Asbestos
Councils face prospect of speculative asbestos claims
A local authority has failed in its bid to secure clarity over what constitutes a 'material increase' in risk where a mesothelioma claimant's exposure to asbestos is relatively low, arguably leaving councils vulnerable to higher numbers of speculative…
Liability findings more "likely" after asbestos ruling
Law firm Beachcroft has claimed that findings of liability in mesothelioma cases are more “likely” following the Supreme Court judgement in Willmore v Knowsley MBC and Sienkiewicz v Greif last week.
Disease claims - mesothelioma: minimising costs while maximising speed
Mesothelioma claims are not set to peak until at least 2015. David Wynn details what insurers should be doing now to minimise their cost burden, while maximising speed of settlement.
Keoghs appoints duo to senior roles
Keoghs has appointed two senior personnel to its team – a new partner specialising in disease claims, Carrie Hoey, and a new commercial director, Andrew Spice.
AIG to strengthen Chartis balance sheet by $4.1bn after loss reserve review
Following completion of its annual comprehensive loss reserve review, AIG said today it expects to record a $4.1bn charge, net of $446m in discount and loss sensitive business premium adjustments, for the fourth quarter of 2010 to strengthen loss…
North of the Border: Update on Pleural Plaques and Forum Shopping
The eagerly awaited decision of Scotland's Inner House of the Court of Session, in the judicial review of the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009 is anticipated later this month.
Scottish courts see tenfold rise in pleural plaque cases
New pleural plaques cases brought in front of the Scottish courts increased almost tenfold last year, government statistics have shown.
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%.