Mr Brine's bankruptcy and the assignment
7On 23 November 2009, Mr Brine was made bankrupt. On 11 October 2013, the Trustee purported to assign its rights under the insurance policy to Mr Marriott. Although it is called both a "Deed" and a "Notice" (the notice) the notice reads:
"The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy ('Assignor') as trustee of the bankrupt estate of Marc Brine ('Bankrupt') GIVES YOU NOTICE that, under the Deed of Assignment dated 11 October 2013 made between the Assignor and Jay Bernard Marriott ('Assignee'), the Assignor has assigned to the Assignee of all its right, title and interest in and to:
Any right of indemnity under the Policy of Insurance number 02 Q01 0022855 dated 7 November 2007 ('Policy') issued to, or in place for, the benefit of the Bankrupt for any liability of the Bankrupt arising from the causes of action pleaded in Supreme Court of New South Wales proceedings No 2010/50083 ('Proceedings') commenced by the Assignee.
You are hereby irrevocably DIRECTED TO PAY to the Assignee any amounts which you are liable to pay under the Policy to, or for the benefit of, the Bankrupt (or the Assignor) arising from any judgment or order made in the Proceedings."
8On 14 October 2013, the plaintiff issued a notice of claim to QBE, Bankstown Helicopters and Eromssor. They are identical and read:
"I, Jay Bernard Marriott of XXX XXXX XXXX, Pitt Town in the State of New South Wales suffered injuries in a helicopter crash on 1st March, 2008. I contend that Marc Brine inter alia was responsible for my injuries. I understand that QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited, Bankstown Helicopters Pty Limited & Eromssor Pty Limited have each agreed to indemnify persons who suffered injuries as a result of the negligence of Marc Brine which caused the accident. Marc Brine has been declared bankrupt.
The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy has assigned any entitlement to indemnity to which Marc Brine may have been entitled to me. I hereby give you notice that I make a claim under the insurance policy and also the right to indemnity contained in flight tax invoice dated the 1st March, 2008."
9On 24 November 2012, Mr Brine was discharged from bankruptcy by operation of law.
10So far as policy of insurance is concerned, s 117(1) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) provides:
"117 Policies of insurance against liabilities to third parties
(1) Where:
(a) a bankrupt is or was insured under a contract of insurance against liabilities to third parties; and
(b) a liability against which he or she is or was so insured has been incurred (whether before or after he or she became a bankrupt);
the right of the bankrupt to indemnity under the policy vests in the trustee and any amount received by the trustee from the insurer under the policy in respect of the liability shall, if the liability has not already been satisfied, be paid in full forthwith to the third party to whom it has been incurred."
11Pursuant to s 117(2) any right to indemnify Mr Brine under the policy rests in the Trustee.
12It is now necessary to briefly examine the relevant provisions the aircraft insurance policy issued by QBE. They are:
"Agreement to Insure
QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd ABN XXX XXX XXX ("the Company") in consideration of the payment of the premium and in reliance upon the information provided by the Insured including any proposal which is agreed to be the basis of and incorporated into this Policy, agrees to insure against loss, damage or liability, arising out of an Accident occurring during the Period of Insurance to the extent and in the manner provided in this Policy.
Section 3: LEGAL LIABILITY TO PASSENGERS
1. Coverage
The Company will indemnify the Insured in respect of all sums which the Insured shall become legally liable to pay, and shall pay, as compensatory damages (including costs awarded against the Insured) in respect of:
(a) accidental bodily injury (fatal or otherwise) to passengers whilst entering, on board, or alighting from the Aircraft:
...
Section 4: (B) CONDITIONS PRECEDENT APPLICABLE TO ALL SECTIONS
It is necessary that the Insured observes and fulfils the following Conditions before the Company has any liability to make any payment under this Policy.
...
Claims Procedure
3. Immediate notice of any event likely to give rise to a claim under this Policy shall be given as stated in the Schedule. In all cases the Insured shall:
(a) furnish full particulars in writing of such event and forward immediately notice of any claim with any letters or documents relating thereto;
..."
