Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Warren [2019] NSWSC 1126

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Warren [2019] NSWSC 1126 Hearing dates: 28 June 2019 Date of orders: 03 September 2019 Decision date: 03 September 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Administrative Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court declares that:

(1) The decision of the medical assessor dated 20 July 2018 in matter number 2017/02/2760 as it relates to findings on whole person impairment arising from the accident on 13 April 2013 ("the NRMA accident") is vitiated by jurisdictional error.

The Court makes an order:

(2) In the nature of certiorari removing into the Court the decision of the medical assessor dated 20 July 2018 in matter number 2017/02/2760 as it relates to findings on whole person impairment arising from the accident on 13 April 2013 ("the NRMA accident") and quashing that decision.

The Court further orders that:

(3) Matter number 2017/02/2760 as it relates to findings on whole person impairment arising from the accident on 13 April 2013 ("the NRMA accident") is remitted to the State Insurance Regulatory Authority to be determined according to law.

(4) The decision of the medical assessor dated 20 July 2018 as it relates to findings on whole person impairment arising from the accident on 28 November 2014 ("the Allianz accident") was not challenged in these proceedings and is unaffected by the reasons, judgment or order in these proceedings.

(5) The first defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs on an ordinary basis. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Judicial review – State Insurance Regulatory Authority – Jurisdictional error – Review of a certificate of a medical assessor – Failure to respond to substantial and clearly articulated arguments – Failure to set out lawful reasons – Where the plaintiff had a history of impairment in in the same location as the subject injury Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 5, 44, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65, 131, 133 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 3, 69 Cases Cited: Alchin v Daley (2009) NSWCA 418 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Francica (2012) 63 MVR 1 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes (2012) 61 MVR 443 Border Protection v WZARH (2015) 256 CLR 326 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Dominice v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2017] NSWCA 171 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 73 ALD 321; 197 ALR 389 Dunbar v Allianz Insurance Limited [2015] NSWSC 119 Frost v Kourouche (2014) 86 NSWLR 214 IAG Limited t/as NRMA Insurance v Chahoud [2019] NSWSC 767 Martin v Kelly [2008] NSWSC 577 Martin v Kelly [2009] NSWCA 105 Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; 179 ALR 238 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; 176 ALR 219 Rodger v De Gelder (2011) 80 NSWLR 594; [2011] NSWCA 97 Rodger v De Gelder (2015) 71 MVR 514; [2015] NSWCA 211 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 SZSSC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] FCA 863 Taylor v The Owners - Strata Plan 11564 (2014) 253 CLR 531 Telstra Corporation Limited v Warren [1997] FCA 102 Tomko v Palasty (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 369 Trazivuk v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 287 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; 303 ALR 64 Zahed v JAG Limited t/as NRMA Insurance (2016) 75 MVR 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance (Plaintiff) John William Warren (First Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (Second Defendant) Medical Assessor Mark Burns Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M A Robinson SC with J Gumbert (Plaintiff) T J Boyle (First Defendant) Keith Rewell SC (Fourth Defendant)