Asbestos
Scottish courts see tenfold rise in pleural plaque cases – Insurance News Now – 20 January 2011
Post news editor Mairi MacDonald outlines the main news from this week's issue of Post, which includes a claim from law firm Brodies that new pleural plaques cases brought in front of the Scottish courts increased almost tenfold last year.
Factory pays compensation to family of asbestos victim
The family of a former assembler at a Caterpillar UK factory has won compensation after he died from an asbestos-related cancer.
Legal update - Transatlantic triggers: The same but different
Mark Burton and Don Ramsey examine whether the UK can glean potential solutions from the US as the courts continue to wrestle with the thorny issue of what triggers a disease-related EL policy.
Postbox: Apil hits back
With regards the article 'Claimant community blamed' () the development of a specific mesothelioma pre-action protocol was made redundant by modification of the disease and illness protocol.
Law report: Asbestosis ruling expedient on evidence needed
This law report was contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Legal update - NHS recvoery scheme: Getting cash back
New tariffs introduced this year for the Injury Cost Recovery scheme have the potential to impact insurers. Peter Forshaw examines fears that the scheme may be extended further.
Claims Club news: Claimant community blamed for shelving of meso protocol
The insurer and defendant legal community has lost its battle to get a specific pre-action protocol introduced for mesothelioma claims — largely due to the self- interest of claimant solicitors and the unions.
Unite to challenge Supreme Court mesothelioma ruling
Union Unite has confirmed its intention to challenge an earlier appeal court ruling for asbestos victims in the Supreme Court.
Law report: Hospice compensation casecould open claim floodgates
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Union to challenge EL trigger litigation ruling in the Supreme Court
The Unite union is to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision that ruled in some asbestos cases the employer’s liability insurance is triggered not by the exposure to asbestos in the workplace, but by the development of the…
ABI and Apil lead calls to reject asbestos ruling
Personal injury lawyers are urging all insurers to continue paying claims for mesothelioma on a traditional basis until the issue over policy triggers is ultimately resolved — which could take another year.
ABI: Insurers committed to asbestos compensation
The Association of British Insurers has claimed that insurance companies are still committed to compensating asbestos victims despite today’s critical Court of Appeal ruling.
Equitas to offer ex-gratia mesothelioma payments
Equitas has said it will make payments to mesothelioma victims in situations where they would have been compensated by a Lloyd’s policy but the company no longer exists or cannoth be traced.
Ruling leaves availability of cover to a "matter of chance"
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has warned that the Appeal Court decision regarding employers’ liability trigger litigation makes it a “matter of chance” for policyholders as to whether cover will be available for mesothelioma claims.
Court deliberates over next step in EL trigger llitigation case
The Court of Appeal is deliberating this morning over whether parties involved in the employers’ liability trigger litigation case will be granted leave for further appeal to the Supreme Court, Post understands.
Appeal Court overturns EL trigger litigation ruling
The Court of Appeal has overturned a 2008 High Court decision that found the insurers who should pay claims for the fatal asbestos illness, mesothelioma are those that provided cover to the employer at the time of the asbestos exposure.
Run-off liabilities down
KPMG's annual run-off survey of UK non-life insurance shows that liabilities have shrunk by 21%.
Viewpoint: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Solvency II
Solvency II is looming large on the horizon but, argue Henry Sopher and Ann Duffy, despite the guidelines' complex language and detailed instructions, the run-off market can make it through this new universe by simply applying sound business sense and…
Legal update - mesothelioma: Music and mesothelioma
With the high-profile death of former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, mesothelioma fell under the spotlight once more. Neil Hackett examines the continuing difficulty in pinpointing exposure.
MP takes up asbestos battle
A Yorkshire MP has urged the new coalition government to back Labour proposals to establish an Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau.
Co-op chief hits out over asbestos
The head of general insurance at Co-operative Financial Services has accused the industry of shirking its responsibility by continuing to oppose the formation of a pool for asbestos-related employers' liability insurance claims.
Aviva issues asbestos warning
Aviva is urging property owners to observe safety regulations after a company was prosecuted for exposing building workers to asbestos.
North of the Border: one action in respect of one wrong principle confirmed
Scotland's Court of Appeal confirms principle that a claimant can have only one action in respect of one wrong.
£3m pledged by ABI to help research asbestos
Insurers have pledged £3m to support research by the Ministry of Justice into asbestos- related diseases.