Voitenko v Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd [2019] NSWCA 229

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Voitenko v Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd [2019] NSWCA 229 Hearing dates: 13 September 2019 Decision date: 16 September 2019 Before: Meagher JA; McCallum JA Decision: Summons for leave to appeal dismissed with costs Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – application for leave to appeal from decision granting leave to amend defence – insurance dispute – claim in respect of property damaged by fire – belated application by insurer to plead arson – no reference in primary judgment to part 6 of Civil Procedure Act – whether primary judge erred in failing to have regard to presumptive prejudice – whether primary judge erred in his approach to the defendant's explanation for the delay in bringing the application Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58, 59 Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT), r 21 Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), s 56 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW), s 40 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 39 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; [1996] HCA 25 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 In re The Will of F B Gilbert (deceased) (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318; 63 WN (NSW) 176 Jaycar Pty Ltd v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 Karl Suleman Enterprizes Pty Ltd (In Liq) v Pham & Ors [2013] NSWCA 93 NSW Commissioner of Police v Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd [2016] NSWCA 365 Voitenko t/as Access Party Hire v Zurich Australian Insurance Limited [2016] NSWSC 324 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrei Voitenko t/as Access Party Hire (Applicant) Irena Voytenko t/as Russtyle Productions (Applicant) Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: DRJ Toomey SC, DC Morgan (Applicants) J Sexton SC, S Walsh (Respondent)