M05

Insurance law
2019–20 Study text
 Insurance law
M05 Study text: 2019
2019–
–20
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updates:
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© The Chartered Insurance Institute 2019

All rights reserved. Material included in this publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or
in part including photocopying or recording, for any purpose without the written permission of the
copyright holder. Such written permission must also be obtained before any part of this publication is stored
in a retrieval system of any nature. This publication is supplied for study by the original purchaser only and
must not be sold, lent, hired or given to anyone else.

Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, no liability can be
accepted for any loss incurred in any way whatsoever by any person relying solely on the information
contained within it. The publication has been produced solely for the purpose of examination and should not
be taken as definitive of the legal position. Specific advice should always be obtained before undertaking
any investments.

Print edition ISBN: 978 1 78642 569 0

Electronic edition ISBN: 978 1 78642 570 6
This revised and updated edition published in 2019

The author
Chris Parsons, BA, LLB, PGCert Ed, PHD, FCII, Chartered Insurance Institute Practitioner is Professor in
Insurance at Sir John Cass Business School, City of London and Director of its masters (MSc) degree in
Insurance and Risk Management.

Updaters and reviewers for the 2019

2019–
–20 edition
The CII would like to thank Patrick Hayward, LLB, ACII, Board Member for the Society of Claims
Professionals, for updating this edition.
Professionals

We would also like to thank Dr Özlem Gurses, Reader in Insurance and Commercial Law, King
King’’s College
London, for reviewing this edition, and for her assistance with previous editions.
London

The CII would also like to thank Vera G. McEwan, MA, LLM, MSc, Barrister
Barrister, for writing the scenarios, and
Lynne Broadhead, BSc, ACII, MBAMBA, for reviewing them.

Acknowledgement
The CII would like to thank Samantha James, FCII, CPCU, Solicitor, Chartered Insurer
Insurer, for her assistance
with previous editions.

While every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright material, we regret that this may not
have been possible in every instance and welcome any information that would enable us to do so.

Unless otherwise stated, the authors have drawn material attributed to other sources from lectures,
conferences, or private communications.

Typesetting, page make-up and editorial services CII Learning Solutions.

Printed and collated in Great Britain.

This paper has been manufactured using raw materials harvested from certified sources or
controlled wood sources.
 3

Using this study text

Welcome to the M05
M05: Insurance law study text which is designed to support the
M05 syllabus, a copy of which is included in the next section.
Please note that in order to create a logical and effective study path, the contents of this
study text do not necessarily mirror the order of the syllabus, which forms the basis of the
assessment. To assist you in your learning we have followed the syllabus with a table that
indicates where each syllabus learning outcome is covered in the study text. These are also
listed on the first page of each chapter.
Each chapter also has stated learning objectives to help you further assess your progress
in understanding the topics covered.
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your study:
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of a key topic.

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Refer to
important points or areas that may extracts from other CII study texts,
need further clarification or which provide valuable information on
consideration. or background to the topic. The
sections referred to are available for
you to view and download on
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studies: short scenarios that will

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which there is no absolute right or
wrong answer.

Examples: provide practical

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illustrations of points made in the text. on the subject from industry sources.

points: act as a memory jogger at

Key points Think to: located in the margin,
Think back to
the end of each chapter. back to: highlights areas of assumed knowledge
that you might find helpful to revisit.
The sections referred to are available
for you to view and download on
RevisionMate.

terms: introduce the key

Key terms websites: introduce you to
Useful websites
concepts and specialist terms covered other information sources that help to
in each chapter. supplement the text.

At the end of every chapter there is also a set of self-test questions that you should use to
check your knowledge and understanding of what you have just studied. Compare your
answers with those given at the back of the book.
By referring back to the learning outcomes after you have completed your study of each
chapter and attempting the end of chapter self-test questions, you will be able to assess
your progress and identify any areas that you may need to revisit.
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 5

Examination syllabus

Insurance law
Purpose
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to:
• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the laws which form the background to
the operation of insurance;
• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the system within which these laws
operate and are administered;
• apply knowledge and skills to practical situations.

Assumed knowledge
It is assumed that the candidate has knowledge of the fundamental principles of insurance
as covered in IF1 Insurance, legal and regulatory or equivalent examinations.

Summary of learning outcomes Number of

questions in the
examination*
1. Understand the nature and sources of English law and the concept of natural 5
legal persons.
2. Understand the principles of the law of torts and the characteristics of the 4
main torts.
3. Understand the law of contract. 4
4. Understand the law of agency and its application to insurance. 4
5. Understand the main principles governing the formation of insurance 9
contracts.
6. Understand the classification and interpretation of insurance contract 8
terms, the effects of their breach and other vitiating factors.
7. Understand the main legal principles governing the making of an insurance 6
claim.
8. Understand how losses are measured and how the principle of indemnity 4
applies to insurance claims.
9. Understand how the principles of subrogation and contribution apply to 6
insurance claims.
*The test specification has an in-built element of flexibility. It is designed to be used as a guide for study and is not a
statement of actual number of questions that will appear in every exam. However, the number of questions testing each
learning outcome will generally be within the range plus or minus 2 of the number indicated.

Published February 2019 M05

Copyright © 2019 The Chartered Insurance Institute. All rights reserved.
6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Examination syllabus

Important notes
• Method of assessment:
Mixed assessment consisting of two components, both of which must be passed. One component is a
coursework assignment and one is a multiple choice question (MCQ) examination. The details are:
1. an online coursework assignment using RevisionMate consisting of 10 questions which
sequentially follow the learning outcomes. This must be successfully completed within 6 months
of enrolment; and
2. an MCQ exam at one of the CII’s online centres (paper-based MCQs are available in April and
October for those sitting outside the UK). The MCQ exam consists of 40 standard format and 10
multiple response questions. 1 hour is allowed for this exam. This exam must be successfully
passed within 18 months of enrolment.
• This syllabus will be examined from 1 May 2019 until 30 April 2020.
• Candidates will be examined on the basis of English law and practice unless otherwise stated.
• Candidates should refer to the CII website for the latest information on changes to law and practice
and when they will be examined:
1. Visit www.cii.co.uk/learning/qualifications/diploma-in-insurance-qualification/
2. Select the appropriate qualification
3. Select your unit on the right hand side of the page

Published February 2019 2 of 5

Copyright © 2019 The Chartered Insurance Institute. All rights reserved.
 7

Examination syllabus

1. Understand the nature and sources 4. Understand the law of agency and
of English law and the concept of its application to insurance
natural legal persons 4.1 Explain the nature of agency and how an
1.1 Describe the classifications and agency relationship can be created.
characteristics of English law. 4.2 Explain the relationships between agents,
1.2 Describe the sources of English law. principals and third parties.
1.3 Describe the structures and procedures of 4.3 Explain the nature of an agent’s rights,
the courts. responsibilities, authority and duties.
1.4 Describe the status and capacity of 4.4 Explain the termination of agency and its
natural legal persons. effects.
1.5 Describe the main types of corporation 4.5 Explain how the principles of agency law
and their characteristics. apply to insurance.
1.6 Apply the nature and sources of English 4.6 Apply the principles of agency law to
law and the concept of natural legal practical situations.
persons to practical situations.
5. Understand the main principles
2. Understand the principles of the governing the formation of
law of torts and the characteristics insurance contracts
of the main torts 5.1 Explain how the principles of contract law
2.1 Describe the nature and classification of apply to the formation of insurance
torts. contracts.
2.2 Explain the law of negligence and the 5.2 Explain the concept and key elements of
other main torts. insurable interest.
2.3 Explain how the law of torts apply to 5.3 Explain how the law of insurable interest
employers' liability, products liability and applies to the main classes of insurance.
occupiers' liability. 5.4 Explain the duty of fair presentation in
2.4 Explain the main defences, remedies and non-consumer insurance.
limitations of actions in tort. 5.5 Explain the effects of breach of the duty
2.5 Apply the law of tort to practical of fair presentation in non-consumer
situations. insurance.
5.6 Explain the duty to take reasonable care
3. Understand the law of contract not to make a misrepresentation in
3.1 Explain the nature of contractual liability consumer insurance.
and classification of contracts. 5.7 Explain the effects of breach of the duty
3.2 Explain the formation of a contract. to take reasonable care not to make a
misrepresentation in consumer insurance.
3.3 Explain how contract terms are classified
under the general law. 5.8 Apply the main principles governing the
formation of insurance contracts to
3.4 Explain defective contracts.
practical situations.
3.5 Explain the circumstances in which a
contract may be discharged. 6. Understand the classification and
3.6 Explain the remedies for breach of interpretation of insurance contract
contract. terms, the effects of their breach
3.7 Explain the doctrine of privity of contract. and other vitiating factors
3.8 Explain the assignment of contractual 6.1 Explain the classification and
rights and duties. interpretation of insurance contract
3.9 Explain assignment in the context of terms.
insurance. 6.2 Explain how warranties and conditions are
3.10 Apply the law of contract to practical formed in insurance contracts.
situations. 6.3 Explain the effect of breach of warranty or
condition.
6.4 Explain how illegality arises in insurance
contracts.
6.5 Apply the classification and interpretation
of insurance contract terms to practical
situations.

Published February 2019 3 of 5

Copyright © 2019 The Chartered Insurance Institute. All rights reserved.
8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Examination syllabus

7. Understand the main legal Reading list

principles governing the making of
an insurance claim The following list provides details of further
7.1 Describe the parties who can claim on or reading which may assist you with your
benefit from an insurance contract. studies.
7.2 Explain the rules governing notice and Note: The examination will test the syllabus
proof of loss. alone.
7.3 Explain the insured’s contractual duty to The reading list is provided for guidance only
mitigate or prevent an insured loss. and is not in itself the subject of the
7.4 Explain the doctrine of proximate cause. examination.
7.5 Apply the main legal principles governing The resources listed here will help you keep
the making of an insurance claim to up-to-date with developments and provide a
practical situations. wider coverage of syllabus topics.

8. Understand how losses are CII/PFS members can access most of the
additional study materials below via the
measured and how the principle of
Knowledge Services webpage at https://
indemnity applies to insurance www.cii.co.uk/knowledge-services/.
claims
New resources are added frequently - for
8.1 Explain the principle of indemnity. information about obtaining a copy of an
8.2 Explain the measure of indemnity in article or book chapter, book loans, or help
various classes of insurance. finding resources , please go to https://
8.3 Explain the factors which limit, reduce, www.cii.co.uk/knowledge-services/ or email
extend or modify the principle of knowledge@cii.co.uk.
indemnity.
8.4 Explain the methods of providing CII study texts
indemnity. Insurance law. London: CII. Study text M05.
8.5 Explain the doctrine of salvage and Insurance, legal and regulatory. London: CII.
abandonment. Study text IF1.
8.6 Explain the effect of claim payments on
policy cover. Books (and ebooks)
8.7 Apply how losses are measured and the Bird’s modern insurance law. 10th ed. John Birds.
principle of indemnity to practical Sweet and Maxwell, 2016.
situations. Colinvaux’s law of insurance. 11th ed. London:
Sweet & Maxwell, 2016.
9. Understand how the principles of
Drafting insurance contracts: certainty, clarity,
subrogation and contribution apply law and practice. Christopher Henley. London:
to insurance claims Leadenhall press, 2010.
9.1 Explain the doctrine of subrogation in Insurance claims. 4th ed. Alison Padfield.
insurance. Bloomsbury Professional, 2016.
9.2 Explain the source of subrogation rights
Insurance theory and practice. Rob Thoyts.
and apply the law to practical situations.
Routledge, 2010.*
9.3 Explain how subrogation rights may be
modified or denied and apply the law to MacGillivray on insurance law: relating to all risks
practical situations. other than marine. 13th ed. London: Sweet &
Maxwell, 2015.
9.4 Explain the nature of double insurance
and operation of contribution. The law of insurance contracts. Malcolm A Clarke.
6th ed. London: Informa, 2009.
9.5 Explain methods of ascertaining the basis
of contribution. Tort law: text, cases and materials. Jenny Steele.
9.6 Apply the principle of contribution to the 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
main lines of insurance and to practical Tort law and liability insurance. Gerhard Wagner.
situations. Wien: Springer, 2005.
9.7 Explain the effect of market agreements
on rights of contribution.

Published February 2019 4 of 5

Copyright © 2019 The Chartered Insurance Institute. All rights reserved.
 9

Examination syllabus

Factfiles Exam technique/study skills

CII fact files are concise, easy to digest but There are many modestly priced guides available
technically dense resources designed to enrich in bookshops. You should choose one which suits
the knowledge of members. Written by subject your requirements.
experts and practitioners, the fact files cover key
industry topics as well as less familiar or specialist The Insurance Institute of London holds a lecture
areas of general insurance, life, and pensions and on revision techniques for CII exams
financial services, with information drawn approximately three times a year. The slides from
together in a way not readily available elsewhere. their most recent lectures can be found at
Available online via www.cii.co.uk/ciifactfiles www.cii.co.uk/iilrevision (CII/PFS members only).
(CII/PFS members only).
The Insurance Institute of London (IIL) podcast
lecture series features leading industry figures
and subject experts speaking on current issues
and trends impacting insurance and financial
services. Available online at https://
www.cii.co.uk/insurance-institute-of-london/
(CII/PFS members only).
• Recent developments in tort I and II. Alan
Peck.
• Civil procedure rules. Alan Peck.
• The regulatory framework. Simon Collins.

Journals and magazines

The Journal. London: CII. Six issues a year.
Archive available online at https://
www.thepfs.org/search-results/?q=the+journal
(CII/PFS members only).
Post magazine. London: Incisive Financial
Publishing. Monthly. Contents searchable online
at www.postonline.co.uk.
Insurance law monthly. London: Informa.
Monthly.

Reference materials
Colinvaux & Merkin’s insurance contract law.
Robert M Merkin. Brentford: Sweet & Maxwell.
Looseleaf, updated.
Concise encyclopedia of insurance terms.
Laurence S. Silver, et al. New York: Routledge,
2010.*
Dictionary of insurance. C Bennett. 2nd ed.
London: Pearson Education, 2004.
i-law: online database of insurance legal
knowledge. Informa. Available online via https://
www.cii.co.uk/insurance-law-database-i-law/
(CII/PFS members only).
* Also available as an ebook through Discovery via
www.cii.co.uk/discovery (CII/PFS members only).

