In July 2012 a fire damaged equipment vital to the production of a steel pipe manufacturing plant in Arkansas. The fire was a covered peril and loss of business income and extra expenses were also covered. The court rejected the insured’s claim for an additional $14 million in mitigation costs incurred allegedly as ‘necessary expenses’
June 2018
Recoverable car hire charges while vehicle repaired (UK)
When a car is hired whilst a vehicle damaged in an accident is being repaired the claimant is only entitled to the lowest reasonable basic hire rate of a reputable local car hire company. The cost of the collision damage waiver is also allowed.
The plaintiff’s Jaguar XJ Supersport V8 was damaged in an accident…
Action over stolen trade secrets does not fall under defamation cover (US)
A US company was sued for misappropriating trade secrets relating to a medical device and poaching a number of employees. The company was insured in terms of an advertising and personal injury section of its commercial general liability policy, and it attempted to allege that there was a claim for implicit defamation obliging the insurers…
Scope of arbitration clause (UK)
The UK Chancery Division held that an arbitration clause relating to any dispute regarding a contractual undertaking to renegotiate port licensing conditions in the event of ‘any major physical or financial change in circumstances affecting the operation’ of the importer’s works, was broad enough to cover a dispute about the fees for the use of…
Informed Consent Principles (UK)
The English Court of Appeal in a June 2018 judgment confirmed the principles relating to informed consent in medical malpractice claims.
A woman had been suffering painful, heavy periods and lower back pain, for which she sought medical advice. After being given various treatment options, she chose to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral…
All-Risks policy does not cover non-existent cargo
The English High Court held that an all-risks marine cargo and storage insurance policy did not cover a loss of copper ingots which were never shipped to the claimant who had in good faith paid for and taken up fraudulent bills of lading.
The claimant bought 7 000mt of copper ingots for shipment to China.…
Asbestos exclusion upheld in US
An exclusion for claims ‘arising out of asbestos’ was upheld by the US Third Circuit because it is unambiguous and therefore enforceable. The Appeal Court overturned a $36 million judgment against the insurer, which is only part of the policyholder’s liability for $120 million worth of asbestos-related claims. The court did not accept the argument…
Administrative action can be reviewed from when it adversely affects a person’s rights
The Supreme Court of Appeal decided that a decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to determine gas prices was not reviewable at the stage when NERSA decided on a methodology to determine the prices, but was reviewable when NERSA subsequently determined the prices imposed on customers.
In February 2012, NERSA concluded that…
European Commission’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI)
The European Commission has labelled AI as one of the most strategic technologies of the 21st Century (so far of course) and has proposed a three-pronged approach to EU members which is worth considering:
- Investment in AI research and innovation must be increased. The EU (public and private sectors) is boosting investment by at
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Is continuing to use ship’s engine after alarm accidental loss? (Aus)
The insured pleasure craft was fitted with a diagnostic system and a critical alarm for low oil pressure or high coolant temperature. When the alarm went off the engines automatically went into limp mode and the engine-operating manual required the engine to be switched off.
The insured did not read the manual nor switch off…