Legal
AA: Young driver insurance premium rises are "unsustainable"
The sharp rises in motor insurance premiums are leading to more drivers withholding information when taking out a policy or exaggerating personal injury claims, the AA has warned.
Insurers fail in pleural plaques bid
Insurers Axa, Aviva, RSA and Zurich have failed in their efforts to overturn Scottish legislation allowing claims to be brought for asbestos-related conditions, such as pleural plaques.
Value of FSA fines trebles to £96.7m
The value of fines handed to businesses by the Financial Services Authority has trebled in one year from £33.1m to £96.7m.
Premex integrates Eclipse software system
Medico-legal services provider Premex has integrated its appointment booking system Vu Direct with software firm Eclipse’s personal injury case management system Proclaim.
Derrick Cole ACII: An obituary
The death is announced of Derrick Cole at the age of 84 after a long career in insurance.
Chartis to hand fraud file to police
Chartis has issued instructions for a file to be handed to police relating to a £200 000 motor insurance fraud case.
Disease claims - occupational voice loss
Occupational voice loss is becoming a growing hazard, partly due to the rise in call centres. Paula Jefferson and Rachel Barbenel examine recent case outcomes and advise on avoiding and defending claims.
News analysis - Jackson: getting the personal injury balance right
Plans to abolish the recovery of success fees and ATE premiums mean the balance between claimants and defendants should be redressed. Andrew Parker analyses the immediate and long-term effects of Ken Clarke's announcement.
Disease claims - HAVS: getting to grips with HAVS
The effect of vibration on the human body has been the subject of debate for more than 100 years, and research is raising new questions over whether vibration to the hand can cause symptoms in the elbow, upper arm or shoulder. Simon Matthews explores the…
Co-op to increase aggregator usage
Co-operative Insurance has set its sights on growing its household book by widening its use of aggregators as a means of distribution.
HR focus - default retirement age: retiring gracefully
The abolition of the default retirement age comes into force later this year. Paul Cann explores potential consequences for employers as they prepare to accommodate an ageing workforce.
Editor's comment: keeping the buzz alive
After the initial buzz of excitement swarmed round the industry at the prospect of an insurer-funded dedicated police unit to combat fraud, all has gone strangely quiet. Fair enough, the Association of British Insurers did stress that its discussions…
Legal update - corporate manslaughter: driving issues
With the first conviction under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 having finally taken place in February, Roger Ball explains the potential consequences for motor fleet operators.
Call made for portal time extensions on EL and PL
The timeframes laid down for insurers to comply with the terms of the fast-track electronic claims portal may have to be modified if the process is to be extended to employers' liability and public liability claims.
Litigation fears in wake of NZ quake
The New Zealand earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011 have left some brokers and insurers at risk of litigation, the chief executive of Cunningham Lindsey's New Zealand operation has warned.
Death knell for ATE insurance as jackson recommendations accepted
The government's decision to implement the Jackson reforms has sounded the death knell for after-the-event insurance, legal expenses insurers have admitted.
MoJ mediation plans “music to insurers’ ears”
Ministry of Justice plans to promote a wider use of mediation is “music to the ears” of insurers and claimants, Inter Resolve has claimed.
Full implications of the ECJ gender ruling are still unclear
KPMG head of insurance Drew Fellowes gives an insight into how the industry has moved forward since the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) ruling into gender equality in insurance pricing.
Beachcroft adds to dispute resolution unit
Law firm Beachcroft has recruited a new partner and two associates to its professional and financial risk and specialist and international risk teams.
BTO adds three new partners
Law firm BTO Solicitors has appointed three new partners.
Career development & CSR: Broker inspiration wins Molyneux Welsh Woman award
The managing partner at Cardiff-based law firm New Law crowned Welsh Woman of the Year, has put her success down to a casual talk with an insurance broker on a train.
News analysis - Fraud: Northern fraud
Earlier this month, a judge jailed a Bury man for contempt of court for his part in a motor insurance fraud. Mairi MacDonald considers the consequences of this landmark ruling.
Legal Update: Camden fire conclusions
After a fire at Camden Market in 2008 due to portable heaters, Andrew Blair and Joanne Whyld look at the resulting court case that ensued over the broker's failure to keep the insured fully informed.
The Claimant's View: Health & safety gone mad
Health & safety has gone mad. I never thought I would say those words, associated as they are with sections of the media that love to blame health & safety regulations for everything that is wrong with society today.