Exemplars
Exemplar papers are available for all mixed
assessment units. Exemplars are available for
both the coursework component and the MCQ
exam component.
These are available on the CII website under the
unit number before purchasing the unit. They are
available under the following link www.cii.co.uk/
qualifications/diploma-in-insurance-qualification.
These exemplar papers are also available on the
RevisionMate website www.revisionmate.com
after you have purchased the unit.

Published February 2019 5 of 5

Copyright © 2019 The Chartered Insurance Institute. All rights reserved.
10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law
 11

M05 syllabus
quick-reference guide
Syllabus learning outcome Study text chapter
and section
1. Understand the nature and sources of English law and the concept of natural legal persons

1.1 Describe the classifications and characteristics of English law. 1A, 1B, 1I

1.2 Describe the sources of English law. 1C, 1D, 1F, 1G

1.3 Describe the structures and procedures of the courts. 1E, 1H

1.4 Describe the status and capacity of natural legal persons. 1J

1.5 Describe the main types of corporation and their characteristics. 1J

1.6 Apply the nature and sources of English law and the concept of 1A–1J
natural legal persons to practical situations.

2. Understand the principles of the law of torts and the characteristics of the main torts

2.1 Describe the nature and classification of torts. 2A, 2B

2.2 Explain the law of negligence and the other main torts. 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2K

2.3 Explain how the law of torts apply to employers’ liability, 2H, 2I, 2J
products liability and occupiers’ liability.

2.4 Explain the main defences, remedies and limitations of actions 2L, 2M, 2N
in tort.

2.5 Apply the law of tort to practical situations. 2A–2N

3. Understand the law of contract

3.1 Explain the nature of contractual liability and classification 3A

of contracts.

3.2 Explain the formation of a contract. 3B

3.3 Explain how contract terms are classified under the general law. 3C

3.4 Explain defective contracts. 3D

3.5 Explain the circumstances in which a contract may 3E

be discharged.

3.6 Explain the remedies for breach of contract. 3F

3.7 Explain the doctrine of privity of contract. 3G

3.8 Explain the assignment of contractual rights and duties. 3H

3.9 Explain assignment in the context of insurance. 3H

3.10 Apply the law of contract to practical situations. 3A–3H

12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Syllabus learning outcome Study text chapter

and section
4. Understand the law of agency and its application to insurance

4.1 Explain the nature of agency and how an agency relationship can 4A, 4B
be created.

4.2 Explain the relationships between agents, principals and 4A, 4D

third parties.

4.3 Explain the nature of an agent’s rights, responsibilities, authority 4C, 4E, 4F, 4G
and duties.

4.4 Explain the termination of agency and its effects. 4H

4.5 Explain how the principles of agency law apply to insurance. 4A–4H

4.6 Apply the principles of agency law to practical situations. 4A–4H

5. Understand the main principles governing the formation of insurance contracts

5.1 Explain how the principles of contract law apply to the formation 5A
of insurance contracts.

5.2 Explain the concept and key elements of insurable interest. 5B

5.3 Explain how the law of insurable interest applies to the main 5C, 5D
classes of insurance.

5.4 Explain the duty of fair presentation in non-consumer insurance. 6A, 6B, 6C

5.5 Explain the effects of breach of the duty of fair presentation in 6B, 6C
non-consumer insurance.

5.6 Explain the duty to take reasonable care not to make a 3D, 6A, 6B, 6C
misrepresentation in consumer insurance.

5.7 Explain the effects of breach of the duty to take reasonable care 6B, 6C
not to make a misrepresentation in consumer insurance.

5.8 Apply the main principles governing the formation of insurance 5A-5D, 6A-6C
contracts to practical situations.

6. Understand the classification and interpretation of insurance contract terms, the effects of
their breach and other vitiating factors

6.1 Explain the classification and interpretation of insurance 7A, 7B

contract terms.

6.2 Explain how warranties and conditions are formed in 7B

insurance contracts.

6.3 Explain the effect of breach of warranty or condition. 7B, 7C

6.4 Explain how illegality arises in insurance contracts. 3D, 7B, 7C

6.5 Apply the classification and interpretation of insurance contract 7A-7C

terms to practical situations.
 13

Syllabus learning outcome Study text chapter

and section
7. Understand the main legal principles governing the making of an insurance claim

7.1 Describe the parties who can claim on or benefit from an 8A

insurance contract.

7.2 Explain the rules governing notice and proof of loss. 8B

7.3 Explain the insured’s contractual duty to mitigate or prevent an 8C

insured loss.

7.4 Explain the doctrine of proximate cause. 8C

7.5 Apply the main legal principles governing the making of an 8A–8D
insurance claim to practical situations.

8. Understand how losses are measured and how the principle of indemnity applies to
insurance claims

8.1 Explain the principle of indemnity. 9A

8.2 Explain the measure of indemnity in various classes of insurance. 9B

8.3 Explain the factors which limit, reduce, extend or modify the 9C
principle of indemnity.

8.4 Explain the methods of providing indemnity. 9D

8.5 Explain the doctrine of salvage and abandonment. 9E

8.6 Explain the effect of claim payments on policy cover. 9F

8.7 Apply how losses are measured and the principle of indemnity to 9A-9F
practical situations.

9. Understand how the principles of subrogation and contribution apply to insurance claims

9.1 Explain the doctrine of subrogation in insurance. 10A, 10B, 10C

9.2 Explain the source of subrogation, rights and apply the law to 10D
practical situations.

9.3 Explain how subrogation rights may be modified or denied and 10D
apply the law to practical situations.

9.4 Explain the nature of double insurance and operation 10E, 10G
of contribution.

9.5 Explain methods of ascertaining the basis of contribution. 10E, 10F, 10G, 10H

9.6 Apply the principle of contribution to the main lines of insurance 10H
and to practical situations.

9.7 Explain the effect of market agreements on rights of 10I

contribution.
14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law
 15

Introduction
It has been said that the business of insurance is based on two sciences, those of law and
mathematics. This study text is concerned with the first of these subjects, and it is certainly
true that some knowledge of law is essential for every student of insurance. You should bear
in mind that the product or service which insurers provide is embodied in an insurance
policy, an agreement in which insurers promise to compensate the insured for certain losses.
If the agreement was not legally enforceable and not supported by well established legal
rules, the promise it contained would be quite worthless.
In chapter 1, we examine how the legal system works and we discuss legal personality – how
the law applies to different types of natural persons and juristic persons. In chapter 2, we
consider the law of torts and examine civil wrongs such as negligence, trespass and
nuisance. This subject is of particular relevance to liability insurance because most claims
under liability policies are based on tort. Chapter 3 is concerned with the law of contract.
This is, of course, central to the business of insurance, given that an insurance policy is a
contract in which insurers promise to pay claims. In chapter 4, we examine the law of agency
which is often regarded as a branch of the law of contract. Again, it is of particular
importance to insurance because in the UK, and in many developed insurance markets, the
majority of insurance policies are sold through an agent of some type.
Chapters 5–7 deal specifically with the law of insurance contracts – how they come into
force and how the various parts of an insurance contract operate. Insurance is subject to a
number of special legal principles and in this part of the study text we look at two of the
main ones – insurable interest and utmost good faith.
Chapters 8–10 are concerned with losses and insurance claims. Here, we examine the legal
rules which govern the duties of the insured when they make a claim, how the loss is
measured and how insurers may call upon others to share the loss. Again, special legal
principles are involved, including those of proximate cause, indemnity, subrogation and
contribution. We also outline the main types of claims fraud, the requirements to
demonstrate fraud and the remedies available.
For the 2019–20 edition, we have introduced scenarios at the end of relevant chapters that
map across to the new application-based learning outcomes in the syllabus. The intention of
the scenarios is to encourage students to think critically and to practice planning answers
using the four-step IRAC approach. This will enable students to build on skills required for
the M05 multiple-choice questions examination and the coursework assignments.
All scenarios are set in England and it is important to note that the M05 study text is based
on English law. However, international aspects of insurance law are considered from time to
time through the study text and some reference is made to the differences which do exist
between the insurance law of the United Kingdom and that of other territories.
The cases index (at the back of the study text) includes cases in bold to alert the student to
those that are most significant for the study of M05.
Finally, for the sake of simplicity, the word ‘insurance’ is used throughout this study text in
connection with both life and general business. The word ‘assurance’ is used only where it
appears in a direct quotation or in the name of a statute.
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 17

Contents
1: Law and legal systems
A Classification of law 1/3
B Characteristics of English law 1/4
C Development of English law 1/6
D Sources of English law 1/8
E Precedent and case law 1/15
F Local custom 1/21
G European Community law 1/21
H Elements of civil procedure 1/24
I The legal profession 1/30
J Legal personality 1/31

2: Law of torts
A Nature of tort 2/3
B Classification of torts 2/4
C Trespass 2/6
D Negligence 2/9
E Nuisance 2/17
F Rule in Rylands v. Fletcher 2/19
G Breach of statutory duty 2/19
H Employers
Employers’’ liability 2/20
I Liability for defective or dangerous premises 2/23
J Liability for defective products 2/24
K Defamation 2/25
L General defences in tort 2/26
M Limitation of actions 2/29
N Remedies in tort 2/30

3: Law of contract
A Types of contract 3/2
B Formation of a contract 3/3
C Terms of a contract 3/12
D Defective contracts 3/18
E Discharge of contracts 3/28
F Remedies in contract 3/31
G Privity of contract 3/35
H Assignment 3/36
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4: Law of agency
A Law of agency 4/2
B The principal of an insurance agent 4/5
C Duties of an agent 4/8
D Imputed knowledge 4/11
E Rights of an agent 4/12
F Authority of an agent 4/13
G Contract made by an agent 4/16
H Termination of agency 4/18

5: Insurance contract formation and insurable interest

A Formation of an insurance contract – general principles 5/2
B Insurable interest 5/9
C The law on insurable interest 5/13
D Application of insurable interest 5/18

6: Pre-contractual information duty

A Misrepresentation 6/3
B Duty of disclosure 6/4
C Breach of the pre-contractual information duty 6/18

7: Insurance contracts and key terms

A Terms of a contract 7/2
B Warranties, conditions and other terms 7/8
C Joint and composite insurance 7/16

8: Making the claim

A Who can claim on an insurance policy? 8/2
B Notice and proof of loss 8/7
C Causation 8/10
D Fraudulent claims 8/18
Appendix 8.1: Disclosure summary 8/25

9: Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity

A Meaning of indemnity 9/3
B Measure of indemnity 9/4
C Variations in the principle of indemnity 9/7
D Methods of providing indemnity 9/12
E Salvage and abandonment 9/15
F Effect of claim payments on policy cover 9/16
Contents 19

10: Subrogation and contribution

A Subrogation 10/2
B Nature of subrogation 10/3
C Operation of subrogation 10/3
D Source of subrogation rights 10/7
E Double insurance and contribution 10/11
F When contribution arises – the common law rules 10/12
G Operation of contribution at common law 10/14
H Basis of contribution 10/16
I Market agreements 10/19

Answers i
Cases xxi
Legislation xxv
Index xxvii
 Chapter 1
Law and legal systems
1
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Classification of law 1.1, 1.6
B Characteristics of English law 1.1, 1.6
C Development of English law 1.2, 1.6
D Sources of English law 1.2, 1.6
E Precedent and case law 1.3, 1.6
F Local custom 1.2, 1.6
G European Community law 1.2, 1.6
H Elements of civil procedure 1.3, 1.6
I The legal profession 1.1, 1.6
J Legal personality 1.4, 1.5, 1.6
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain how law is classified in relation to public and private, criminal and civil law;
• describe the characteristics of the English legal system;
• discuss the development of English Law, including common law, equity, custom
and legislation;
• explain the common law system;
• discuss delegated legislation and statutory interpretation;
• discuss the effect of supranational legislation on national systems;
• describe the courts and the system of precedent;
• describe the basic elements of civil procedure and funding of litigation;
• explain the status and capacity of natural legal and juristic persons; and
• compare corporations and unincorporated associations.
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Introduction
Consider this
this…
…
What do we mean when we speak about ‘the law’?

We are referring to the body of general rules which governs and controls the behaviour of
people in the country or state in which we live.

Consider this
this…
…
What happens if we break legal rules?

Unlike some types of rules, such as moral rules, legal rules are always backed by sanctions,
which mean that we will face some penalty or adverse consequence if we break them. We
may, for example, be punished for doing wrong or be made to pay compensation to a person
who we have harmed.
What are laws based upon?
Generally, laws will only be acceptable to people only if they reflect the feelings of the
community as to what is right, and what is wrong. It is, therefore, true that some of our law,
and particularly the criminal law, is based on morality.
However, much of our law is there simply to regulate the economy and to ensure that life in
general is orderly and civilised.

Example 1.1
• Tax regulations exist simply for the sake of economic efficiency.
• The rule requiring all drivers to drive on the left-hand side of the road (or right, as the
case may be) exists in the interest of safety rather than morality.
• Much non-consumer (business) law, including the rules governing insurance contracts,
are there simply to ensure that commerce functions smoothly and according to
principles which are clear and well-understood.

How are laws enforced?

