McArthur v Mercantile Mutual Life Insurance Company Ltd [2001] QCA 317
[2001] QCA 317
Court of Appeal (Qld)|2001-08-10|Before: McMurdo P, McPherson JA, Muir JSeparate reasons for judgment of each, member of the Court, each concurring as to the order made
McMurdo P, McPherson JA, Muir JSeparate reasons for judgment of each, member of the Court, each concurring as to the order made
Catchwords
INSURANCE – GENERAL – POLICIES OF INSURANCE – CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT – Where insured made claim on insurance
policy on grounds of
total permanent disability – where insurer’s opinion that insured
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
INSURANCE – GENERAL – POLICIES OF INSURANCE – CONDITIONSPRECEDENT – Where insured made claim on insurancepolicy on grounds oftotal permanent disability – where insurer’s opinion that insuredlikely never to work again isa precondition to the obligation to pay under thepolicy – where opinion formed improperly – whether claim lies indebtor in damages for breach of contract - whether Court can have regard toevidence which came into existence after the determinationby the insurerInsurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), s 7, s 13, s48(1)Property Law Act 1974 (Qld), s 55Sale of Goods Act1896 (Qld), s12Beaufort Developments (N I) Ltd v Gilbert-AshN I Ltd [1998] UKHL 19[1999] 1 AC 266, citedBraunstein v Accidental Death Insurance Co [1861] EngR 995(1861) 121 ER 904,consideredButcher v Port (1985) 3 ANZ Insurance Cases 60-638,discussed
61-175, referred toDiggle v Ogston Motor Company (1915) 112 LT 1029,
referred toEdwards v Aberayron Mutual Ship Insurance Society (1876) 1
QBD 563, discussed
Edwards v The Hunter Valley Co-op Dairy Co Ltd (1992) 7 ANZ
Insurance Cases 61-113, discussedHeitman v Guardian Assurance Co Ltd
(1992) 7 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-107, cited
Hickman & Co v Roberts [1913] AC 229, discussedIvkovic v
Australian Casualty & Life Limited (1994) 10 SR (WA) 325,
consideredJackson v Swift Australian Company Pty Ltd [1968] QdR 1,
consideredMoore v Woolsey [1854] EngR 917
(1854) 119 ER 93, consideredPanamena
Europea Navigacion (Compania Limitada) v Frederick Leyland & Co Ltd
[1947] AC 428, discussedNapier v UNUM Ltd [1996] 2 Lloyd’s
Rep 550, referred toSuttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd [1950] HCA 35
(1950) 81 CLR 418,
referred toTeur v London Life Insurance Co [1936] 1 DLR 161, referred
to
Williamson v John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd [1940] 2 KB 658,
referred toWyllie v National Mutual Life Association of Australasia
Ltd, SC NSW 50094 of 96, 18 April 1997, referred toYoung v
Queensland Trustees Ltd [1956] HCA 51
(1956) 99 CLR 560, referred to
Judgment (18 paragraphs)
[1]
INSURANCE - GENERAL - POLICIES OF INSURANCE - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT - Where insured made claim on insurance policy on grounds of total permanent disability - where insurer's opinion that insured likely never to work again is a precondition to the obligation to pay under the policy - where opinion formed improperly - whether claim lies in debt or in damages for breach of contract - whether Court can have regard to evidence which came into existence after the determination by the insurer