(C) GENERAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL SECTIONS
...
Assignment
5. This Policy shall not assigned in whole or in part except with the consent of the Company verified by endorsement hereon. (my emphasis added)
...
Pilot Cover
11. Sections 2 and 3 of this Policy extend to indemnify jointly and severally with the Insured and pilot approved in accordance with the terms of this Policy provided such pilot observes and fulfils the conditions and is subject to the exclusions of the Policy. In the event of an award being made both against the Insured (Or his estate) and against the pilot (or his estate), the named Insured shall to the extent of his liability be entitled to priority in respect of any indemnity payable by the Company."
13The contract of insurance indemnifies the insured for accidental bodily injury to passengers while on board the helicopter. Mr Marriott was a passenger on board the helicopter when it crashed and it is alleged that he suffered accidental bodily injury.
14On the issue of whether the Trustee can make an assignment of the insurance policy after the bankruptcy is discharged has been considered in Tapp v LawCover Insurance [2013] FCA 35. In Tapp, the brief facts are that the plaintiffs sought to payment of the amount recoverable under whatever right to indemnity their bankrupt former solicitor had against his former insurer, LawCover. The plaintiffs obtained judgment against the former solicitor. The plaintiffs then informed the trustee in bankruptcy of the judgment and requested that the trustee take action against LawCover. LawCover told the plaintiffs to seek court declarations that firstly, the trustee's rights be assigned and secondly, the former solicitor's rights to indemnity has vested in the trustee. The plaintiffs commenced proceedings seeking orders that the trustee assign and transfer the right of the indemnity of the applicants pursuant to s 178 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).
15In Tapp, Rares J held that the discharge of the former solicitor from bankruptcy did not affect any right of indemnity of the plaintiffs that vested in the trustee. His Honour stated at [18] - [20]:
"[18] Where a trustee is asked to assign a claim or cause of action vested in him or her, the trustee ordinarily will not be in a position to undertake a detailed analysis of the possible cause or causes of action and their prospects of success. As the Full Court explained in Citicorp 71 FCR at 562B-565E, the trustee must take a practical approach. But, unless the claim or cause of action is frivolous, vexatious, an abuse of process, or has no reasonable prospect of success, if the bankrupt or a third party is willing to prosecute the action and the trustee is not, the trustee ordinarily will assign or sell the right to bring the proceedings, perhaps on terms of receiving some of the proceeds: 71 FCR 563D-564F; see also Re Nguyen; Ex parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1992) 35 FCR 320 (French J).
[19] The discharge of the bankrupt from bankruptcy effected under s 153 does not affect the applicants' rights as creditors to prove in the administration of assets vested in the trustee, but unrealised at the time of discharge. As Hill J, with whom Lockhart and Einfeld JJ agreed, said in Tarea Management (North Shore) Pty Ltd (In liq) v Glass (1991) 28 FCR 93 at 99, the mere fact that the debtor is released from a debt does not mean that the debt did not remain a provable debt in the bankruptcy that has been discharged. He held that there is no reason in principle why a creditor cannot lodge a proof of debt after the bankrupt's discharge from bankruptcy. Justice Hill said that the administration of a bankrupt's estate may not have come to an end on discharge, particularly where the discharge arose by operation of the Act at the expiration of three years.
[20] Moreover, if, after the discharge of the bankrupt, additional assets that vested in the trustee by force of a provision of the Act, such as ss 58 or 117, came into the trustee's hands, a discharged debt is treated as a liability of the estate that is payable out of it. That is because the release effected by s 153(1) operates only to release the former bankrupt and does not operate to release the estate: Re Kavich; Kavich v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1995) 58 FCR 82 at 86D per Hill J. Accordingly, where the bankrupt has a cause of action that vested in the trustee and on which the trustee has not obtained judgment at the time the bankrupt is discharged under s 153, the trustee remains entitled to continue to pursue the action. And, if the trustee recovers money or assets for the estate at any time, he or she must then distribute that money or the proceeds of those assets among the creditors who had debts provable in the bankruptcy. The intervening discharge from bankruptcy and the release of the bankrupt cannot alter the existing rights of the trustee, and the creditors in respect of, at least, the property of the bankrupt that vested in the trustee before the discharge."
