Legal
Roundtable - Insurance Act: Facing up to the challenges ahead
Having been granted Royal Assent last month, the replacement for the Marine Insurance Act 1906 will come into force in August 2016. How will the industry cope with adapting to the reforms?
Blog: Surveyors' duty of care - recent decisions from the courts
Over the past year, the courts have handed down a number of judgments providing guidance about when a surveyor will owe a duty of care, and what the extent of that duty will be.
Bellamy calls for Das arrangement to be referred to the regulator
Former Das employee, Philip Bellamy, has denied any wrongdoing and insisted his own conduct was “impeccable” following news of his departure.
Apil calls for insurers to be investigated as part of child abuse inquiry
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has called for the inquiry into historic child abuse to investigate the behaviour of insurers following allegations certain firms had encouraged councils to cover-up child abuse claims.
Credit hire firms tipped to focus on repair costs following landmark ruling
The Court of Appeal ruling on credit hire costs for pecunious claimants will trigger an increase in exaggerated credit repair costs, according to market commentators, who have warned the judgment is not as wide-reaching as insurers might hope.
5 things we didn't know this time last week
It's been a busy week in the news with Towergate and Gallagher swapping staff and insurers puffing out their chests to reveal their results so you might be forgiven for missing other news that has happened this week.
Insurance fraudsters given community orders
A married couple have been given community orders and a legal curfew after pleading guilty to two counts of false representation in an attempt to con insurers RSA and Legal and General.
Landmark judgment on credit hire sees court adopt “lowest reasonable rate” approach
A Court of Appeal’s judgment today has been hailed as a major breakthrough for insurers, putting a stop to the inflated rates that credit hire organisations have been allowed to charge in recent years.
Blog: Putting your life in 'smart' hands
As consumers ride the new wave of 'smart' technology and eagerly await the arrival of the Apple Watch, insurers may be watching with some trepidation.
Legal Update: Personal injury claims for new employers
Khalid Mahmood examines transfers taking place under TUPE and what this means for PI claims
Online court proposal queried as a 'white elephant' for insurance claims
The proposal to introduce an online dispute resolution system for civil claims below £25,000 has been branded "overly ambitious" and a "potential white elephant" by industry commentators who have called for thorough testing before such a system is…
Defendant ordered to pay costs in fraudulent whiplash case
A judge in Portsmouth has thrown out a case that involved a motorist trying to claim fraudulent damages for whiplash.
Blog Relentless portal-isation of claims has to stop now
With the ABI calling for an extension of the Industrial Disease Claims Portal, Emma Costin points out that the vast majority of claims are, in fact, too complex for the portal
Online dispute system to present industry with 'disruptive technology' challenge
The insurance industry should embrace the challenge of harnessing a new form of disruptive technology if an online dispute resolution system is rolled out to deal with low-value civil court cases in England and Wales.
Blog: Bullying and harassment workshop 2015
Solicitor Mariel Irvine discusses a recent seminar her firm ran for insurers and employers on the successful defence of bullying and harassment claims
Insurers quick to implement changes as wave of legislation arrives
Insurers have been quick off the mark to ensure their businesses comply with the Insurance Act before it comes into effect in August next year.
Lance Armstrong ordered to pay insurance company £6.5m
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has been ordered to pay insurance company SCA Promotions $10m (£6.5m) in damages, in what is thought to be the largest award of sanctions assessed against an individual in American judicial history.
Insurers ‘should not pay' vehicle excise charges for stolen cars
A solicitor specialising in accident litigation has told insurers that they are not to obliged to pay for some vehicle excise charges levied by Vehicle Enforcement and Ancillary Services.
Legal update: The effect of the Insurance Act
David Hertzell explains the significant changes on the horizon when the Insurance Act comes into force
ABI welcomes Supreme Court rebuff of Welsh asbestos plans
The Association of British Insurers has welcomed a Supreme Court Judgement denying the Welsh Assembly the right to bill insurers for the treatment costs of patients with asbestos-related illnesses.
IUA and LMA prepare guidance on Insurance Act changes
The International Underwriting Association and Lloyd’s Market Authority are working with legal specialists to prepare guidance on the impact of the incoming Insurance Act on their members.
Former DLA Piper lawyer joins Minter Ellison for Asia role
Australian law firm Minter Ellison has hired Will Harrison to lead its Asia and Western Australia insurance practice.
Aviva heralds 'fundamentally dishonest' crash for cash victory where fraud was not pleaded
Aviva has heralded a case that exposed phantom passengers and where the evidence led the judge to find the claim ‘fundamentally dishonest’, even though fraud was not specifically pleaded, as a clear warning to fraudsters.
Number of investors seeking Quindell class action tops 500
The number of disgruntled investors seeking to take legal action against insurance claims outsourcer Quindell has grown to 500 and counting, according to law firm Your Legal Friend.