Whatever the basis of legal rules, there must be mechanisms to enforce them. Otherwise
they may be ignored, leading to disorder and confusion. Therefore, legal systems in
developed societies have created systems for bringing wrongdoers to justice, established
courts to hear disputes and try offenders, and designed mechanisms to ensure that disputes
between private parties are resolved with decisions that can be enforced.
How are laws and legal systems different from country to country?
Laws and legal systems vary from one state to another. It is important to note that the M05
study text is based on English law
law.
The body of rules which applies in England is known as English law.
In fact, it applies to England and Wales, and also generally, to Northern Ireland. The Scottish
legal system has different origins from those of English law. It is more akin to the legal
systems of some continental countries and, like them, is based upon Roman law. However,
England and Scotland have been governed together for over 300 years, and most legislation
enacted by the UK Parliament applies to both countries. The systems, therefore, have much
in common, even though their terminology still varies.
English common law
English common law (a term which we will explain) is also one of the major legal systems in
the world. It has been adopted in many countries including the US and most old
Commonwealth countries, including part of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many states
in Africa and the Far East. The other system which has spread widely, and which dominates
continental Europe, is the Civil law which is based on the laws of ancient Rome.
How does this relate to insurance?
An insurance policy is a legal contract – insurers and insureds are subject to laws that apply
to all contracts, and to principles that apply specifically to insurance. Having knowledge of
the framework, legislation and court decisions that underpin our legal system will help to
improve your understanding of how and why insurance operates in the way that it does.
 Chapter 1
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Be aware
The expression ‘Civil law’ must not be confused with ‘civil law’ which is used as a contrast
with criminal law.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Adversarial system Balance of probabilities Barristers Civil Procedures Rules

Codification Common law Corporations Criminal law

Delegated legislation Juristic persons Natural persons Precedent

Private law Solicitors Statute law Unincorporated

associations

A Classification of law
There are a number of ways in which law may be classified. We have already distinguished
between countries whose systems are based on English common law and countries whose
systems are based on Civil, or Roman, law.
A basic distinction is often made between public law and private law
law.

A1 Public law
Public law is concerned with the legal structure of the State and relationships between the
State and individual members of the community. It also governs the relationship between
one State and another.
It includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law
law.

A1A Constitutional law

Constitutional law is concerned with the structure of the main institutions of government
and their relationship to each other, including the relationship between the two Houses of
Parliament in the UK and that between central and local government.
It also includes:
• the making of treaties with foreign states; and
• the status, function and powers of the Monarch, Members of Parliament, Government
Ministers, the Judiciary, the Civil Service and the Armed Forces.

A1B Administrative law

Administrative law is often regarded as a branch of constitutional law. It concerns the legal
relationship between private citizens and the various agencies of local and central
government, and the impact of their activities on ordinary individuals.
Examples falling within the area of administrative law includes:
• questions of local rating;
• taxation and compulsory acquisition of land;
• the powers of local boards and authorities in relation to highways;
• health and education; and
• the granting of licenses for various trades and professions.

A1C Criminal law

Criminal law is concerned with the control of behaviour which harms or threatens the peace
and stability of the community.
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This control is exercised by punishing persons who commit serious wrongs which are likely
to damage the interests of society as a whole. Crimes such as theft or murder obviously
affect individual victims, but the stability of society as a whole will be threatened if they go
unchecked, so they are treated also as public wrongs, punishable by the state.

A2 Private law
Private law governs the relationships between legal persons such as individuals, businesses
and other organisations. We will look at these in turn in section J.

The following are some

of the most important
branches of private law

the law of the law the law of the law of the law of family
contract of torts trusts property succession law

Private law is also commonly known as civil law (from the Latin word for citizen). In fact, this
term is used more often than the term ‘private law’ in England.
How does this relate to insurance?
The legal rules which govern insurance are part of the civil law. The areas most applicable to
insurers are the law of contract and the law of torts – the latter of which is particularly
relevant to liability insurance. We will discuss both areas in detail in this study text. The other
branches of private and public law mentioned above are of only limited importance in the
context of insurance and so we will not explore them, although occasional references will be
made to criminal law.

B Characteristics of English law

English law has some characteristics which distinguish it from other legal systems, and
particularly from those of continental Europe.
These include:
• age and continuity;
• little codification;
• judge-made law;
• independence of the judiciary;
• adversarial system;
• no written constitution; and
• rule of law.

B1 Age and continuity

English law has a long history and has developed without interruption over 900 years. Many
cases and statutes which go back more than 500 years are still good law and some
examples, such as the old cases on trespass, are quoted in this text.

B2 Little codification
A legal code is a systematic collection of written laws arranged so as to avoid inconsistency
and overlapping.
In many countries the whole of the law, or at least a great part of it, has been reduced to a
series of written codes, each containing the whole of the law on a particular subject.
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Certain parts of English law have been codified, including a fair proportion of the criminal
law. However, codification of the civil law has occurred in a few areas only, such as the law
relating to partnerships, the sale of goods, bills of exchange and marine insurance.
We will return to the topic of codification when we discuss the various types of legislation.

B3 Judge-made law
The decisions of judges in the superior courts have had, and continue to have, a profound
effect on the growth and development of English law. In many other countries the function
of a judge is merely to interpret and apply statutory codes of law.
In England, however, the system of binding precedent allows the decisions of judges to Refer to section E
for precedent
become part of the law itself and allows the law on a particular subject to adapt and develop
through a series of binding decisions. We will at this in more detail in section E.

B4 Independence of the judiciary

Consider this
this…
…
In some jurisdictions such as the US, some judges are elected by the voters. How are
English judges appointed?

English judges are appointed by (or on the advice of) the Lord Chancellor or the Prime
Minister, both of whom are members of the Government. However, the judiciary is effectively
free from Government control. Senior judges can be removed from office before their
retirement age of 70 only by a motion approved by each House of Parliament. Junior
members of the judiciary may be removed by the Lord Chancellor only on grounds of
incapacity (e.g. through illness) or misbehaviour.

Reinforce
Judges are, therefore, largely free from political interference.

B5 Adversarial system
Under the English legal system, a court case is essentially a contest between two sides:
• In a civil case, it is between the claimant (previously called the plaintiff) and the
defendant.
• In a criminal case, it is between the prosecution and the defence.
The court itself, consisting of a judge or judges and sometimes a jury, remains neutral. The
role of the court is not to investigate but simply to listen to the evidence presented by the
two sides and then give judgment for one side or the other. This is known as an adversarial
system
system.
In civil proceedings, the claimant has the burden of proving his case on the balance of
probabilities (i.e. more likely than not).
In criminal proceedings, guilt must be proven ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. This means that
the court must be completely sure that the allegations made by the prosecution are true
before the defendant can be convicted.
A different system that is common in continental Europe is the inquisitorial system in which
the court does not remain neutral but plays an active part in discovering the truth. The only
courts in England which employ an inquisitorial procedure are the Coroners’ Courts, which
inquire into cases of violent, unnatural or suspicious death.

Activity
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an adversarial system as opposed to an
inquisitorial system?

The Civil Procedure Rules

Rules, which came into force in April 1999, could be said to signal a Refer to section H
for civil
gradual change in the role of the English courts. The Rules grant the courts more extensive procedure
powers to ‘manage’ cases which come before them.
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B6 No written constitution
English law differs from that of many other countries in that it has not traditionally defined
for its citizens any fundamental, unchangeable rights. In England there is simply freedom to
do anything which is not specifically prohibited by law.
Many countries, on the other hand, have a written constitution, one function of which is to
specifically define the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens (such as freedoms of
speech, religion and the freedom to associate with others).

Example 1.2
The constitution of the US provides a well-known example. This even allows legislation to
be challenged in courts on the grounds that it is ‘unconstitutional’.

Be aware
Although the UK does not have its own ‘bill of rights’, it is a party to the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and
recognises the right of its citizens to take grievances to the European Court of Human
Rights in Strasbourg. Many Convention rights have been ‘incorporated’ into English law by
the Human Rights Act 1998 (see section D2C). New legislation presented to Parliament
must now include a declaration as to whether it is compliant with the protected
Convention rights.

B7 Rule of law
Although the constitution of the United Kingdom is unwritten, it includes what has become
known as the ‘Rule of law’. This is a rather imprecise concept but is generally regarded as
embracing the following principles:
• the powers exercised by politicians and officials must have a proper foundation and be
based on an authority given to them by law – this is linked to the separation of powers
between the executive (policy makers), legislature (law makers) and judiciary
(enforcement);
• the law generally should be reasonably certain and predictable;
• people should be treated equally by the law, which should not allow unfair discrimination;
• no one should be punished or deprived of their property, status or other rights unless they
are given a fair hearing by an impartial court or tribunal; and
• every person should have a right of access to the courts, which will defend the liberties
and freedoms of the individual.

C Development of English law

In this section, we will look at the process whereby local customs were developed into
common law law, i.e. a system of rules which applied throughout the country. We will also
consider how the development of common law led to the creation of another set of rules,
known as equity
equity.

C1 Development of common law

Although there were laws and courts in England before the Norman conquest in 1066, there
was no single system of law for the country as a whole. Justice was administered in local
courts and the legal rules applied were based largely on local customs which often varied
from place to place.
After the conquest of 1066, the Normans sought to establish a strong central government
and administration to reinforce their hold on the country. Central ‘Royal’ courts developed
and eventually became established permanently at Westminster in London. At the same
time, the King regularly sent out official representatives to other parts of the country to
check on the local administration. These ‘travelling judges’ gradually adopted a judicial
function, and started to select the best customary rulings and apply them everywhere,
adding new general rules which they created themselves.
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Local variations in law slowly disappeared and a uniform body of law emerged. The power of
the local courts declined and justice increasingly became associated with the Royal Courts in
London and the King’s representatives in the shires or counties.
The common law had many defects. For example, in the early years, the only remedy given
was an award of damages, i.e. financial compensation. Elaborate rules governed the
procedure which had to be followed in bringing a case and a breach of these might leave the
claimant without redress. Furthermore, the rich often escaped justice by bribery of
witnesses and juries, and sheriffs were often biased in their favour.
Those who were dissatisfied with the common law sometimes petitioned the King for relief
as he had the power to make law and hear cases. In practice, the King passed these petitions
to the Lord Chancellor, his chief minister and head of the secretarial establishment.
Eventually, petitions were addressed direct to the Chancellor and dealt with solely by him.
In the early days, the Lord Chancellor was always a churchman and the spiritual adviser to
the King. As such, he was more concerned with ensuring that individuals carried out their
moral obligations than with applying the strict letter of the law.
In 1474, a Court of Chancery
Chancery, distinct from the King’s Council and the royal ‘common law’
courts, was formally established and presided over by the Lord Chancellor. The system of
rules which was developed and applied in the Court of Chancery became known as equity.
This literally means fairness, reflecting the Chancellor’s original role as a spiritual leader.

C2 Development of equity
1500s
By the sixteenth century, the Court of Chancery’s influence was widespread and its
jurisdiction became a threat to that of the common law courts. The conflict this caused
between the two systems came to a head in the Earl of Oxford (1616). This resulted in
Oxford’’s case (1616)
a ruling that if there was a conflict between common law and equity, equity should prevail.
1600s
During this period, the Court of Chancery began to follow its own precedents in the same
way that the common law courts did. This meant that equity also came to have its own fixed
rules and principles.
Equity and common law operated alongside each other as two separate systems
administered in different courts. A claimant who lost their case in the common law courts
and wished to invoke the rules and remedies of equity might have to start their action all
over again in the Court of Chancery, involving extra cost and delay.
Judicature Acts 1873
1873––75
The Judicature Acts 1873
1873––75 amalgamated the common law courts and Court of Chancery
in a single system called the Supreme Court of Judicature (now named the Senior Courts of
England and Wales).
The principles and remedies of both common law and equity could now be administered in
any court and in the same action. The principle that equity should prevail in the case of a
conflict with common law was restated.

C3 Summary
Legal writers disagree as to whether the common law and equity are now ‘fused’ into one set
of rules and principles, or are still in some way separate.
The term common law refers to a unified system of law; that is, to those parts of our law that
are contained in the decisions of the courts, such as in case law rather than in statute law
(which consists of Acts of Parliament and written rules and regulations).
However, equity can be described as a ‘gloss’ or supplement to the common law, and is best
understood as a collection of rules offering an alternative solution to some legal problems.
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The principles and remedies which equity has given to our legal system are:
• the law of trusts – a trust is a legal relationship created (in lifetime or on death) by a settlor
through which assets are placed under the control of a trustee either for the benefit of a
beneficiary or a specified purpose;
• specific performance – a court order compelling a person to carry out a promise which
they have given to another; and
• injunction – a court order compelling a person to do something or prohibiting them from
doing something.
There are various other examples of principles which derive from equity, including the
principles of promissory estoppel (the rule that a promise can be enforceable by law, where
the promisee relies on that promise to their detriment) and the insurance principles of
subrogation and contribution (which we will discuss in chapter 10).

D Sources of English law

We have examined the way in which English law developed historically.

Consider this
this…
…
Would the law as it was in Victorian times still be effective now? What has changed since
then, and what does that mean for the development of the law?

In the last 100 years or so, the pace of industrial and social change has been rapid – think of
inventions such as the motor car, aircraft, nuclear power and the internet.
The law must continue to develop to reflect changes in the way we live:

Social changes Changes in the way in which people are expected to behave.

Technological changes New inventions or scientific developments which require legal control.

Whatever the source of change, old laws which have become obsolete will need to be
removed, and new laws will become necessary, requiring the whole system constantly to
evolve.
We will now look at the ways in which new legal rules can be made and how the legal system
generally can develop.
There are two main sources of new law:
• legislation; and
• judicial precedent (or case law).
In addition, there are one or two minor sources, such as:
• local custom; and
• legal books and treatises.
Finally, there is European Community law
law, the importance of which may change depending
on the agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union following the
European Union membership referendum (also known as the Brexit referendum). As of
February 2018, there has been no clear indication as to what the scope of the future
relationship between the UK and the EU will be.
 Chapter 1
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EU referendum
On 23 June 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU).
The UK Government invoked ‘Article 50’ of the Lisbon Treaty on 29 March 2017. In doing
so, the two-year negotiation period, which will result in the UK leaving the EU, began. This
means that, at the time of publication, the UK’s membership of the EU will cease on
29 March 2019. However, following the meeting of the EU Council in March 2018, a
withdrawal agreement was reached on the terms of an implementation period that will
apply following the UK leaving the EU. The implementation period is intended to operate
from 29 March 2019 until 31 December 2020, during which time EU law would remain
applicable in the UK, in accordance with the withdrawal agreement.
The implementation period forms part of the withdrawal agreement, which at the time of
publication is still subject to the approval of the UK Parliament before it can be ratified
and entered into force. Without the UK Parliament’s approval, EU membership will still
cease to apply to the UK from 29 March 2019, but without a negotiated agreement
between the UK and EU to replace it. Until 29 March 2019, the UK will continue to be a full
member of the EU, compliant with all current rules and regulations, and firms must
continue to abide by their obligations under UK law, including those derived from the EU,
and continue with the implementation of all legislation that is still to come into effect.
The longer-term impact of the decision to leave the EU on the UK’s overall regulatory
framework will depend, in part, on the relationship agreed between the UK Government
and the EU to replace the UK’s current membership.
note: The UK’s decision to leave the EU will have no impact on the
Please note
2019 CII syllabuses or exams. Changes that may affect future exam syllabuses will be
announced as they arise.

