Maurice Miller

Maurice Miller
BA LLB AANZIIF
Senior Partner
Insurance

INSURANCE

Maurice has practised in the field of insurance litigation for over 40 years and brings a wealth of experience to his dual roles of Senior Partner and Head of the firm's Insurance Litigation division. During this time Maurice has acted for the leading insurers in Queensland and his present clients include Suncorp Metway Insurance Limited, Vero Insurance Limited, GIO General Insurance Limited, Lumley General Insurance and the Transport Accident Commission of Victoria.

EXPERIENCE

Maurie's experience is widely acknowledged within the insurance industry and he has been invited to assist in responding to issues facing both insurers and the legal profession by sitting on various committees and other advisory bodies including:

1. The Queensland Law Society Accident Compensation Committee; and
2. The Queensland Law Society Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal.

Maurice's expertise is such that his clients have enlisted his assistance in drafting policy wordings designed to facilitate effective and simple communication with the market place.

EDUCATION

Maurice is committed to legal education and has lectured to students enrolled in the Queensland University of Technology Legal Practice course and at the Insurance Institute.

APPROACH TO CLAIMS

Maurice strives to help his clients excel in a competitive industry by assisting claims handlers in formulating and maintaining accurate reserves and defending claims efficiently in terms of both time and money. Maurice is a skilled negotiator and utilises statutory conferences and alternative dispute resolution to achieve prompt and favourable resolution of claims.

The focus of Maurice's practice is accident compensation. He acts in the defence of negligence claims and his case load includes:

The defence of motor vehicle claims including claims brought by severely injured persons with injuries such as brain damage and paraplegia;
Disputes between insurers concerning the application and interpretation of policies;
Claims arising out of construction site accidents often involving advice on complex contractual issues;
Injury claims brought by visitors to public venues such as shopping centres, restaurants and hotels where negligence is alleged with respect to the condition of the premises and/or the actions of the staff/personnel of those venues;
Property damage claims including major loss claims involving destruction by fire.

RESULTS

Major Claims defended by Maurie include:

Husher –v– Husher
A High Court decision concerning the issue of loss of earning capacity in the context of husband and wife partnerships.
Walter Reid –v– Kern Corporation
A matter that proceeded to the High Court involving destruction of a department store by fire prior to settlement of the contact for sale and the attempt of the purchasers to take the benefit of the vendor’s policy. Notice given under section 56 of the Property Law Act (London Fires Metropolis Act).
Perrett –v– Robinson
A High Court matter heard in conjunction with Breavington –v– Godleman and involving choice of law – substantive versus procedural;
McCullagh –v– Lawrence – (Court of Appeal)
Damages claim for loss of dependency involving sale of joint assets including matrimonial home – issue of accelerated benefit;
Desmond –v– Mt Isa City Council – (Court of Appeal)
Claim by a motor cyclist rendered paraplegic after a single vehicle accident on a gravel intersection subsequent to a one in one hundred years storm – issue of Council’s obligations and the law of misfeasance versus nonfeasance.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: 07 3223 6414
Email:

Telephone: 07 3223 6400 Facsimile: 07 3223 6444 Address: Level 32, 239 George Street, Brisbane 4000
Post: GPO Box 2500, Brisbane 4001 | DX Mail: DX 40096 Brisbane
Email: qmt@qmtlaw.com.au ABN 37 355 684 469