AAI Limited v Feng [2019] NSWSC 535

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: AAI Limited v Feng [2019] NSWSC 535 Hearing dates: 9 May 2019 Decision date: 13 May 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) Dismiss the amended summons.

(2) Order the plaintiff to pay the first defendant's costs of the proceedings.

(3) Make no order as to the costs of the second defendant, with the intent that it bear its own costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – definition – whether "fault" is synonymous with liability or means, in the context of the tort of negligence, breach of duty – whether fault includes causation

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – application for mandatory and discretionary exemption from CARS assessment – no reasons required when discretionary exemption refused – reasons of claims assessor to be read fairly as a whole – no error established Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 6, 11 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), Pt 4.4, Div 2, Pt 4.5, ss 3, 3A, 7A, 69, 72, 81, 92, 94, 106, 116, 117, 118, 122 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 59.3, 50.4 Cases Cited: Axiak v Ingram (2012) 82 NSWLR 36; [2012] NSWCA 311 IAG Limited t/a NRMA Insurance v Khaled [2019] NSWSC 320 IAG Limited t/a NRMA Insurance v Lou [2019] NSWSC 382 Kelly v The Queen (2004) 218 CLR 216; [2004] HCA 12 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40. Sivas v Government Insurance Office (1990) 12 MVR 272 Smalley v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (2013) 85 NSWLR 580; [2013] NSWCA 318 Texts Cited: Motor Accidents Authority, "Claims Assessment Guidelines", 1 May 2014, Chs 14, 18, cll 1.6, 1.8, 1.13, 1.14, 8.11, 8.12, 14.11, 14.12, 14.13, 14.14, 14.15, 14.16 Category: Principal judgment Parties: AAI Ltd ABN 48 005 297 807 t/as AAMI (Plaintiff) Natasha Feng (First Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) (Second Defendant) Marie Johns, the Principal Claims Assessor appointed by SIRA (Third Defendant) Colin Stoten, the Claims Assessor appointed by SIRA (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: K Rewell SC (Plaintiff) M Robinson SC/J Lucy (First Defendant) S Free SC/ G Smith (Second Defendant)