Legal
Claims and Fraud Summit 2020: Hear from AA, Allianz, Aviva, Ecclesiastical, Hiscox, Markel, Munich Re, NFU Mutual, QBE, RSA and Zurich
The annual Insurance Post Claims and Fraud Summit will be taking place this year virtually on 18-19 November 2020 – so be sure to join us and take advantage of our online networking platform, livestreamed agenda sessions and explore a wealth of content.
Direct Line brands IBM’s work 'materially defective' in £36m legal fight
IBM’s work contained “extensive” and “material” issues in both design and execution that should not have been present at a late stage of development, a Direct Line Group subsidiary has alleged in an ongoing legal spat over an IT contract.
Vote now for the winner of the Industry Impact Award at the 2020 British Insurance Awards
This prestigious award recognises the importance of business deals, partnerships and key hires, and the 2020 winner will be decided by you.
Zurich and Scor face $18m High Court claim from Experian
Zurich and Scor face an $18m (£13.7m) legal claim from consumer credit reporting company Experian, relating to a layer of excess of loss cover underwritten by the two insurers that was in place between 2015 and 2016.
Aviva faces libel lawsuit from personal injury medical expert
Aviva has been accused of telling alleged “untruths” about a medico-legal expert in a bid to drive down claims pay outs, documents supplied to the High Court show.
Briefing: BI test case verdicts and appeals broken down – In pursuit of clarity
As the search for lesser-spotted clarity continues, simple confirmation from the regulator on which business interruption wordings are being contested, and by who, is a welcome aid.
Supreme Court BI test case hearing confirmed for November
The Supreme Court will start hearing the appeals of six insurers, the Hiscox Action Group and the Financial Conduct Authority in the ongoing Covid-19 business interruption test case on Monday 16 November, the FCA has confirmed.
Analysis: FCA sets sights on broker failures
The Financial Conduct Authority’s Dear CEO letter at the start of September revisited its concerns about insurance intermediaries being at risk of financial failure during the Covid-19 crisis and the need to plan for orderly wind-downs.
Fully Comp episode 5: The insurance challenges of automated lane keeping systems
Welcome to the fifth episode of Fully Comp, Insurance Post’s new regular video series tackling some of the biggest issues in insurance.
Lockton denies fraud as Axa hit with legal action
Broker Lockton has denied acting fraudulently regarding a property developer’s claim, as fresh legal action was brought against insurer Axa.
Analysis: Cladding, waking watches and PI - the ongoing fire safety liability battle
Insurers are facing criticism from residents of high rise buildings over insurance costs, waking watch requirements and taking an overly "binary" approach, while professional indemnity insurance access is driving a fire risk assessor crisis.
Other insurers unlikely to intervene after RSA declines to appeal 'outlier' Marsh BI wording, say lawyers
RSA’s decision not to appeal the High Court’s rulings with regards to a widely-used Marsh wording is unlikely to result in another insurer launching an appeal of its own, with would-be interveners facing significant hurdles according to lawyers.
Briefing: False hope is no antidote - a business interruption appeal is still firmly on the table
The world is devoting a lot of energy into finding a vaccine or ‘cure’ for Covid-19. We should know by now that false hope is not an antidote.
Failed Danish insurer and UK agent in legal battle over taxi driver policy premiums
The administrators of bankrupt Danish insurer Alpha are embroiled in a legal battle with UK-based J&M Insurance Services over £3.9m in premiums collected by the UK firm in the months leading up to unrated carrier’s collapse in May 2018.
RSA opts against appeal on Marsh wording in BI test case
RSA’s appeal of the High Court business interruption test case ruling only covers two policies, court documents have revealed, and does not include the Marsh/Jelf resilience (RSA4) wording shared by multiple insurers.
Crêperie's High Court BI case against Allianz thrown out by judge
Deputy Judge of the High Court Richard Salter QC has ruled in favour of Allianz in a business interruption and property damage legal dispute decision which he accepted may be “of consequence for other potential claimants” and “something of a footnote” to…
Fully Comp episode 3: Will parametrics live up to the hype - and could it ever enter the insurance mainstream?
Welcome to the third episode of Fully Comp, Insurance Post’s new regular video series tackling some of the biggest issues in insurance.
Blog: Scotland's 'local lockdowns' raise further questions for BI claims
Local lockdowns raise new questions about business interruption claims, particularly for the sector most affected by the latest measures: the hospitality industry. Forum of Insurance Lawyers members Laura McMillan, insurance and risk partner at Brodies,…
East West Insurance enters administration as tower block fire safety claims mount
The High Court has put structural defects specialist East West Insurance Company, which purchased a portfolio from Zurich in 2018, into administration and appointed Ernst & Young as administrators.
Catastrophically injured claimant granted accommodation costs in landmark ruling
The Court of Appeal has rewritten the approach to calculating personal injury accommodation claims in a landmark judgment that awarded the claimant additional damages of £802,000 for the cost of special accommodation.
Briefing: The BI test case – QIC’s failed intervention and the ‘spirit of co-operation’
The business interruption test case is meant to be about co-operation to find clarity. Qatar Insurance Company’s attempt to intervene has rocked the boat.
Inquiry slams Ecclesiastical over evidence 'failings' in Church of England child abuse report
Insurer Ecclesiastical has faced criticism after failing to provide evidence “in a candid manner” during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s investigation into Anglican Church abuse.
Brightside’s Brendan McCafferty on why the insurance industry needs to get real on its social contract
The insurance industry needs to find the right answers quickly if it is going to rebuild its reputation with the public, particularly after the recent business interruption court case and dual pricing headlines, says Brightside CEO Brendan McCafferty.
Watchstone opens legal claim process against KPMG
Watchstone, formerly known as Quindell, has filed a claim against KPMG in the High Court believed to be related to the accountant’s 2013 audit of the business, which previously led to a £4.5m fine for KPMG and a public reprimand from the Financial…