16Both parties accept that if there is a cause of action vested in the Trustee, then the Trustee remains entitled to continue to pursue the cause of action even after discharge and that the Trustee may also assign that cause of action.
17However, counsel for QBE submitted that the situation here differs from Tapp because firstly, clause 5 of the policy specifically states that the policy shall not be assigned in whole or in part except with the consent of the company; and secondly, the cause of action or chose of action must exist during bankruptcy and neither existed.
18In support of the first proposition, counsel for QBE referred to Linden Gardens v Tenesta [1994] 1 AC 85 and In re Wright Landau v Trustee of the Property of the Bankrupt [1949] Ch 729. In Linden Gardens, the brief facts are that a contract was in place between Stock Conversion and a contractor M & H to remove asbestos from the property. The contract included a clause which stated "The employer shall not without written consent of the contractor assign this contract" (the clause). Stock Conversion assigned to Linden Gardens a right to recover damages where the losses were incurred by Stock Conversion prior to assignment and after the assignment.
19In Linden Gardens, Lord Browne-Wilkinson at 105 accepted that it was "...at least hypothetically possible" for a contractual prohibition to prohibit assignment of rights under the contract but nevertheless permit assignment of "fruits of performance" such as accrued rights of action or debts. However, his Lordship found it impossible to construe the clause in that way. The clause simply said that each relevant party "shall not without the written consent of [another party] assign this contract".
20Lord Browne-Wilkinson in Linden Gardens also stated that existing authorities that established that an attempted assignment of contractual rights in breach of a contractual prohibition is ineffective to transfer such contractual rights. His Lordship stated at 108:
"Therefore the existing authorities establish that an attempted assignment of contractual rights in breach of a contractual prohibition is ineffective to transfer such contractual rights. I regard the law as satisfactorily settled in that sense. If the law were otherwise, it would defeat the legitimate commercial reason for inserting the contractual prohibition, viz., to ensure that the original parties are not brought into direct contractual relations with third parties."
21Counsel of QBE submitted that by contrast, clause 5 in its contract of insurance differs from the clause in Linden Gardens because in QBE's contract the prohibition specifically says that the policy cannot be assigned "in whole or in part". According to QBE, those words indicate an intention to prevent the assignment of particular rights under the policy as well as preventing assignment of the policy as a whole.
22The facts in In re Wright, are that the tenant became bankrupt and the lease became vested in the trustee in bankruptcy. The description of the tenant in the lease included a phrase "where the context so admits include his successors in title". Dankwerts J explained where a clause prohibited a contractor or his "assigns" from assigning rights under the contract, the word "assigns" should not be interpreted as included involuntary assigns. In the matter before his Honour, the language referred to successors in title and his Honour could not see why a trustee is not a successor in title.
23QBE submitted that the clause in the present case is even clearer - it simply says that the policy "shall not be assigned in whole or in part". In other words, it is an unambiguous prohibition on assignment by any person entitled to the contractual rights in question.
24While both these cases are English, the approach taken in them to determine whether the Trustee can assign the rights given under a contract depends on the construction of the contract including the clause prohibiting the assignment. The interpretation of the policy including cl 5 in is arguable and should be permitted to go to trial.
25In relation to the second proposition counsel for QBE submitted that the Trustee does not yet have an accrued right of action or debt under the Policy. There are two reasons for this:
(a) On 14 October 2013, the plaintiff made a claim on the policy. QBE submitted that until a claim is made and denied, there is no accrued cause of action for the Trustee to assign. As Mr Brine was discharged from bankruptcy prior to the Trustee making a request for indemnity, no chose in action existed during the bankruptcy. QBE distinguishes the facts from Tapp where the applicants had requested indemnity during the period of the bankruptcy and proceedings were commenced seeking a declaration that LawCover was liable to indemnify prior to the discharge of bankruptcy.
