FSA defends rules on life companies’ use of with-profits surpluses – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 6th, 2008 in financial regulation, insurance, news, with-profits policies by sally

“The FSA has resisted calls for a full-scale debate on the regulation of with-profits funds, but it has promised a major review of how effectively life companies are implementing its current rules.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th November 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

MPs seek relaxation of rules for Lloyd’s insurance market – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2008 in insurance, Lloyd's, news by sally

“MPs have recommended the fast-track deregulation and relaxation of the rules governing the Lloyd’s of London insurance market as the government is proposing to toughen up regulation of the banking industry.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reforming insurance contract law: two summaries of responses to consultation – Law Commission

Posted October 14th, 2008 in consultations, contracts, insurance, news by sally

“On 13 October 2008, the Law Commissions published a summary of responses on business insurance reform.”

Full story

Law Commission, 13th October 2008

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Fake death canoeist launches appeal bid – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2008 in appeals, fraud, insurance, news, pensions by sally

“Back from the dead canoeist John Darwin has launched a bid to appeal against his sentence, his solicitor said today.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th September 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Canoe man and wife jailed for six years – The Independent

Posted July 23rd, 2008 in fraud, insurance, news, pensions, sentencing by sally

“John and Anne Darwin were each jailed for more than six years today for carrying out a £250,000 insurance con by faking his death in a canoeing accident.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd July 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Compensation call over Equitable – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2008 in compensation, insurance, maladministration, news by sally

“Ministers should set up a compensation fund for policyholders in the Equitable Life, the Parliamentary Ombudsman says.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Anne Darwin ‘played vital role’ in canoe man fraud – The Times

Posted July 15th, 2008 in fraud, insurance, news, pensions by sally

“The wife of John Darwin, the canoeist who faked his own drowning, played an ‘equal and vital role’ in the scheme to gain £250,000 in insurance and pension payouts by staging his death, a court heard today.”

Full story

The Times, 14th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Equitable policyholders face tough fight for £4bn claim – The Times

Posted July 10th, 2008 in compensation, insurance, maladministration, news by sally

“Policyholders in Equitable Life who lost £4 billion when the mutual insurer collapsed could now face an uphill legal battle to recoup their savings.”

Full story

The Times, 9th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regulator attacks payment protection insurance providers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 16th, 2008 in consumer protection, insurance, news by sally

“Banks, mortgage companies and credit card providers could face a flood of mis-selling claims following a report from the Competition Commission that claims consumers are being overcharged £1.4 billion a year for payment protection insurance (PPI).”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th June 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Competition Commission looks into banks’ payment protection – The Times

Posted June 6th, 2008 in banking, competition, consumer protection, insurance, news by sally

“Banks that have sold payment protection insurance (PPI) could face a wave of compensation claims after the Competition Commission said that 14 million consumers had been overcharged by an estimated £1.4 billion, or an average of £100 a year.”

Full story

The Times, 6th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Reforming Insurance Contract Law – Law Commission

Posted May 29th, 2008 in consultations, contracts, insurance, news by sally

“On 28 May 2008, the Law Commission published a summary of responses to its Consultation Paper. The summary document reports the arguments that have been put to us on consumer insurance reform. A further paper will deal with business insurance reform. There is a wide consensus that consumer insurance law is in urgent need of reform – not only among consumer groups, lawyers and brokers, but also among most insurance companies.”

Full story

Law Commission, 28th May 2008

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Comparison sites warned over misleading quotes – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2008 in consumer protection, financial regulation, insurance, internet, news by sally

“The Financial Services Authority has warned insurance comparison sites that they must treat customers fairly and give correct information about quotes listed or risk a regulatory crackdown if they fail to provide consumers ‘with clear, fair and not misleading’ information.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Solicitors face inquiry over insurance fraud kickbacks – The Times

Posted April 22nd, 2008 in fraud, insurance, law firms, news by sally

“Ten solicitors’ firms are being investigated with dozens of accident claims-handling companies for alleged insurance fraud.”

Full story

The Times, 22nd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Non-partner solicitors could face insurance bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 11th, 2008 in insurance, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

“A group of solicitors who were employed by a firm which has since gone into liquidation could find themselves being pursued for a contribution towards an unpaid insurance premium of £834,000 – despite the fact that they were not partners in the firm.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th April 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Wasa International Insurance Co Ltd v Lexington Insurance Co – Times Law Reports

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in contracts, environmental protection, insurance, law reports by sally

Wasa International Insurance Co Ltd v Lexington Insurance Co; AGF Insurance Ltd v Same

Court of Appeal

“The English court would construe contracts of insurance and reinsurance to give effect to the intention of the parties to cover environmental damage, unless there were clear indications to the contrary.”

The Times, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Kosmar Villa Holidays plc v Trustees of Syndicate 1243 – Times Law Reports

Posted March 11th, 2008 in accidents, estoppel, insurance, law reports by sally

Kosmar Villa Holidays plc v Trustees of Syndicate 1243

Court of Appeal

“Where insurers acknowledged a claim under a policy knowing that the insured had failed to comply with a condition precedent in the notification clause, they did not elect to waive the insured’s failure and accept liability.”

The Times, 11th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Wasa International Insurance Co Ltd v Lexington Insurance Co; AGF Insurance Ltd v Same – WLR Daily

Posted March 4th, 2008 in contracts, insurance, law reports by sally

Wasa International Insurance Co Ltd v Lexington Insurance Co; AGF Insurance Ltd v Same [2008] EWCA Civ 150; WLR (D) 69

“Where the wording in a contract of reinsurance was the same as or equivalent to that in the underlying contract of insurance, the two contracts should be given the same construction unless there were clear indications to the contrary.”

WLR Daily, 3rd March 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Top lawyers unite in support of ‘light-touch’ third-party funding regulation – Legal Week

Posted February 14th, 2008 in costs, fees, insurance, news, third parties by sally

“The Civil Justice Council (CJC) looks set to back ‘light-touch’ regulation of the fast-emerging market for third-party dispute funding, in a move that could further usher the model into the mainstream of UK litigation.”

Full story

Legal Week, 14th February 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Legal challenge to councils’ mutual – Financial Times

Posted February 11th, 2008 in insurance, local government, London, news by sally

“The private sector will challenge a group of London councils today (11 February) that have banded together to cut insurance costs, in a legal action that could have far-reaching consequences for other public sector bodies in the UK.”

Full story

Financial Times, 11th February 2008

Source: www.ft.com

Watchdog reveals payment protection profits – The Times

Posted January 29th, 2008 in competition, insurance, news by sally

“Insurance policies designed to protect consumers against a loss of income are so profitable that the lenders who sell them can earn revenue of £1,200 on a policy that can cost only £20 to sell, a report by competition authorities revealed yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 29th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk