Bruce Cussen, William Roberts Lawyers

Bruce has over 25 years’ experience and specialise in the area of insurance law, litigation, and dispute resolution.

Bruce practises in and has extensive knowledge of:

• General insurance, indemnity, and policy advice;
• Public and product liability claims;
• Catastrophic personal injury claims;
• Dust diseases;
• Professional indemnity claims;
• Personal insurance claims;
• Business interruption and ISR (Industrial Special Risks) claims;
• Property damage claims;
• Aviation and marine claims;
• Life and disability claims;
• Insurance claims involving fraud.

Bruce has acted for insurers, insureds, liability self insurers and corporate entities throughout Australia and internationally.

Bruce has acted for:

• A large corporate entity in a claim arising under an errors and omissions policy concerning the alleged negligent design, installation and maintenance of irrigation pipes leading to pipe failure and significant crop losses in South Australia;
• An insurer advising on indemnity, policy coverage under an ISR policy, damage, and loss in relation to a claim by a school arising from fire and acts of vandalism in circumstances where the school was no longer operating and the land on which it was situated was being offered for sale;
• A $5 million property damage claim against pool manufacturers arising out of the blistering of pools and alleged negligent design;
• Professional indemnity and error and omission policy claims including architects, builders, engineers, surveyors, mortgage originators/brokers and dental service providers;
• • A professional indemnity claim for a doctor in relation to alleged negligent cosmetic treatment to a patient;
  • The owner and licensee of a hotel in a catastrophic public liability claim arising from the serious assault of a patron (who suffered alleged brain damage) by a third party off the hotel premises, in which it was held by the NSW Court of Appeal that no duty of care was owed;
  • A number of defendants on instructions from an insurer in multi-million dollar proceedings involving 5 plaintiffs and 9 defendants arising from the entrapment and drowning of a child in a spa for claims for nervous shock by the deceased’s family members, a substantial claim for damages in an action per quod servitium amisit for economic loss brought by a family trust company, numerous cross claims, and claims for dual insurance;

  Bruce has also acted:

  • In the High Court of Australia matter Hollis v Vabu Pty Ltd (2001), a leading authority on the indicia for the distinction between employees and independent contractors;
  • In claims concerning catastrophic injuries sustained on construction sites involving multiple contractors and independent contractors;
  • On behalf of an instructor in relation to a personal injury claim arising out of a paragliding accident;
  • For a boat sharing company on instructions from a marine insurer in defending a personal injury claim by a guest on a vessel who had 3 fingers severed when releasing lines from a vessel.