The applicant sought statutory accident benefits following a motor vehicle accident.
At a case conference, the respondent requested a preliminary issue hearing regarding the applicant's alleged failure to comply with a section 33 request for information related to the income replacement benefit.
The Tribunal subsequently asked the parties if they would agree to have the section 33 issue heard at the substantive hearing instead.
The applicant agreed, but the respondent objected, arguing that a preliminary hearing would be more efficient.
The Tribunal found that section 33 non-compliance is a defence rather than a preliminary issue under section 55(1) of the Schedule.
To ensure efficiency and avoid the possibility of two separate hearings, the Tribunal ordered that the section 33 issue be heard alongside the substantive issues at the main hearing.