header-logo header-logo

Insurance

08 August 2013
Issue: 7572 / Categories: Case law , Law digest , In Court
printer mail-detail

Teal Assurance Co Ltd v WR Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd and another company [2013] UKSC 57, [2013] All ER (D) 387 (Jul)
 

Where an insurance had a limit, it made no sense to speak of the insured having causes of action or recoverable claims which together would exceed that limit. If the limit was US$10m and the insured incurred ascertained third party liability of US$10m in respect of each of two successive third party claims, it made no sense to speak of the insured having two causes of action or two recoverable claims against its insurer totalling US$20m.

Likewise, if its liability was ascertained at US$7.5m each claim, the insured would have two causes of action or claims against its insurer, but the second would only be for US$2.5m. The ascertainment, by agreement, judgment or award, of the insured's liability gave rise to the claim under the insurance, which exhausted the insurance either entirely or pro tanto.

Similar considerations governed the incurring of ascertained expenses where those fell potentially within the policy indemnity. An insured could forbear

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll