18 October 2007

(1) Johnston v NEI International Combustion Ltd 

(2) Rothwell v Chemical & Insulating Co Ltd 

(3) Topping v Benchtown Ltd[Conjoined Appeals]

(4) Grieves v F.T. Everard & Sons

House of Lords - 17 October 2007

Yesterday the House of Lords handed down its judgment in the above-mentioned test cases concerning liability for pleural plaques.  

The five Law Lords unanimously held that the Court of Appeal had been right to rule that claimants with pleural plaques cannot sue for damages in tort.

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Autumn 2007

The latest legal news on Insurance and Reinsurance

In This Issue : Privilege in respect of communications with in-house lawyers open to challenge; public liability policies require a liability in tort; Defendants ordered to disclose details of insurance; European Commission inquiry into the business insurance sector; Solvency II; Solvent Schemes and Part VII transfers update.

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October 2007

In-sure

This month's roundup of developments affecting the insurance industry sees the European Commission adopting the Final Report of the Business Insurance Sector Inquiry and the FSA publishing the Thematic Update on PPI. Also in this issue, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirming that the government would increase protection for savers by guaranteeing deposits of up to £100,000.

Commission Clears Proposed Acquisition of the AA and SAGA by CVC, Charterhouse and Permira

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed take-over of the AA and Saga, both active in the provision of vehicle breakdown services in the UK, by three private equity firms, CVC of Jersey, Charterhouse of the UK and Permira of Guernsey.

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September 2007

News from Helix 

Helix/AIRROC Panel Discussion - London Market Update

Helix UK Limited in conjunction with AIRROC recently played host to a panel discussion in New York looking at the latest trends and developments in the London run-off market. Some of London's leading experts gave an insight into the key issues of 2007 and beyond. A picture of consolidation, two tier service standards, price hikes and a breakdown of traditional processes were hot on the topical agenda.

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September 2007

Reinsurance Law Update 

Second Newsletter from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP for 2007, which summarises some of the main recent insurance and reinsurance decisions in the English courts.

Follow Settlements, Brokers' Duties, Arbitration and Anti-suit Injunctions, Waiver, Hours Clause, Construction Insurance, Credit Insurance, Professional Indemnity, Subrogation, Assessment of Damages, Enforcement of Foreign Judgements.

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September 2007

Strategies for Discontinued Insurance Business

This Norton Rose paper examines the merits and drawbacks of the strategies available to insurers wishing to discontinue a particular line of business. There are six principal strategies for dealing with discontinued business which are considered: retention of the book and run-off to expiry; outsourcing the run-off to a third party service provider; reinsurance by way of loss portfolio transfer; portfolio transfer to another carrier; and schemes of arrangement. As well as insurance companies, this paper examines Lloyd’s syndicates.

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