Ministry of Justice

Claim for personal injury, claim for weekly compensation - s 26, s 100 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal from decision to decline additional cover and entitlement to weekly compensation. Appellant's accident caused an acute physical injury that substantially contributed to post-accident incapacity. Appellant entitled to cover for personal injury and consequent entitlements including weekly compensation. Outcome: appeal allowed.

Claim for work-related gradual process injury - s 30(2) Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal from decision to decline cover for gradual process injury as result of exposure to glutaraldehyde. Found that person exposed to glutaraldehyde in stock was at significantly greater risk of suffering poisoning. Appellant qualifies for cover. Outcome: appeal allowed.

Impairment Assessment - pt 3 sch 1 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appellant failed to show on balance of probabilities that decision was wrong. Outcome: appeal dismissed.

Personal Injury – Section 26; Causation, Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal against a decision declining cover for a neck sprain. Whether the appellant suffered an injury, namely a neck sprain, which was the subject of a claim for cover lodged by the appellant’s GP. On the balance of probabilities, evidence establishes that the appellant did suffer an injury on while pressing weights. ACC’s decision declining cover is reversed. Outcome: appeal allowed.

Claim for costs - Part 14 District Court Rules 2014. Appellant is entitled to costs. Outcome: Appeal allowed. Appellant awarded $22,442.50 costs and $11,695.39 disbursements.

Treatment Injury - ss 20, 26, 32 and 33, Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal against decision declining cover for progressive renal stenosis. Progressive renal stenosis a natural and inevitable consequence of a non-covered pre-existing underlying health condition. Outcome: appeal dismissed.

Leave to appeal to the High Court s 162 Accident Compensation Act 2001.Whether the Corporation, reviewer and the Court incorrectly declined appellant funding for disability assist dog training. The appellant failed to identify a question of law that is serious and arguable. Outcome: leave to appeal dismissed.

Claims process, Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal against decision dismissing appellant's review applications because of lack of jurisdiction. Appeals lodged outside of statutory time limits and leave to file the reviews late had not been granted. Outcome: appeal dismissed.

Vocational independence s 107 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Whether the respondent correctly found that the appellant had attained vocational independence. Respondent correctly determined that the appellant had achieved vocational independence in three job options. Outcome: appeal dismissed.

Late filing of an appeal to the District Court - s 151 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Notice of Appeal missorted by the postal service. Whether interests of justice required the exercise of discretion to sustain his application for leave to file his appeal out of time. Delay arose out of understandable error rather than indecision.  Interests of justice established for appeal. Outcome: appeal granted.

Leave to appeal to High Court - s 162 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Applicant seeks leave to appeal to the High Court against a judgment of the District Court in this matter. Applicant submits the judge overlooked important documents. Argument that the judge has erred in his treatment of facts so as to amount to an error of law is not supported. Applicant failed to make out grounds for leave to appeal. Outcome: appeal dismissed.

Claim for overseas rehabilitation costs - s 128 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal of Reviewer's decision. Reviewer dismissed application for review of Corporation's decision. Corporation declined application for overseas treatment of selective dorsal rhizotomy. Outcome: appeal dismissed.

Impairment assessment - Part 3, Schedule 1 Accident Compensation Act 2001. Appeal from decision that dismissed application for lump sum compensation in respect of appellant's post-traumatic stress disorder. Appellant has not established the impairment assessment on which the Corporation based its decision to decline her application for a lump sum payment of compensation for her impairment, was incorrect. Previous decision of reviewer upheld. Outcome: appeal dismissed.