Coventry v Insurance Australia Ltd T/as NRMA Insurance [2019] NSWSC 1096

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Coventry v Insurance Australia Ltd T/as NRMA Insurance [2019] NSWSC 1096 Hearing dates: 6 September 2018 Date of orders: 30 August 2019 Decision date: 30 August 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Order in the nature of certiorari setting aside the decision of the proper officer of 24 January 2018 in MAS Matter No. 2017/02/1933; (2) Remit the matter to the second defendant for allocation to a proper officer for determination in accordance with these reasons; (3) The first defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Judicial review – motor accident - whether determination of proper officer accords with law – extent of the referral discretion of the proper officer – reasonable cause to suspect material error - causal connection between impairment, injury and motor accident – relevant principles Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5D, 3B(2)(a) Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) s 3 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 58(1)(d), 60, 61, 63(3), 131 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 60 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v GSF Australia Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 568; [2005] HCA 26 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2011] NSWSC 102; 57 MVR 319 Brown v Lewis (2006) 65 NSWLR 587; [2006] NSWCA 87 Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 409 Buck v Bavoni (1976) 135 CLR 110; [1976] HCA 24 De Gelder v Rodger [2014] NSWSC 872 Fishlock v Plummer [1950] SASR 176 George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104; [1990] HCA 26 Grant v Sun Shipping Co. Limited [1948] AC 549; [1948] 2 All ER 238 GIO General Limited v Smith [2011] NSWSC 802; 59 MVR 69 Grant v Sun Shipping Co. Limited [1948] AC 549 Henderson v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited [2013] NSWCA 480; 66 MVR 69 Hussien v Chong Fook Kam [1970] AC 942 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 Meeuwissen v Boden (2010) 78 NSWLR 143; [2010] NSWCA 253 Pickersgill v Freight Bases Pty Ltd [1983] 3 NSWLR 117 QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited v Miller [2013] NSWCA 442; (2013) 67 MVR 322 Queensland Bacon Pty Ltd v Rees (1966) 115 CLR 266; [1966] HCA 21 Rodger v De Gelder (2011) 80 NSWLR 594 Smith v Insurance Australia Limited [2018] NSWSC 1606 Sutherland Shire Council v Baltica General Insurance Co Limited (1996) 39 NSWLR 87 Texts Cited: Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death, 2 Ed (Butterworths 1983) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Coventry (Plaintiff) Insurance Australia Limited trading as NRMA Insurance Australia Limited Representation: Counsel: M. Robinson SC with Mr R. Brown (Plaintiff) K.P. Rewell SC with Ms J Gumbert (Defendant)