insurance Limited v Drca and Ors [2018] NSWSC 1945 Hearing dates: 8 December 2017 Date of orders: 14 December 2018 Decision date: 14 December 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Johnson J Decision: 1. An order is made that the Certificate of Assessment dated 8 June 2017, purportedly issued by the Second Defendant pursuant to s.94(4) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 in respect of the First Defendant's claim, be set aside.

2. The assessment of the First Defendant's Claim under Chapter 4 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 is remitted to the Third Defendant for allocation to a different Claims Assessor for determination according to law.

3. The First Defendant is ordered to pay the Plaintiff's costs of the proceedings in this Court. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - motor vehicle accident - assessment of damages for past economic loss and future economic loss - certificate issued by Claims Assessor under s.94 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 - whether failure to give reasons as required by s.94(5) and s.126 of the Act - whether path of reasoning of Claims Assessor sufficiently exposed - whether Claims Assessor used buffer in assessment for future economic loss - held failure to give reasons as required by law - relief granted Legislation Cited: Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Park (2015) 69 MVR 538; [2015] NSWSC 122 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Habib (2015) 73 MVR 412; [2015] NSWSC 1719 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr (2012) 83 NSWLR 302; [2012] NSWCA 13 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Sprod (2012) 81 NSWLR 626; [2012] NSWCA 281 Allianz Insurance Limited v Larriera [2016] NSWSC 441 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 58 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340; [1961] HCA 48 IAG Limited v Sleiman [2017] NSWSC 1346 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Mulcahy v NRMA Insurance Limited (2018) 85 MVR 337; [2018] NSWCA 189 NRMA Insurance Limited v Ashfield [2018] NSWSC 1593 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Pham v NRMA Insurance Ltd [2014] NSWCA 22 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Limited v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Zahed v IAG Ltd (t/a NRMA Insurance) (2016) 75 MVR 1; [2016] NSWCA 55 Texts Cited: --- Category: Principal judgment Parties: Zurich Australia Insurance Limited (Plaintiff) Vojislav Drca (First Defendant) Gary Victor Patterson (Second Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority of New South Wales (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr MA Robinson SC; Ms J Gumbert (Plaintiff) Mr BJ Gross QC; Mr FD Curran (First Defendant) Submitting Appearances (Second and Third Defendants)