(b) Even if a request for indemnity was made (and one now has), the relevant right to indemnity only applies to "all sums which the Insured shall become liable to pay ...as compensatory damages". In other words, there is no requirement under the policy for QBE to provide indemnity to Mr Brine - and therefore no accrued cause of action to assign - unless Mr Brine has been held liable.
26For either of these reasons, counsel for QBE submitted that the parties are not in a situation of dealing with the "fruits of performance"' as Lord Browne-Wilkinson put it, but rather in a situation of purporting to assign a contractual right to request indemnity and have that request considered by QBE, where the right to indemnity itself has not yet arisen.
27So far as QBE's submissions (a) is concerned, the plaintiff relied upon Bazem Pty Ltd v Bureau of Urban Architecture; Bureau of Urban Architecture v Bazem [2010] NSWSC 978. In Bazem Gzell J granted leave for the plaintiff to file an amended statement of claim to join the insurer as a defendant. The brief facts are that a property developer entered into a contract with Bureau for architectural services (Bureau). Bazem. brought proceedings against Bureau for breach of contract. Part of the insurer's draft defence was that the director of Bureau, who was the nominated architect responsible for the provision of architectural services did not disclose the fact that he had entered into a personal insolvency agreement pursuant to Part 10 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966.
28In Bazem, Gzell J referred to a number of authorities including Anjin No 13 Pty Ltd v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2009] VSC 371 where Vickery J stated that the existence of a cause of action was not strictly necessary but a bona fide legal controversy was when considering whether the plaintiff was entitled to join the insurer to the proceedings. Gzell J stated at [41] - [42]:
"[41] In Anjin No 13 Pty Ltd v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2009] VSC 371, Vickery J considered an application by a plaintiff to join the insurer of defendant architectural companies as a further defendant. The Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 (Vic), rule 9.02 was almost identical with Pt 8 r 2 of the Supreme Court Rules.
[42] His Honour held at [74] that Anjin had a very real interest in having the indemnity obligations of Allianz to the architect companies determined. The existence of a cause of action was not strictly necessary but a bona fide legal controversy was. His Honour went on to conclude at [79] that there was a true legal controversy and the plaintiff was entitled to the joinder subject to relevant discretionary considerations:
'In my opinion, the evidence discloses a "true legal controversy" on the crucial question as to the liability of the insurer to indemnify the architect companies. It follows that, in my opinion, and subject to a consideration of relevant discretionary matters for the grant of relief, the plaintiff Anjin is entitled to bring its proposed proceeding against the insurance company and seek the declaratory relief which it has foreshadowed.'"
29Clause 4.3(a) of the insurance policy stipulates that the insured shall furnish full particulars in writing of the event likely to give rise to a claim under the policy immediately. A notice of claim has been given to QBE by the Mr Marriott after the assignment and after Mr Brine was discharged from bankruptcy. While I accept that this case differs from Tapp because in Tapp a notice of claim was given during the period of bankruptcy, it is arguable that a notice of claim may be given after the bankruptcy ends. If that can be established, then there is a cause of action, although it may be problematic as the notice of claim is given after the assignment is made. Nevertheless, it is my view that it is arguable that there is a cause of action or a chose in action.
30So far as submission (b) is concerned, it is of fundamental importance in assisting courts to achieve the overriding purpose of facilitating the just, quick and cheap resolution of the real issues in the proceedings: s 56 Civil Procedure Act 2005. As the plaintiff's case against the alleged tortfeasors raises the same facts and circumstances as those relevant to the determination of indemnity under the policy. The insurer should be joined as a party to these proceedings so that all issues can be determined at the same trial. If judgment is entered against Mr Brine, the right to indemnity will arise for determination.