Legal
Mesothelioma liability transferred under Act
British Telecommunications v Royal Mail Group (Queen's Bench Division — 7 January 2010)
Appeal dismissed over high-speed crash in icy conditions
West Sussex County Council v Russell (Court of Appeal — 12 February 2010)
FSA needs transparency
The Financial Services Authority should be more transparent about how fines on firms are set, law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain has said.
Top 5 Post stories
The top five most popular stories on postonline.co.uk over the last week were:
Beachcroft acquires insurance law firm
Beachcroft is joining forces with niche insurance practice, William Holden Cooklin Gibbons.
FSA "smashes" fine record by 21% claims law firm
The FSA "smashed" last year’s record fines by 21% this year (to March 31) as it handed down £33.1m in fines, City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP said today.
Aviva issues asbestos warning
Aviva is urging property owners to observe safety regulations after a company was prosecuted for exposing building workers to asbestos.
M&A: Back in fashion?
With M&A deals back on the agenda, Tim Goggin of Lovells looks at whether the trend will continue and how it will affect reinsurers?
50 years ago: Twin is sent to jail for arson fraud
George and Jack Hart were identical twins. They worked together in the same firm as partners, and they lived together with their families in two flats in the same house.
Scott Rees
Personal injury solicitors Scott Rees & Co has appointed its first compliance officer.
Sidley Austin
Martin Membery and Matthew Griffith will be joining Sidley Austin as part of the continuing expansion of the firm's London insurance practice.
Election 2010 - Industry Q&A: Question time
In the final part of the countdown to the general election, Post took questions from the leading lights of the insurance industry and put them to the three main political parties.
Allianz claims victory for future in Bent case
Allianz has welcomed the Court of Appeal's judgment in the Darren Bent credit hire case as a "resounding victory" for the insurance industry over credit hire operators.
Third Parties Bill gets royal assent
The legislation governing the relationship between insurers and claimants is to be amended after the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Bill was given royal assent.
Editor's comment: What next for Quinn?
Tuesday saw a flurry of activity following the news that the High Court in Ireland had appointed provisional administrators to Quinn Insurance, on an application by the Financial Regulator.
Florida jury awards $26.6m to smoker's widow
A Florida jury has ordered cigarette manufacturers RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris to pay $26.6m to the widow of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer, the latest verdict in the Engle progeny lawsuits.
North of the Border: Pleural plaques
The Westminster government's recent announcement that it will not be restoring the right to claim compensation for pleural plaques, under English law, following consultation on the issue, has left those with plaques in England and Wales in a somewhat…
Greenwoods
Greenwoods Solicitors has appointed Peter Crossland as partner.
Legal Update - Chain of causation
In the unusual case of Spencer v Wincanton Holdings, Peter Wake explains how the Court of Appeal gave guidance to insurers on unreasonable conduct and what is sufficient to break a chain of causation.
US class-action securities lawsuits rose 39% in 2009
Settlements rose 39% in 2009, according to a study by Stanford Law School and Cornerstone Research, less than feared by many US D&O insurers.
Six arrested in “largest ever” insider dealing investigation
Six men, including two senior city professionals, have been arrested in the Financial Services Authority’s “largest ever” operation against insider dealing.
Accident Exchange: four insurers at the centre of Autofocus action
Accident Exchange today said that the early indications are that “four large and well known insurers and two firms of defendant solicitors” account for the most material number of cases impacted by what it claims is a “systematic production of…
PPI industry faces reimbursement cost of up to £3bn
The Financial Services Authority consultation document on PPI mis-selling has extremely costly and serious ramifications for the industry according to financial research company Defaqto.
Law reports: Court rules antenatal care was not negligent
Jones v North West Strategic Health Authority (Queen's Bench Division — 5 February 2010)