For the time being, it should be stated that the EU law is normally embodied in UK
legislation. As it originates in Europe (rather than the UK Parliament), we will treat it
separately in section G. It should also be noted that the following information is accurate as
to the influence of EU law in domestic rules within the UK. However, as mentioned above, the
status of the EU law may change in the future and this should be kept in mind.

D1 Legislation
Legislation is law which has been created in a formal way and set down in writing. In England
the only body which has power to make general legal rules is Parliament.

Parliament
consists of:

the House the House (as a formality)

of Commons of Lords the Monarch

Sometimes Parliament delegates (i.e. transfers) its law-making power to lesser bodies, such
as Government ministries and local authorities. Conversely, Parliament may itself be
compelled to pass certain laws in order to comply with European Community (EC)
legislation, set at a higher European level.

Be aware
The principal form which Parliamentary legislation takes is Acts of Parliament or statutes
statutes.

For this reason legislation is sometimes called statute law

law.
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Since Parliament is the supreme law-making body there are, at least in legal theory, no limits
at all to its law-making powers. As there are no legal limits to what Parliament can do (with
the exception of European Law), Acts of Parliament may:
• create entirely new law;
• overrule what already exists;
• modify or extend existing principles of common law or equity; and
• repeal or modify existing statute law.
Although statute law is supreme, it has assumed major importance only within the past
200 years or so. It still forms only a relatively small part of the total body of law.

D1A Legislative process

In reality, the power to legislate rests almost completely with the Government. This is
because, in the UK, the Government has effective command of a majority in the House of
Commons, which is the focus of law-making power. However, before new law can be made,
a formal process must be followed and the approval of both Houses of Parliament gained.
Green and White Papers
Before new legislation is introduced, the Government will often consult interested parties
and the public generally. This is sometimes done by publishing a ‘Green Paper’ inviting
responses to proposed changes in the law. After considering these responses, a further
‘White Paper’ may be published giving advance notice of more definite proposals. In any
event, once the Government has firmly decided to legislate, the new law will be drawn up in
the form of a Bill.

Activity
Look at the website for the UK Parliament: www.parliament.uk. All bills and legislation
being considered by Parliament are shown, together with their current status. Pick one bill
which you think is of interest from an insurer’s perspective and check the website
regularly to see how it progresses through the various Parliamentary stages before
(possibly) becoming law.

Private and Public Bills

Bills may be either Public or Private. If they pass into law they become known as Public or
Private Acts respectively.
• A Public Act is one which contains law affecting the whole community, such as the
Acts, which are part of the general criminal law.
Theft Acts
• A Private Act, on the other hand, is passed for the benefit of a particular individual,
organisation or group. Very often the promoter of a Private Bill is a local authority which is
seeking the power to make compulsory purchase of land for a new local development.
Examples of Private Acts relating to insurance include the Lloyd
Lloyd’’s Act 1982 and the
Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977 (now repealed), which directly affect only
certain members of the insurance community. Again, some of the older insurance
companies were formed by Private Act of Parliament.

Be aware
You should not confuse Private Bills with Private Members’ Bills. The latter are Bills which
are introduced by individual Members of Parliament rather than by the Government.
However, unless it has Government support, a Private Member’s Bill has very little chance
of becoming law. This is because the Government controls the timetable of Parliament
and the subjects for debate and legislation. For all practical purposes, therefore, it is for
the Government to decide what legislation is to be introduced.

D1B Procedure for the enactment of public bills

The procedure for the enactment of Public Bills is described briefly below (Private Bills
follow a procedure which is slightly different). Bills may be introduced in either the House of
Parliament or House of Lords. We are assuming that the Bill in this case is introduced first
into the House of Commons, which is more usual.
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The stages are as follows:

First reading This is largely a formality. The Clerk of the House reads out only the title of the
Bill to inform the Members of its existence. It is then printed and published.

Second reading At this stage the general merits of the Bill are debated in the House and a vote
taken as to whether it should proceed. Alternatively, in a procedure designed
to save time, the Bill is first referred to a Standing Second Reading Committee,
which recommends whether or not the Bill should be read a second time. This
procedure is automatically followed for Public Bills in the House of Commons
unless 20 Members object, and for all Private Bills.

Committee stage If the Bill survives the second reading it will pass to the Committee stage. Here
details of the Bill are discussed by a Standing Committee which usually consist
of 20 to 30 members, chosen so as to reflect the strength of the various
political parties in the House of Commons. At any given time there are a
number of standing committees, each dealing with different Bills. Some of the
more important Bills, always including the Annual Finance Bill (giving effect to
the Chancellor’s budget proposals), are debated in a Committee of the Whole
House. At this stage, amendments to the Bill are proposed and (unless
accepted by the Government) are voted upon.

Report stage Here, the Bill as amended by the Committee is reported to the House as a
whole. The amendments may be debated and in some cases the Bill may be
referred back to the Committee for further work.

Third reading The third reading offers a final opportunity for debate. In theory, amendments
may be proposed but, in practice, only minor changes in wording are likely to
be made.

Assuming that the Bill survives all these stages in the House of Commons, it then goes
through a similar procedure in the House of Lords. The House of Lords no longer has the
power to reject a Public Bill and, at most, may only delay its progress.
Having passed the Lords, the Bill receives the Royal Assent (a mere formality now) and is
afterwards referred to as an Act or statute. Unless otherwise stated in the Act itself, the new
law comes into force immediately when it receives the Royal Assent.

Example 1.3
The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 was granted Royal
Assent on 8 March 2012 but, due to a statement in the Act itself, did not come into force
until 8 April 2013. Similarly, the Insurance Act 2015 gained Royal Assent on 12 February
2015 but came into force on 12 August 2016. We will look at the principles covered by
these Acts later in the study text.

If a Public Bill has not completed all its stages during a particular session of Parliament, or
when Parliament is dissolved, it lapses. It must start its passage anew during the next session
or be dropped completely. This does not apply to Private Bills, the passage of which may
straddle two or more sessions. For example, the Lloyd’s Act 1982, mentioned above, was
introduced in October 1980 but not completed until July 1982.

Activity
Look again at the UK Parliament website, and review the guide to how laws are made:
www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws.

D1C Codifying and consolidating acts – tidying up the law

An Act may introduce law which is entirely new. However, there will usually be existing law
on the same subject in the form of earlier statutes and existing case law. Often there will be a
whole series of previous Acts and regulations existing side by side together with, perhaps,
many hundreds of decided cases. The result is that the law appears complex and
disorganised. Therefore, Parliament decides from time to time to tidy up the law, particularly
in fields where legislation is passed frequently, such as tax, company law, employment,
safety at work and road traffic. This can be done either through a consolidating Act or a
codifying Act.
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Consolidating Acts
A consolidating Act is one which repeals all previous legislation on a subject and re-enacts it
in one logically arranged statute. No new law is created but existing statutory enactments
are brought under one ‘umbrella’. Examples in the insurance sector include:
• the Road Traffic Act 1988
1988; and
• the European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/103/EC – consolidated five
previous EU Directives relating to motor vehicle insurance, without making substantive
changes to the law as set out in these.
Refer to Codifying Acts
section G3C for
EU Directives Sometimes the Government may decide not only to consolidate current legislation on a
particular topic, but to include also principles embodied in case law. As a result most or, in
some cases, all the law on a particular topic, including existing statute and case law is
reduced to a single code. There are a number of examples in non-consumer (business) law
including:
• the Bills of Exchange Act 1882
1882;
• the Partnership Act 1890
1890;
• the Sale of Goods Act 1979 – the law relating to the sale of goods was codified in the Sale
of Goods Act 1893 which was subsequently amended by a number of later acts. The
legislation was then consolidated in the Sale of Goods Act 1979, since when there have
been further amendments; and
• the Marine Insurance Act 1906 – consolidated previous legislation on marine insurance
together with legal principles contained in around 2,000 decided cases.

D1D The Law Commission

There are a number of bodies concerned with the reform and modernisation of the law
including a permanent body, the Law Commission which was established by the Law
Commission Act 19651965. The Law Commission is responsible for the consolidation and revision
of statute law. The Commission also has the general role of reviewing English law as a whole
and recommending ways in which it can be updated, simplified and developed in a
systematic way. Codification, which is part of this process, may increase as a result of the
Commission’s work, although progress has been slow. Over the last decade, the Commission
has carried out a programme of reform, codification and consolidation of insurance contract
law, with the introduction of the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act
2012 (CIDRA) and the Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015). In June 2018, the Law Commission also
published a draft bill on insurable interest, and it will be producing a report with final
recommendations in due course.

D1E Retroactive (or retrospective

retrospective)) legislation
Retroactive legislation is legislation which affects acts done or rights acquired before it
came into effect.

D1F Delegated legislation

The complexities of the modern world are such that the law itself must be extensive and very
detailed. Parliament obviously does not have the time to lay down all the intricate rules
which are necessary in the field of, say, road traffic, social security or taxation. Acts of
Parliament (which for this purpose we can describe as primary legislation) often lay down
only a general framework of rules, leaving the detail to be filled in by civil servants (i.e.
Government officials) working in the appropriate ministry.
However, detailed rules of this sort cannot be made unless the persons in question have
been given the power to make law by Parliament itself. Acts of Parliament which lay down
general rules often confer on persons or bodies (particularly Government Ministers) the
power to make detailed rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing the Act.
Acts which confer such power are called Enabling Acts (or Parent Acts) and rules made
under the authority of these Acts are known as delegated or subordinate legislation.

Be aware
Delegated legislation has exactly the same legal force as primary legislation.
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The most important forms of delegated legislation are as follows:

Statutory instruments
Most Enabling Acts which give Ministers and their civil servants power to enact delegated
legislation, stipulate that the powers in question are to be exercised in the form of
departmental regulations or orders. These are known collectively as statutory instruments.
Orders in council
When power of special importance is delegated by statute, such as power concerning
constitutional matters, it is usually conferred on the Privy Council. Originally this was the
name given to the group of the Monarch’s private advisers. The Privy Council now includes
past and present members of the Cabinet (senior Government members) and various other
eminent people. An Order in Council is drafted by a minister, and comes into force when
approved by a meeting of the Privy Council where at least three Privy Councillors are
present. The powers in question are effectively exercised by the Cabinet.
Bye-laws
Statutory authority may be given to certain bodies, particularly local authorities, to make
bye-laws which are of local application. They require the approval of the appropriate
Minister.

D2 Interpretation of statutes
Care is taken in the drafting of legislation to ensure that there is no room for doubt as to the
meaning and intention of the Act or regulation. Nevertheless, disputes arise quite frequently
about the meaning of words used in both primary and subordinate legislation. The claimant
(or prosecution) will usually claim that the words mean one thing and the defendant will
insist that they mean another. In this case, the court may be called upon to adjudicate on the
question of meaning. As a result, statute law itself is subject to some influence by the
judiciary.

Be aware
The judges have a number of aids to interpretation, which can be classified as either
statutory aids or common law rules.

D2A Statutory aids

1. The Interpretation Act 1978 lays down certain rules of interpretation which apply to
statute law generally:
• words used in the singular are deemed to include the plural and vice versa;
• the use of the masculine gender includes the feminine and vice versa; and
• the term ‘person’ is deemed to include artificial entities such as companies as well as
human beings.
These general rules may be overridden in the express provisions of a particular Act.
2. Acts of Parliament often contain an ‘interpretation’ section in which important words
and phrases are given a precise definition.
3. Acts of Parliament have a preamble or long title setting out the general scope and
purpose of the Act.

D2B Common law rules

These are rules which the courts themselves have developed to assist with interpretation.
The three rules of interpretation include the following.
Literal rule
This rule is the primary rule which takes precedence over the others.
According to the rule, words and phrases should be construed by the courts in their ordinary
sense, and the ordinary rules of grammar and punctuation should be applied. If, applying this
rule, a clear meaning emerges, then this must be applied. The courts will not try to establish
whether this represents what Parliament intended when the legislation was passed.
In some cases a strict application of the literal rule may lead to a result which is clearly at
odds with the intention of the legislation.
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There are various subsidiary principles to the literal rule:

‘Noscitur a sociis rule

rule’’ A general principle that a word must be determined by its context.

‘Ejusdem generis rule

rule’’ Under this rule the meaning of any general term depends upon any specific
words which precede it.

These rules (and the literal rule itself) apply not only to the interpretation of statutes but also
to non-consumer (business) contracts such as insurance policies. You will find examples of
their application in chapter 8, which deals with insurance claims.
Golden rule
Where the meaning of words in a statute, if strictly applied, would lead to an absurd result,
and there is an alternative interpretation which avoids the absurdity, the courts are entitled
to choose that latter meaning and to assume that Parliament did not intend the absurdity.
This is sometimes called the golden rule.
Mischief rule
This is sometimes called the rule in Heydon’s case, from the decision in 1584 in which it was
first set out. Under this rule, the judge will consider the meaning of the words in the Act in
the light of the abuse or ‘mischief’ which the Act was intended to correct, and choose the
interpretation which makes the Act effective in suppressing this mischief.
Presumptions
Finally, there are a number of presumptions which apply to the construction of a statute,
unless there are clear words to the contrary in the statute itself.
Among the most important are the presumptions that the statute:
• is not intended to create a ‘strict’ criminal offence (i.e. liability without criminal intention
or fault);
• is not intended to oust (do away with) the jurisdiction of the courts;
• is not intended to have retrospective effect;
• applies only to the UK;
• is not intended to infringe the requirements of international law;
• does not bind the Crown (i.e. the Government); and
• is not intended to interfere with vested (i.e. existing and established) rights or allow
confiscation of property without compensation.

D2C The effect of the Human Rights Act on statutory interpretation

We noted earlier that many of the rights set out in the European Convention of Human
Rights are now protected in English law as a result of the Human Rights Act 1998. Under s.3
of that Act the courts are obliged where possible to interpret statutory provisions in a way
which is compatible with the rights protected in the Human Rights Act. Where such an
interpretation cannot be reached the higher courts may issue a ‘declaration of
incompatibility.’ This does not, however, invalidate the statutory provision, nor does it place
the Government or Parliament under any legal obligation to change the offending provision.

D2D The effect of the European Communities Act on statutory

interpretation
Refer to section G European Community law has had a fundamental influence on English law. Under 2(4) of the
for European
Community law European Communities Act 1972 1972, any domestic legislation passed or to be passed is to be
construed by the courts and take effect subject to EC obligations. The effects of s.2 are
complex but, broadly, it has led the English courts, where necessary, to adopt a ‘purposive’
approach to interpreting domestic legislation. However, as noted earlier, it is not yet known
whether the EU law will have the same influence over the UK law in the future.
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Be aware
This means that to achieve an interpretation consistent with EU law extra words may be
implied into the domestic statute and/or the words of the domestic statute may be given
a meaning that they would not otherwise have had. In interpreting statutory provisions,
the English courts are bound to take into account the judgments of the European Court of
Justice (s.3).

E Precedent and case law

In order to understand fully the effect of judicial precedent as a source of law, it is necessary
for us to look briefly at the hierarchy of the civil and criminal courts. Figure 1.1 shows this in a
simplified diagrammatical form.

Figure 1.1: Court system

SUPREME COURT
‘leapfrog’ appeal

COURT OF APPEAL COURT OF APPEAL

(CIVIL) (CRIMINAL)

HIGH COURT CROWN

COURT
Chancery Family Queen’s
Division Division Bench
Division
(Q.B.D.) transfer
for trial
DIVISIONAL COURTS

COUNTY MAGISTRATES’
COURTS Appeals COURTS

E1 Civil courts
Minor civil cases are dealt with by the County Courts. Most cases are heard by a Circuit
judge, who usually sits alone.
Major cases (usually those involving claims for substantial sums of money) are heard at first
instance by one or other of the three divisions of the High Court. The following table shows
which matters the Chancery Division and the Family Division deal with.

Chancery Division Family Division

• Company matters. • Matters of family law including disputes about

• Partnerships. family property.
• Trusts. • Matters concerning children such as adoption
and guardianship.
• Mortgages.
• Revenue matters.

The Queen’s Bench Division (QBD) is perhaps the busiest sector of the High Court, with the
largest staff of judges. It includes a Commercial Court, Admiralty Court (which deals with
shipping matters) and a Technology and Construction Court. The QBD has jurisdiction over
every type of common law civil action, the principal areas of which are contract and torts.
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Each of the three divisions of the High Court has its own divisional court (e.g. the Divisional
Court of the Queen’s Bench Division) which hears certain appeals from the County and
Magistrates’ courts and from various tribunals. A High Court judge normally sits alone,
although a divisional court will normally consist of two or more judges.
Appeals from both the county court (in most cases) and all divisions of the High Court are
dealt with by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division). Three judges normally sit, but on occasion
there may be a ‘full court’ of five or seven. The Court of Appeal does not hear any cases at
first instance but, as the name suggests, hears appeals from the lower courts only.
The final court of appeal within the UK is the Supreme Court; this replaced the House of
Lords on 1 October 2009. The Supreme Court:
• is the final court of appeal for all United Kingdom civil cases, and criminal cases from
England, Wales and Northern Ireland;
• hears appeals on arguable points of law of general public importance;
• concentrates on cases of the greatest public and constitutional importance; and
• maintains and develops the role of the highest court in the United Kingdom as a leader in
the common law world.
There are twelve Justices. The normal complement to hear a case is five Justices, with a
greater number sitting on some occasions. Appeals from the Court of Appeal go to the
Supreme Court, and, in certain cases, appeals may be taken directly from the High Court
under what is known as a ‘leapfrog’ procedure, missing out the Court of Appeal.

Be aware
Although the House of Lords is no longer the final court of appeal, its previous decisions
still stand as precedent and so you will still see reference to the House of Lords when
reading later in this text about cases dating from before October 2009.

Activity
Current and recently decided cases are published on the Supreme Court website which
you can access at: www.supremecourt.uk/about/index.html.

E2 Criminal courts
Minor criminal offences (and some minor civil matters) are dealt with by Magistrates’ Courts,
from which there may be an appeal to the Crown Court or High Court. More serious offences
are dealt with at first instance in the Crown Court after ‘transfer for trial proceedings’
(usually a ‘paper’ process) in the Magistrates Court. Trial in the Crown Court is before a
single judge and a jury, normally of twelve persons. You should note that juries are no longer
used in civil cases, with certain exceptions, such as libel proceedings.
Appeal from the Crown Court is to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). As in civil cases,
there is the possibility of a further appeal to the Supreme Court, to which the same general
principles and restrictions apply.

E3 History of precedent
Along with legislation, precedent is a major source of new law today. A precedent is a
decision in a previous legal case where the facts were similar to the case before the court.
Historically, the Royal judges developed a doctrine of ‘stare decisis’ (‘let the decision stand’)
and looked to previous decisions in similar cases to ensure consistency. However, the early
judges were not compelled to follow previous decisions. Precedents were, at most, only
persuasive – i.e. a guide to what the law was. As the standards of printing and law reporting
developed from the sixteenth century onwards, greater attention was paid to previous
decisions. By the early nineteenth century, it had been accepted that regard must be paid to
previous decisions, and that it was not for the courts to reject them.
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E4 Nature of precedent
Consider this
this…
…
An old case may have similar issues but very different facts to a case before the Courts
now. How does the Judge in the current case determine which parts of the judgment they
should follow?

The doctrine of binding precedent requires a judge to base their decisions on the law
established in earlier cases where the facts were the same. However if, as is usual, the whole
of the case is reported, the judge who is required to follow it must choose which parts of the
earlier decision are binding on them, since some of the things said in the earlier decision may
not be relevant to the case in hand.
In fact the ‘precedent’ which the judge is bound to follow is not the earlier case as such but
the principle established in it.
This principle is known as the ‘ratio decidendi’ (literally, ‘the reason for deciding’).

E4A Ratio decidendi

The ratio decidendi
is based on:

The material facts The decision of The reason(s)

of the case the judge or for the decisions
judges

To establish these, it will be necessary to consider the case and the report as a whole.
Sometimes, however, there will be key passages in the summing-up of a judge which appear
to encapsulate the principle of the case.

E4B Obiter dicta

When deciding a case, the judge or judges may say a number of things in passing. The
comments may concern hypothetical situations (i.e. situations which have not arisen in this
particular case but which might occur), or concern questions which it is unnecessary to
decide for the purposes of settling the dispute in question.
Statements made by a judge which are not essential to the decision are known as ‘obiter
dicta’ (‘things said by the way’). They are not part of the ratio decidendi nor binding for the
future. However, obiter dicta may be persuasive, i.e. of some influence in future cases,
particularly if they come from cases heard in the Supreme Court or its predecessor the
House of Lords.

E5 Operation of binding precedent

Whether a precedent is binding or not depends on the level of the court in which the
decision was made. As a general principle, a judge is only bound by decisions made in a
court higher than their own or, in some cases, a court of equal standing.
We will look briefly at each of the major courts, beginning with the civil court hierarchy.

E5A Civil courts

Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords
Lords))

Be aware
The decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on all lower courts.

The rule that the House of Lords is bound by its own decisions was abolished in 1966 through
a statement by the Lord Chancellor made on behalf of the House of Lords. It was declared
that, where too rigid an adherence to precedent would lead to injustice in a particular case
or restrict the proper development of law, the House could depart from a previous decision
when it seemed right to do so.
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The Supreme Court is, therefore, not now bound by its own decisions. However, the power
to depart from its own previous decisions has been used quite sparingly.
The Supreme Court hears appeals in civil cases from both the English and the Scottish
courts. Where the principles of English and Scots law are the same, a decision in an English
case is binding on the Scottish courts and vice versa.

Court of Appeal A decision of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) is binding on the lower
(Civil Division) courts (i.e. High Court and County Courts).
The Court of Appeal is also generally bound by its own decisions, unless two
such decisions conflict (in which case one may be chosen) or, if its own
previous decision is inconsistent with a decision of the Supreme Court or the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
We have already noted that the Court of Appeal is bound by decisions of the
Supreme Court.

High Court A decision of the High Court is binding on inferior courts.

However, the decision of a High Court judge at first instance is not binding
on another High Court judge sitting alone. It is instead only a strongly
persuasive influence. As a result, there may be a conflict between two or
more High Court decisions which will only be resolved when the same point
of law is considered by a higher court.
Sometimes High Court judges hear appeals from lower courts, sitting in
what is known as a Divisional Court, with two or more judges present. The
decisions of Divisional Courts are binding on judges of the High Court sitting
alone, and on Magistrates’ courts, but not on the Crown Courts.

County Courts The County Courts are bound by all decisions of the higher courts.
County Court cases (which are not reported officially), are not binding on
any court, although one or two decisions have been influential when there
has been no relevant decision at a higher level.

E5B Criminal courts

Supreme Court As with civil cases, the decisions of the Supreme Court in criminal matters
(formerly the House are binding on all lower courts. You will recall that since 1966 the House of
of Lords
Lords)) Lords/Supreme Court has had the power to overrule its own previous
decisions. However, this has been done very rarely in criminal cases (which
often concerns the liberty of an individual). The power was exercised for the
first time in a criminal case in 1987.

The Crown Court The Crown Court is bound by decisions of the Supreme Court and of the
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), but not by decisions of a Divisional
Court of the High Court. Decisions of the Crown Courts themselves are not
binding on any court and are, at most, persuasive.

Court of Appeal Decisions of this court are binding on the lower criminal courts (Crown and
(Criminal Division) Magistrates’ Courts). The court is normally bound by its own decisions,
although it is more flexible in this regard than the Civil Division. A ‘full court’
(of five judges) can overrule a decision of an ordinary court (of three). The
court is not bound by decisions of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) and
vice versa, but is bound by decisions of the Supreme Court.

Magistrates
Magistrates’’ Courts These courts are bound by decisions of higher courts, except that they are
not bound by the decision of a Crown Court hearing appeals from
Magistrates’ Courts. Cases heard in the Magistrates’ Courts are not reported
officially and have no binding force.
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The final court of appeal is as follows:

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final court of appeal from some
Commonwealth countries and overseas territories. It performs the same function for the
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. In this capacity it is, strictly speaking, outside the
system of English courts. However, the majority of members who hear appeals are
Justices of the Supreme Court and for this reason, judgments of the Privy Council have
much the same standing as those of the Supreme Court itself. They are regarded as highly
persuasive precedents which will be followed unless there is some compelling reason for
departing from them. See, for example the decision of the Privy Council in The Wagon
Mound (1961) (Overseas
Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v. Mort
Mort’’s Dock and Engineering Co Ltd
(1961)) discussed in chapter 2, section D3A.
(1961)
The importance of the Privy Council has diminished somewhat in recent years as a
number of countries have left the Commonwealth and others, while remaining in the
Commonwealth, have established a supreme court of their own from which there is no
appeal.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is also the final court of appeal for:
• Ecclesiastical and Prize cases (disputes concerning captured ships in times of war); and
• tribunals of the medical, dental and opticians’ professions.
Its decisions in these cases are part of English law and are binding.

E5C Reversing and overruling

If a person, A, loses a case against another, B (for example, in the High Court) but then
appeals successfully (to the Court of Appeal) the decision in the first hearing is said to be
reversed. It is possible, of course, that B themselves may now appeal (to the House of Lords)
and, if they are successful, the decision is reversed again and the original judgment restored.
You will appreciate that all three hearings concern the same case. No change in the law need
necessarily result from the reversing of a case.
Overruling occurs where a higher court decides a matter which is governed by a precedent
set in an earlier case on a different principle. This effectively cancels out the principle of law
contained in the ratio decidendi of the earlier case and substitutes a new one. Although the
old case is no longer good law it is important to recognise that the overruling does not in
itself affect the position of the parties in the earlier case. There is no right of appeal by a
person wishing to have a case reopened after it has been overruled in a later case. If this
were to be allowed, people would never be sure that a particular piece of litigation had ever
ended.

E5D Disapproving and distinguishing

A decision is said to be disapproved when a court offers the opinion that an earlier case is
wrongly decided but is not in a position to overrule it. Overruling will not be possible if the
ratio decidendi of the case before the court does not cover all the matters raised in the
earlier decision, so that the two cases are not exactly comparable. Such an opinion is obiter
dictum and the earlier case, therefore, still stands. However, its authority may well be
weakened as a result of the disapproving and this may help to lead to the overruling of the
case in the future.
Distinguishing occurs when a court declines to follow a previous decision on the grounds
that there are important points of difference in the case which has gone before it. In other
words, the two cases are distinguished ‘on the facts’. Distinguishing is a means by which a
court can avoid following a precedent which would otherwise be binding on it, although this
may lead to an element of artificiality in the law, with very fine distinctions which are not at
all obvious.
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E5E Persuasive precedents and authorities

Persuasive precedents are influential but non-binding decisions.
The following may be persuasive to a greater or lesser extent:
• Decisions made in lower courts or courts of equal standing.
• Decisions of courts outside the English system (e.g. Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council, Irish, Scottish, Commonwealth and United States Courts).
• Obiter dicta (especially of senior judges in high-level decisions).
• Textbooks, learned treaties and the law of other jurisdictions (e.g. Roman law) – these
sources are very rarely used, and only in cases where there is no other authority, binding
or persuasive.

E6 Advantages and disadvantages of precedent

The system of precedent has both strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages of the system Disadvantages of the system

Precedent provides certainty for persons as to Once a rule has been laid down as binding it is not
their rights and liabilities. easy to change, even if the decision is thought to
be wrong – this creates rigidity in the system.
Change can be made only by Parliament, through
legislation, or through the decision being
overruled by a higher court. The only option
available for another court at the same level as
that which decided the precedent case is to
distinguish the precedent from the present case if
it is possible to do so. But distinguishing does not
mean that the precedent is not good law any
more, it still is applicable until it is overruled.

The system allows for the possibility of The bulk and complexity of case law makes it
development and growth, with precedents that difficult to navigate, and so the system depends
can be extended to new situations. heavily on ‘equality of arms’ (i.e. expertise)
between the lawyers acting on either side of a
dispute.

Where a precedent will lead to a nonsensical The system of precedent may be in some
decision in a case with different facts, its scope circumstances slower than desired in
can be restricted by the process of distinguishing. development. It depends entirely upon litigation
This provides an element of flexibility in the law. for rules to emerge. The courts cannot try
imaginary cases in order to develop the law or
clear up uncertainties. Therefore, if a point of law
is in need of clarification one simply has to wait for
a case on the point to be litigated, which may not
occur for many years. The only alternative is
legislation, as mentioned above.

The system of precedent gives English law a The principle of law contained in some decisions is
wealth of detailed practical rulings, based on real sometimes obscure. For example, all five judges in
situations rather than legal theory. a Supreme Court case might come to the same
decision but each give different reasons for doing
so. In this instance the ratio decidendi of the case
will be unclear.

E7 Law reports
Consider this
this…
…
If precedent is the cornerstone of English law, what is required for it to work well? How
will judges find earlier judgments and decide whether they are bound by those
judgments?

The system of precedent can work well only if it is supported by an effective system of law
reporting.
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The Council of Law Reporting was established by the legal profession in 1865 to provide a
systematic and accurate law reporting service. This body, now the Incorporated Council of
Law Reporting, still publishes these semi-official law reports, known simply as the Law
Reports. Separate volumes are published each year in respect of cases heard in the Queen’s
Bench, Family and Chancery divisions of the High Court and appeals from those courts to
the Court of Appeal.
Decisions of the House of Lords are published in a separate volume of Appeal Cases. These
can be identified by the letters AC in the citation.
In addition to the annual volumes, the Council also issues a series known as the Weekly Law
Reports, which enables accounts of important decisions to be available quickly.
Besides the semi-official reports mentioned above, there are various private series. An
important example is the All England Reports, which started in 1936. The All England
Reports are general reports (i.e. they include cases heard in various courts) and are
published (approximately) weekly and in volumes each year.
Other important law reports exist which are:

Specialist law reports There are various other private reports of a specialist nature. An important
example, from the point of view of insurance students and practitioners, is
Lloyd’s Reports, which specialise in reporting non-consumer (business)
(including insurance) cases.

Other sources of law Brief reports of cases also appear regularly in the Times, Independent,
reports Guardian (and some other newspapers) while the courts are in session.
Sometimes the cases described are not reported elsewhere. It is also
possible to access law reports (including many which appear in none of
the major series) through online computer information services such as
LexisNexis and Westlaw.

F Local custom
Local custom is a minor source of law. English common law was originally based on customs
which, over time, were generally adopted throughout the country. This process was
completed many centuries ago and custom is no longer a source of general law.
However, a long-established local custom which applies to a particular area and group of
people may give these people rights which the law will support.

G European Community law

Europe has been a major source of law for both the United Kingdom and all the other
Member States. However, as stated earlier, the future relationship between the EU and the
UK is currently unknown at the time of this study text update.

G1 Aims of the European Treaties

The Treaty of Rome 1957 established the European Economic Community (EEC) which
aimed to set up a large European ‘free trade area’. The EEC created a common market and
customs union among its members.
The Maastricht Treaty is officially known as the Treaty of the European Union
Union. It was signed
in Maastricht on 7 February 1992 and came into force on 1 November 1993. The Maastricht
Treaty created the European Union (EU), which consists of ‘three pillars’:
• the European Communities;
• common foreign and security policy; and
• police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
Following the advent of the EU in 1993, the Treaty of Rome remained one of the EU’s core
documents, even though the EEC had been renamed the European Community (EC) and
become embedded into the EU. With the passing of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, the EC was
eliminated and the Treaty of Rome that had established it was formally renamed the Treaty
on the Functioning of the European Union
Union.
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The aims of the Maastricht Treaty are at least partly political and are outside the scope of
this course. However, the aims of the Treaty of Rome are largely economic. The object is to
remove internal barriers to trade between Member States, and to establish a common policy
to (external) third countries trading with Member States. The resulting ‘single market’ should
benefit the consumer by achieving economies of scale and by stimulating competition. This
should enable Europe as a whole to compete effectively with economic giants such as Japan
and the USA.

Be aware
In simple terms, the object is the economic integration of the Member States. This is being
achieved by two main methods:
• Allowing free movement of goods, people, services and capital within the Community.
• Harmonising law in certain key areas, especially in relation to trade and commerce.

Most ‘European law’ is concerned with economic matters, e.g. agriculture, transport, trade,
commerce, finance and business in general.

G2 Institutions of the European Union

The four main institutions are listed below.
• Council
Council: This body has the greatest legislative power. It is made up of representatives of
the Member States which are drawn from the governments of the Member States.
• Commission
Commission: Each Member State is represented by one Commissioner who has the power
to initiate legislation (and complete it in some cases) and who administers some of the
Community’s funds. It may also initiate legal proceedings against a Member State that
fails to fulfil Community law.
• European Parliament
Parliament: Members of the European Parliament are directly elected in
elections held at five-year intervals. The Parliament has supervisory powers but its
legislative powers are limited and it has little or no formal control over delegated
legislation passed by the Commission.
• Court of Justice
Justice: The Court of Justice (based in Luxembourg) is the ultimate court of
appeal on matters of European law. The Court sits in ‘chambers’ of three or five judges or
in ‘plenary’ sessions of seven to seventeen. Judges have renewable terms of six years
(three years in the case of the President). The judges’ post-hearing ‘deliberations’ are
secret. The French language is used for discussion and one ‘collegiate’ (i.e. collective)
judgment is given, which all the judges sign. It should be noted that the European Court is
not obliged to follow precedent in the fashion of an English court.

G3 Sources of European law

The main sources of EU Law are:
• the Treaties – especially the Treaty of Rome;
• regulations;
• directives;
• decisions;
• recommendations; and
• opinions.

G3A The Treaties

The Treaties are best regarded as the ‘constitution’ of Europe, setting out the basic
framework and fundamental principles of European law (such as the right to free movement
of goods, people, services and capital).
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G3B Regulations
Regulations are laws made by the Council or Commission which have general application.
They are automatically binding in their entirety on all Member States without any action by
national governments or legislatures and, for this reason, are sometimes described as ‘self-
enacting’. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an example of European
legislation that has direct effect on Member States. The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA
2018) has been used to repeal previous data protection legislation, and to clarify how GDPR
should be applied in the UK. However, the GDPR would have taken effect without any
specific UK legislation.

G3C Directives
Directives of the Council or Commission are binding on Member States to which they are
addressed (normally to all Member States) as to the result which is to be achieved. However,
the method of implementing the law contained in the Directive is left to each Member State.
In the UK implementation is through primary or subordinate legislation (e.g. an Act of
Parliament or delegated legislation of some sort). Directives are used as a form of general
legislation for the Community.

Be aware
Although European Directives are not ‘self-enacting’ and have to be converted into
national law, the European Court of Justice has ruled that a Member State which fails to
implement a Directive can be sued for damages by an individual who suffers loss as a
result of the failure to implement (Francovich
Francovich v. Italian Republic (1991)
(1991)).

G3D Decisions
Decisions do not have general application and are binding only upon those to whom they are
addressed. They may be addressed, for example, to a particular Member State or a particular
organisation.

G3E Recommendations and opinions

Recommendations and opinions have no binding force and are advisory only.

G3F The European Communities Act 1972

International law is not applied by the English courts unless it has been incorporated into
English law by domestic legislation. The European Communities Act 1972 sets out how
European Community Law is to take effect in English law.
Section 2(1) provides that certain forms of EU law (treaties and regulations) are to have Refer to
section D2D for
direct effect in English law with no further formalities. In other words, they pass directly into the effect of the
English law without the need for domestic legislation. Where this ‘direct’ EU law is Act on statutory
interpretation
inconsistent with domestic statutory provisions, the English courts will if necessary grant an
injunction preventing the domestic law from being applied. Lesser forms of EU law such as
directives require legislation to incorporate them into English law, but this may be achieved
by delegated legislation and, as has been noted, the courts will interpret such legislation to
give effect to EU obligations.

G4 Examples of European law

You will appreciate that most European law concerns matters of trade and commerce which
have a European dimension. By way of illustration, we will look briefly at some examples of
European law which affect insurance, some of which are discussed in more detail later in this
study text. The main object of the legislation in nearly every case is to harmonise the law
relating to insurance in certain key areas, in order to promote free and fair competition
between insurers in Europe.
First, a large proportion of the current law concerning insurance companies is European
in origin.
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Example 1.4
Much of the Insurance Companies Act 1982
1982, which dealt with the regulation of insurers,
was based on European Directives. The Act has now been replaced by the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000
2000.

Second, there are a number of Directives concerned with particular classes of insurance.

Example 1.5
Among the most important are the various Directives on motor insurance, which aim to
harmonise key aspects of the law and practice of motor insurance across Europe.
Harmonisation is particularly important, given that motor vehicles provide one of the main
methods of moving people and goods between the Member States, and that motor claims
often involve people from different countries.

Finally, there is a great deal of European legislation which affects insurance indirectly. For
example, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which is based on an EC Directive and affects
product liability insurance.

Be aware
It is also worth noting that much new industrial safety legislation and many laws on the
environment now originate in Europe. Both of these areas are of concern to liability
insurers.

H Elements of civil procedure

In the sections that follow we look briefly at how the legal system operates in practice and
we outline the procedure that is followed when a civil case is taken to court. In fact, both the
procedure that is followed and the court in which a case is heard depend upon the type of
dispute that needs to be settled. We will look at the subject mainly from the viewpoint of the
insurance industry.

Consider this
this…
…
In what situations might an insurer become involved in court proceedings?

Insurance firms may find it necessary to go to court for a number of different reasons.

Example 1.6
• They may become involved in disputes about taxation or matters of company law, or
about the buildings and other property that they own.
• Again, on some occasions they may need to go to court to settle a dispute with their
own employees about pay, working conditions, pension rights or other employment-
related matters.

In this respect, insurance firms are no different from other commercial organisations.
The vast majority of court cases involving insurance companies arise in connection with the
insurance policies they issue. These ‘insurance’ cases fall into three broad categories:
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1. Cases in which there is a dispute between the insurance company (and, sometimes,
insurance broker) and the policyholder. Most of these cases involve disputed claims,
with the insurers arguing that they are not liable to pay (or not obliged to pay as much
as the policyholder demands) and the policyholder insisting otherwise.
Essentially, these are claims against insurers for breach of contract and they may
involve either general issues of contract law or special legal principles that apply to
insurance, such as the duty of fair presentation of risk. The general law of contract and
the special legal principles of insurance are covered in later chapters of this book.
2. Disputes between insurers themselves. Often these disputes are about the sharing of
claims, either between two or more insurers or between insurers and reinsurers.
3. Cases in which insurance companies are seeking to defend their own policyholders,
who are themselves being sued for compensation by third parties, that is, liability
insurance claims.
They may be third party motor claims, arising from an accident in which the insured has
allegedly injured a third party; employers’ liability claims, where an injured employee is
suing the insured; or involve public liability, professional indemnity or other liability
insurance.
The claim in question may be in respect of personal injury, damage to property, Refer to chapter 2
for the law
financial loss or all of these. In legal terms, these are usually tort claims but in some of torts
cases (such as claims against professional persons or producers of goods) a breach of
contract may also be alleged.
Before moving on, we should note that while court cases in all three categories (especially
the third) are quite numerous, they still represent only a tiny proportion of insurance claims,
the vast majority of which are settled without resort to any form of legal action.
Furthermore, only about 5% of cases started in the civil courts get as far as a full trial; the
vast majority are settled before that stage.

H1 Current system – the Civil Procedure Rules

The current system of civil justice is based on reforms recommended by Lord Woolf in his
report ‘Access to Justice’ (the ‘Woolf Report’) (1996). The reforms were aimed at improving
a system that was widely seen as being too expensive, slow, uncertain and complicated.
The Woolf Report made 303 recommendations, which included the following:
• Three separate ‘tracks’ for cases, depending on their value and complexity.
• Encouraging the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
• Giving judges more responsibility for managing cases.
• More use of information technology.
• Simplifying documents and procedures and having a single set of rules for proceedings in
both the High Court and County Court.
• Shorter timetables for cases to reach court and for the length of trials.
As a result of the Woolf Report, new Civil Procedures Rules (CPR) were introduced with
effect from 26 April 1999.

H1A Pre-action protocols

One of the main aims of the Woolf reforms is to encourage people who are in dispute to give
information to each other at an early date. This is in order to facilitate negotiation and, if
possible, avoid court action altogether. It is also intended to assist the parties to identify the
real issues in dispute at an early stage.
To help achieve this, pre-action protocols have been issued for different types of claim.
These are essentially lists of things that the parties are expected do before they start any
legal action.

Activity
Look at the list of current protocols on the Ministry of Justice website:
www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/protocol.
Which protocols will be most relevant to disputes involving insurance?
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Example 1.7
The Pre-Action Protocol for personal injury cases is particularly important for insurers
because many liability insurance claims, including all employers’ liability claims and a
significant proportion of motor claims, are for bodily injury. Among many other things,
this Protocol requires that:
• The claimant should send the defendant (and insurers, if known) a letter of claim
promptly once they have enough information to support their claim.
• The defendant should respond (identifying their insurer) within 21 days.
• The defendant (usually, in effect, the insurer) should investigate the claim and respond
within three months, either admitting liability or, if it is denied, giving reasons for denial
and enclosing the relevant documentation.
• The parties should co-operate in appointing any expert witnesses that are required and
should try to agree to use one expert.

Pre-action proceedings are issued through the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) claims portal for:
• road traffic accident (RTA) claims;
• employers’ liability (EL) claims; and
• public liability (PL) claims
that are between £1,000 and £25,000.
As part of the pre-action protocol, there are fixed recoverable legal costs that a claimant can
recover from a defendant (or, most often, their liability insurer) for different stages of the
process. This encourages early engagement between the parties and settlement of claims.
If the Protocol is not adhered to, and this leads to unnecessary litigation, the party who is at
fault may be penalised by the court by having to pay the costs of the proceedings. If the
claimant is at fault they may also be deprived of interest on their award; or, if the defendant
is at fault, they may have to pay extra interest on top of the damages.

H1B Which court?

If the claim cannot be settled out of court and it does proceed to litigation, the claimant
must first choose the court in which to start the action.
As we have seen, the two courts that hear civil cases at first instance are the County Court
and the High Court. Proceedings (whether for damages or for a specified sum) may not be
started in the High Court unless the value of the claim is more than £100,000. Proceedings
which include a claim for damages in respect of personal injuries must not be started in the
High Court unless the value of the claim is £50,000 or more (paragraph 9 of the High Court
and County Courts Jurisdiction Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/724 as amended) describes how the
value of a claim is to be determined).
Defamation actions must be started in the High Court.
Refer to Cases that are begun in one court may not, in the end, be tried there because cases may be
section H1E for
the allocation transferred from one court to another, commonly at the allocation stage.
stage
Note that the limits applicable to each court are under review by the Justice Department –
you should ensure that you keep up to date with developments by reading trade press and
looking at legal publications such as the Law Society Gazette.

H1C Issuing the claim

The claimant must begin by drawing up a statement of their case, which is normally done by
entering the appropriate details on a claim form provided by the court office and providing
more detailed ‘Particulars of Claim’. The details will include the court in which the claim is
being brought, the names of the claimant and defendant, details of the claim (a summary of
the facts and the nature of the injury suffered) and the amount of money (or other remedy)
that is being claimed.
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H1D Defending the claim

When the defendant receives a copy of the Particulars of Claim they may admit the claim
and pay the full amount, in which case the claim ends. However, if the defendant wishes to
defend the claim they must send either an acknowledgement of service or a defence to the
court within 14 days. If only an acknowledgement of service is sent the defendant has a
further 14 days to serve a defence. If the defendant does neither of these things the claimant
can ask the court to make an order that the defendant should pay the amount claimed plus
costs (a judgment in default).

H1E Allocation of cases

Once the claim is defended, the court will allocate the case to the most appropriate ‘track’
for dealing with it. The decision is made by the District Judge in the County Court or a
District Judge or Master (procedural judge) in the High Court. There are three tracks:
• Small claims track – this is normally used for disputes up to £10,000, except for personal
injury cases and housing disrepair cases, where the limit is usually £1,000.
• Fast track – this is used for straightforward disputes where the financial value is not more
than £25,000.
• Multi-track – this is used for disputes which are neither small claims nor have been
allocated to the fast track. It includes cases with a financial value exceeding £25,000, and
cases of a lower value if the court considers the trial likely to last longer than one day or if
any oral expert evidence given at the trial will not be limited to one expert per party in up
to two expert fields.
The claimant and the defendant will each complete an allocation questionnaire to assist the
judge in deciding the choice of track. Although value is usually the determining factor, cases
may be allocated to a higher track due to complexity or, with the consent of all the parties,
to a lower track.

H1F Stay to attempt settlement

Either party may ask for a stay of proceedings in order to attempt to settle outside court by
way of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The initial stay (requested via the allocation
questionnaire) will be for one month, but a further period can be ordered. The courts are
increasingly encouraging the parties to consider the use of ADR and an unreasonable refusal
to do so may result in cost penalties.

H1G Power to strike out

The court has the power to strike out all or a part of the statement of case (either the claim
or the defence) either on request of one of the parties or on its own initiative. They can do
this on a variety of grounds, for example, where the statement of case makes no sense or
shows no reasonable grounds for bringing or defending the claim.

H1H Small claims track

Consider this
this…
…
What sort of claims would be allocated to this track? Remind yourself of the financial
threshold.

Example 1.8
A dispute arising out of a consumer contract involving sums less than £10,000; or a very
minor personal injury claim worth less than £1,000 for general damages (the non-financial
element of the claim).

On allocation, the court will issue ‘standard directions’ (in effect, a timetable) instructing
each party to file and serve copies of all documents, including any experts’ reports, at least
14 days before the final hearing, the date of which is sent out with the directions. The aim is
to have a relatively cheap and simple procedure and, for this reason, no expert evidence is
allowed without the permission of the court and the use of lawyers is discouraged (though,
in fact, they are used quite frequently). A District Judge will hear the case. District Judges
are encouraged to take an active part in the small claims proceedings, by asking questions
and making sure that both parties explain important points.
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H1I Fast track cases

Consider this
this…
…
What sort of claims would be allocated to this track? Remind yourself of the financial
threshold.

Example 1.9
A claim for breach of contract or for financial losses resulting from professional
negligence where the total claimed exceeds £10,000.

In fast track cases, the judge will encourage the parties to agree directions, i.e. a strict
timetable for dealing with pre-trial matters such as disclosure of documents, and the
exchange of witness statements and experts’ reports. The purpose is to prevent one or both
sides from wasting time and running up costs. If no agreed directions are submitted by the
parties then the timetable will be set by the judge.
The general aim is to have the case heard within 30 weeks and to conclude the trial in one
day. The case will usually be heard by a District or Circuit Judge. Although the proceedings
are more formal than in small claims cases, the court may limit the use of oral evidence and
cross-examination. The number of expert witnesses is also restricted, with usually only one
expert (jointly instructed by the parties) being allowed.

H1J Multi-track cases

Consider this
this…
…
What sort of claims would be allocated to this track? Remind yourself of the financial
threshold.

Example 1.10
More serious personal injury claims, for example one involving industrial disease or
ongoing incapacity, a professional indemnity claim involving complex expert evidence, or
any other dispute for sums exceeding £25,000.

Claims for more than £25,000 are usually allocated to the multi-track. Cases that are started
in the County Court are usually tried there, though they can be sent to the High Court,
especially for claims in excess of £50,000.
A multi-track case will usually be heard by a Circuit Judge or High Court Judge who will
‘manage’ the case from the time it is allocated through to conclusion. The judge will give
directions for the management of the case and set the timetable or fix one or more case
management conferences (CMCs) to arrange directions and review the progress of the case.

H2 Part 36 offers and payments

It has always been possible for a person involved in litigation to make the other party an
offer in the hope of settling the case before it comes to trial, and/or to make a payment into
court. The rules governing these offers and payments are now contained in Part 36 of the
Civil Procedures Rules mentioned earlier, hence the terms ‘Part 36 offer’ and ‘Part 36
payment’.

Be aware
A Part 36 offer or payment is essentially an attempt to force the other party into a
compromise.

If an offer or payment into court is accepted by the other party then the case ends. However,
if the offer or payment is not accepted within the time allowed for doing so, and the person
refusing it fails to ‘beat’ the offer at trial, they will normally have to pay extra costs (despite
winning the case). The aim of Part 36 is to encourage the acceptance of reasonable offers,
and avoid the need for unnecessary court hearings.
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Example 1.11
Suppose that Annie is suing Beatrice and, before starting court proceedings, invites her to
settle the claim for £70,000. Beatrice, without admitting liability, offers Annie £50,000 in
full and final settlement. Annie does not accept this and commences proceedings.
Beatrice pays the £50,000 into court. Annie refuses to accept this payment and the case
goes to trial. If Annie wins her case but fails to ‘beat’ Beatrice’s offer and payment of
£50,000 (e.g. the judge awards her any lesser sum) the court can order Annie to pay any
costs incurred by Beatrice after the latest date when she (Annie) could have accepted the
£50,000. This, effectively, puts pressure on Annie to accept the £50,000 that is offered.

The significance of a payment into court is that, in the case of money claims, the defendant
can only make offers to settle prior to the start of proceedings. In fact, once proceedings
begin, pre-action offers usually become ineffective unless there is prompt payment into
court of the money offered. So, in our case above, the court would probably disregard
Beatrice’s offer of £50,000 if she had not paid the money into court.
Finally, you should understand that a Part 36 offer can be made by either party. For example,
in our case above Annie could, after refusing the £50,000 that was offered by Beatrice and
paid into court, invite Beatrice to pay her, say, £60,000, to settle the case. Annie’s proposal
could be framed as a Part 36 offer. In this case, Beatrice would have to pay enhanced costs
and enhanced interest on damages and costs if the judge awarded Annie more than
£60,000. This would then put some pressure on Beatrice to pay the £60,000. For reasons
that are obvious, judges are not made aware of any amounts that are offered or paid into
court until after their judgment has been given.

H3 Funding litigation
Background
Going to court is expensive, so the potential cost of litigation is likely to be a problem for
most people of ordinary means. There is also the additional risk in all civil cases that the loser
has to pay the winner’s costs.
A further major problem in taking a civil case to court is the uncertainty about cost. This is
because the claimant may not know how serious the other party is in defending the case. If
the defendant admits liability and settles early the costs may be small but, otherwise, they
will soon start to rise. Apart from lawyers’ fees there may be heavy costs associated with
obtaining evidence, getting medical reports and other expert opinions as well as court fees
to pay. If the claimant wins, they should be able to recover most or all of these costs, but if
the case is lost the claimant will have to pay the defendant’s costs as well. As a result of the
claimant’s potential exposure to legal costs, the insurance industry has developed legal
expenses insurance (LEI) products. Some LEI policies can be bought after an incident giving
rise to a legal claim (at the beginning of the legal action or before a letter of claim is sent to
the defendant), as there will still be uncertainty regarding the outcome of the case (the
litigation risk). This is known as After the Event (ATE) cover.
Significant reform to the funding of civil justice came into force in April 2013. The following
are areas of key change.
Damages-based agreements (DBAs)
The new rules allow contingency fees or damages-based agreements (DBAs). Under these
rules, lawyers will be able to conduct litigation in return for a share of damages, but the
defendant will be liable for costs only on the conventional basis; the claimant will have to pay
any shortfall out of damages. The cap on amount of damages that can be taken as a
contingency fee is 25% for personal injury; 35% for employment; 50% for all other claims.
Conditional fee agreements (CFAs)/after the event (ATE) insurance:
CFA success fees/ATE insurance premiums are no longer recoverable from the losing party
where arrangements are entered into on or after 1 April 2013. Note that because claimants
will no longer be able to recover the success fee or ATE premium, there has been a 10% uplift
in general damages for non-pecuniary loss (pain and suffering, loss of amenity).
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Costs management:
Judicial costs management procedures have been introduced for multi-track cases
commenced on or after 1 April 2013. The parties will have to file and exchange detailed costs
budgets before the first case management conference. The Court may make a costs
management order recording the extent to which parties’ budgets are agreed or approved;
and when assessing costs, the Court will not depart from budget without good reason. It will
be essential for all parties to prepare accurate budgets and keep them up to date as
recoverable costs may be restricted to the budget last approved or agreed.
Qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS) for personal injury claims:
Claimants will be awarded costs if successful but will not have to pay the defendant’s costs if
they lose. Exceptions are where a claimant has failed to beat a defendant’s Part 36 offer, or
where a claim is ‘fundamentally dishonest’ or struck out for example as an abuse of process.
This means that defendants to personal injury claims will not normally be able to recover
costs even where the action is successfully defended.
These far-reaching changes to the civil funding regime came into force in April 2013, and
you should ensure that you follow developments in this area by reading the legal and
insurance press.

I The legal profession

In England and Wales, practising lawyers are divided into two groups: solicitors and
barristers (known as ‘advocates’ in Scotland).
In one sense the legal profession is rather like the medical profession in the UK, in which
physicians are either ‘General Practitioners’ or ‘Specialists’. However, in the case of lawyers
the division is not quite so clear cut.

I1 Solicitors
When people need legal advice they generally contact a solicitor. Solicitors offer
professional advice on all kinds of legal matters, from buying a home or matters of family law
to major commercial deals, such as the selling of a major corporation.
Solicitors can also represent their clients in court. They do this mainly in the lower courts but
some solicitors apply for and obtain advocacy rights in the higher courts also (including of
course insurers).
Most solicitors work in private practice. Their businesses vary in size from multinational firms
with hundreds of staff to ‘high street’ offices where one solicitor works as a sole practitioner.
Other solicitors work in central or local government, the civil service or in commerce and
industry.
The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales (there are equivalent Law
Societies in Scotland and Northern Ireland) and the profession is regulated by the Solicitors
Regulation Authority.

I2 Barristers
Barristers generally act on instructions from solicitors and often have little direct contact
with members of the public. They perform two main roles. First, when specialist expertise is
needed they give opinions on complex matters of law. Second, when clients need
representation in the higher courts (i.e. the Crown Courts, High Courts, Courts of Appeal and
Supreme Court) barristers provide a specialist advocacy service.
The barristers’ governing body is The General Council of the Bar of England and Wales,
commonly known as the Bar Council (Faculty of Advocates in Scotland). Regulation of the
profession is achieved through the Bar Standards Board.
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Example 1.12
In order to illustrate the work of solicitors and barristers in the context of insurance, let us
consider a complex dispute that has arisen between insurers and an insured regarding
coverage for a claim:
• The insurers’ claims handlers might refer the dispute to their solicitors for advice who,
in turn, might seek ‘Counsel’s Opinion’ (i.e. the advice of a barrister specialising in the
area of law in question).
• If the case eventually goes to court a barrister might be appointed to put the
insurers’ case.
• Similarly, the insured might seek legal advice from solicitors who themselves might
engage the services of a barrister to give expert opinion and speak in court on the
insured’s behalf.

