June 2018

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’

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

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

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

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.

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