Tag archives: Liability insurance

Section 35 of COIDA – Liability Insurance

This Supreme Court of Appeal judgment http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZASCA/2021/16.pdf dealt with the case of the plaintiff who was mistreated and injured in the course of a protest by trade union members on premises where she was employed.  The question was whether her injuries constituted an ‘accident’ as defined under section 1 of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries … Continue reading

Liability insurance exclusions – Professional Advice or Service Exclusion (Australia)

In this case, class action proceedings were brought against the insured claiming damages for property loss arising from the release of, or failure to release, water from two dams. The liability of the insured arose out of its agreement to provide flood management services to the dam operator. The insured had been held vicariously liable … Continue reading

General liability insurance and statutory pollution clean-up obligations

This judgment considered whether the insured was provided with an indemnity under the insurer’s general liability policy for the costs of pollution rehabilitation. Transnet sought to recover money it had expended in the rehabilitation of soil contaminated by aviation fuel escaping from an underground pipeline belonging to it. Transnet had a registered servitude through the … Continue reading

Liability insurance and joint retainer privilege

This judgement considered the interesting question of legal professional privilege, the rights of successors in title, and joint retainer privilege. The insured and the insurer jointly engaged attorneys to act on their behalf in relation to various claims relating to cosmetic surgery and the use of silicone breast implants.  The attorneys were appointed to act … Continue reading

Householders liability insurance exclusion for anyone who usually lives at the insured address (Australia)

This judgment Re Murray (deceased) Crummer v AAI Limited ABN 2020 QSC 155 dealt with the meaning of a householder’s liability policy exclusion for liability for death or injury of anyone who usually lives at the insured address. The court said that the phrase “anyone who usually lives at the insured address” appeared to be a … Continue reading

When does a claim under a liability policy prescribe?

A claim for indemnification under a liability insurance contract only arises when liability to a third party for a certain amount has been established. For purposes of prescription, the debt becomes due when the insured is under legal liability to pay a fixed and determined sum of money. Until then a ‘claim’ for indemnification under … Continue reading

When is liability insurance triggered in layered cover?

In the UK, as in South Africa, liability insurance is triggered when the insured becomes “legally liable to pay the third party claim”. This requires a judgment, settlement or arbitration award. That does not mean the insured, with layers of insurance, can choose which claims to meet first from primary or lower excess layers in … Continue reading
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