J Legal personality
Legal personality can be defined as the lawful characteristics and qualities of an entity (a
living person, company, charity etc.). It includes legal rights and duties, the capacity to enter
into contract and to be otherwise subject to the requirements of the law.
In general terms, all persons are subject to legal rules which protect them, give them rights
and impose duties on them. But the law does not affect everybody in exactly the same way.
As we shall see, some organisations and groups of people have their own particular rights
and duties. Different areas of the law can affect, for example, organisations, minors, persons
of unsound mind, bankrupts, married people and other special categories of people in
different ways and it is important to be aware of this.
The law divides persons generally into two broad categories; ‘natural persons’ and ‘juristic
natural persons juristic
persons’ (e.g. corporations). We will focus first on natural persons then highlight some of the
persons
key points to be aware of regarding corporations and other juristic persons. It is important to
note that the Crown is a special case which does not fit neatly into either category.

J1 Natural persons
For the purposes of law, all human beings are referred to as natural legal persons. As one
would expect, this type of legal personality begins at birth and ends at death.
A person may, in some cases, sue for injuries inflicted before birth and legal actions started
before death can be continued afterwards. Furthermore, a legal action can sometimes be
initiated on behalf of a deceased person after their death.
Most natural persons possess the full range of rights which the law allows and are subject to
a full range of duties. However, some classes of natural person have a special status which
may carry with it a limited legal capacity, that is, a more limited set of rights and duties.
These include minors
minors, persons of unsound mind, bankrupts and aliens, some of which we will
discuss later.

Be aware
A person’s status indicates that they belong to a particular group whereas capacity refers
to what that person is legally entitled to do.

Status indicates that a person is part of a particular class or group. However, an individual
may have several statuses, each of which imposes particular obligations and gives particular
rights. For example, a person may:
• be a British citizen (which imposes a duty of loyalty and gives entitlement to the
protection of the Crown);
• be married (which imposes an obligation to maintain the partner in marriage and gives
rights in respect of children); and
• have attained their majority (which brings with it a generally unrestricted capacity to
enter into contracts and the capacity to vote).
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Another person might share the status of British citizenship but differ in being a minor and
unmarried – the latter statuses carry with them different rights and duties. We will now
briefly explore some of the other classes of natural persons.

J1A Minors
Those under the age of 18 are treated differently by the English legal system, as
outlined below.
Contracts
Because they are likely to be relatively inexperienced in such matters, there are special rules
to protect minors who enter into contracts. This is an important topic and we will look at it in
some detail in chapter 3, section B7A, where the law of contract in general is discussed.
Torts
In the law of torts (another important area of civil law, dealt with in chapter 2), minors are
usually fully responsible for their acts. For example, a minor that causes a motor accident by
negligently running out into the road would generally be treated as liable in the same way as
an adult. However, injured parties will generally find it difficult to recover compensation from
a minor, due to the lack of legally owned assets.
Property
As far as property is concerned, a minor may own personal property, such as clothing,
books, sports equipment or a car but may not hold what is known as a legal estate in land.
This means that a minor cannot, for instance, own a house outright, but can do so indirectly
as a beneficiary under a trust.
Criminal law
For the purposes of the criminal law, minors divide into two classes. Full criminal
responsibility applies in the case of minors over the age of ten, although the legal
procedures followed and punishments employed differ from those used for adults. Children
under the age of ten are presumed incapable of committing a crime and this presumption
cannot be rebutted.
Litigation
Minors involved in civil litigation must sue through a ‘next friend’, i.e. an adult who is
primarily responsible for any costs awarded against the minor. Minors also defend civil
actions through a litigation friend, but a defendant friend/litigation friend is not liable for
costs. The father, mother or legal guardian of the minor normally acts in these capacities.
In addition to the above, minors are ineligible to vote or stand at elections. They cannot sit
on a jury, make a valid will (unless a member of the armed services on active service or a
seaman at sea), and cannot marry at all before they are 16 or without parental consent
before they are 18.

J1B Persons lacking mental capacity

Persons lacking mental capacity are generally treated as responsible for tortious acts,
although this may not be the case where the act requires a particular type of mental capacity
which the person is incapable of forming (e.g. deception). For other areas, the person may
need to have a representative to carry out some activities, such as someone with a lasting
power of attorney to handle the transfer of any property, or a litigation friend to act for them
in civil litigation.
As in the case of minors, each branch of law has its own rules relating to persons who have a
mental disability, and also its own definition of lacking mental capacity. In many cases, the
legal capacity of people who have mental health conditions is restricted, depending on the
seriousness of the condition. Many of the provisions are contained in statutes, and
particularly in the Mental Health Acts
Acts.
A patient with a mental disability would not be liable for actions which were involuntary, i.e.
those actions over which they literally had no control. We look at the differences that apply
to such persons’ position in contract law in chapter 3, section B7B.
 Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Law and legal systems 1/33

J1C Bankrupts
If a person is unable to pay their debts, they may be subject to a bankruptcy order. This
requires legal action by one of more creditors where the person’s debts total more than
£5,000. A person who is adjudicated bankrupt loses certain rights which include:
• sitting in either House of Parliament;
• becoming a member of a local council;
• acting as a magistrate;
• acting as a company director; and
• obtaining credit over a certain amount.

J1D Married persons

The status of marriage and the legal relationship between married persons is part of family
law, which is outside the scope of this study text. However, marriage is a contract (albeit a
special example) and therefore it shares many characteristics with other contracts.
Depending on circumstances, the contract can be fully valid, void (e.g. where either party is
under 16) or voidable (e.g. in cases of duress or mistake). Like any other contract, it can be
dissolved – in this case, through divorce. Historically, spouses could not legally sue each
other in tort but this rule was removed by the Law Reform (Husband and Wife) Act 1962 1962.

J2 Corporations
Consider this
this…
…
Not all legal rules relate to individuals. How does the law treat companies and other
groups of people?

Corporations are non-human legal entities. For this reason, they are sometimes known as
‘artificial legal persons’ or ‘juristic persons’. They are incorporated (formed) by people who
wish to combine their resources for a common purpose, which may be a non-consumer
(business) enterprise, or involve social or other activities. They vary in size and complexity
from vast multi-national firms to small clubs and societies.
The most common examples are companies registered under the Companies Acts Acts. These
include public limited companies, private companies, limited companies and unlimited
companies. Corporations are subject to the law in much the same way as natural legal
persons except where their very nature demands a different kind of treatment.

Example 1.13
A corporation may be found guilty of some crimes, even though it can only act through
human agents. However, there are some criminal wrongs which it would be difficult or
impossible for a corporation to commit, such as assault, rape or bigamy. Again, only
limited sanctions are available for companies which break the law – they can be fined, but
not imprisoned.

Companies also have legal duties (such as the obligation to pay corporation tax) which are
obviously inapplicable to natural legal persons. There are two types of corporations:
corporations sole and corporations aggregate.
Corporations sole
A corporation sole is a legal person representing an official position which will be occupied
by a series of different people. They are legal entities distinct from the people holding the
position and who merely act on behalf of the corporation. A corporate sole can only be
created by statute and cannot die. Examples include the Queen (in her public capacity) and
the bishops of the Church of England.
Corporations aggregate
Generally, the term ‘corporation’ is used to refer to a corporation aggregate. This is a legal
person consisting of a number of people. Again, its existence is quite separate from them. An
example is the Chartered Insurance Institute. Although its membership is always changing,
the corporation itself does not change except to the extent that its charter and bye-laws
may be altered from time to time.
Chapter 1
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One way to classify corporations aggregate is according to the way in which they were
formed.
• Chartered corporations by Royal Charter – these are formed by the Crown granting a
Royal Charter. Examples include the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Institute of
Chartered Accountants and the British Broadcasting Corporation.
• Statutory corporations by a private act of Parliament – sometimes a statute may be
employed to create either a corporation aggregate or a corporation sole. The newest
group of English universities (previously polytechnics) were given university status by
statute. An example of a corporation sole created by statute is the Ministry of Education.
• Registered corporations under the Companies Act – registered corporations or
registered companies are the most common form of corporation. Most are formed under
the provisions of the various Companies Acts and can be either public limited companies
or private companies (which may be limited or unlimited).

J3 Unincorporated associations
Unincorporated associations are groups of people which have not been incorporated
(formed) in the same way as corporations. They range in size and importance, and include:
• small social clubs and voluntary organisations with a few participants;
• small businesses set up as partnerships; and
• trade unions with memberships of a million or more.
Unlike corporations, unincorporated associations are not generally treated as separate legal
entities (although there are ‘quasi-corporations’ which share some characteristics with
corporations). They are simply groups of individuals, each of whom is a natural legal person
with their own legal rights and responsibilities.

Example 1.14
• A member who makes a contract on behalf of an unincorporated association has a
personal liability under the contract. This means that a member who arranges insurance
for the activities of a social club is personally liable to pay for the cover. The other
members of the club will only be liable if they authorise or ratify the making of the
contract which may well happen if the rules of the club provide for it.
• Members of unincorporated associations are generally liable for their own torts even
when they are committed in the course of the association’s activities. This means that if
one member of a club negligently injures another, they will be personally liable and no
other member will bear any responsibility. The outcome could be different in situations
in which the injury is caused by the dangerous conditions of the premises or by an
employee of the club.

The rights of members generally depend upon the rules of the association. Every member is
deemed to be in a contractual relationship (governed by the rules) with every other
member. Therefore, a member who is denied rights given to them by the rules (such as the
right to vote) or who is wrongfully expelled may be able to sue for damages for breach of
contract or for an injunction to prevent the association from acting in breach of the rules.
 Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Law and legal systems 1/35

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Classification of law

• Law can be classified in a number of ways; distinguishing between common law and civil
jurisdictions and between public and private law. Public law includes constitutional law,
administrative law and criminal law.
• Private law includes the law of contract, the law of torts, the law of trusts, the law of property,
family law and the law of succession.

Sources of English law

• The main sources of new law are legislation and judicial precedent (case law); as well as local
custom, legal books and treaties and European Community law.
• Legislation is law created by Parliament and includes statutes, statutory instruments and other
forms of delegated legislation.
• There are a number of rules to assist in the interpretation of statutes including the Interpretation
Act, the literal rule, the golden rule and the mischief rule.

Precedent and case law

• A precedent is a decision in a previous legal case where the facts were similar to the case before
the court.
• The ratio decidendi of a case is based upon the material facts of the case; the decision of the judge
and the reason(s) for the decision.
• Binding precedent means that the judge is obliged to follow the ratio decidendi of previous similar
cases from courts higher than their own or in some cases of equal standing.
• Whether a precedent is binding or not depends on the level of the court in which the decision was
made. The court hierarchy determines which courts’ decisions are binding on other courts.
• The development of law reporting supported the development of the modern system of
binding precedent.

European Community law

• European Union law has been a major source of law for the UK.

Elements of civil procedure

• The Civil Procedure Rules (arising out of the Woolf reforms) set out the procedure that civil cases
follow before and at court.
• The pre-action protocols list actions that both parties to a dispute are required to take before legal
action is started.
• If the case is not settled during the protocol period it may be issued at court.
• The court will allocate the case to one of three tracks; the small claims track for cases under
£10,000 or for personal injury claims with a general damages element of less than £1,000; the fast
track for cases not over £25,000; the multi track for cases over £25,000 or more complex cases.
• Either party may make an offer of settlement to the other party; if the offer is made as a Part 36
offer or payment then there may be cost consequences if it is not accepted.
• Litigation can be very costly; conditional fee agreements and before-the-event or after-the-event
insurance can assist but since April 2013 there have been significant changes to funding of
civil litigation.

The legal profession

• The legal profession is divided into solicitors and barristers.

Chapter 1
1/36 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Legal personality

• The law divides persons generally into two broad categories; natural persons and juristic persons
(or corporations).
• Special rules apply to the capacity of minors, persons lacking mental capacity and bankrupts.
• Corporations can be either:
– corporations sole – a legal person representing an official position which will be occupied by a
series of different people (such as the Monarch); or
– corporations aggregate – a legal person consisting of a number of people.
• Corporations aggregate may be created by Royal Charter; private Act of Parliament or by
registration under the Companies Acts.
• Unincorporated associations are groups of people who have not been incorporated in the same
way as corporations. They range in size and importance.
 Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Law and legal systems 1/37

Self-test questions
1. What is the difference between public and private law?
2. Name the main branches of private law.
3. Explain the terms ratio decidendi and obiter dictum.
4. Give three examples of legal principles or remedies derived from equity.
5. State the important types of delegated legislation.
6. Name three different rules of statutory interpretation.
7. What are the three ‘tracks’ to which civil cases may be allocated under the current
rules of civil procedure?
8. What is a Part 36 offer or payment?
9. What are the two types of legal person?
10. Outline the key differences between a corporation sole and a corporation
aggregate.

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 1
1/38 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 1.1: Question

Apply the nature and sources of English law and the concept of natural legal persons to
practical situations (LO1.6)
Arlo, a Romanian friend, is visiting you for a month. He has brought his car with him from
Romania and wants to use it for the duration of his stay. His car is insured in Romania and
he has not taken out any motor insurance in England. He tells you that in Romania, cars
are insured rather than the drivers – this is not the case in England. Arlo insists that his
Romanian insurance policy states that it is valid in England. He believes that he will be able
to drive in England without obtaining further cover.
Explain with justification whether Arlo is correct to believe that his policy is valid in
England.
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.
 2

Chapter 2
Law of torts
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Nature of tort 2.1, 2.5
B Classification of torts 2.1, 2.5
C Trespass 2.2, 2.5
D Negligence 2.2, 2.5
E Nuisance 2.2, 2.5
F Rule in Rylands v. Fletcher 2.2, 2.5
G Breach of statutory duty 2.2, 2.5
H Employers
Employers’’ liability 2.3, 2.5
I Liability for defective or dangerous premises 2.3, 2.5
J Liability for defective products 2.3, 2.5
K Defamation 2.2, 2.5
L General defences in tort 2.4, 2.5
M Limitation of actions 2.4, 2.5
N Remedies in tort 2.4, 2.5
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the nature of a tort and how torts are classified;
• understand the principles governing the main torts;
• explain the main defences in tort; and
• describe the main remedies in tort.
 2/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
Consider this
this…
…
Chapter 2

Here are some duties which apply to all of us. Why do they exist?

• If we drive a car, the law requires that we drive carefully so as not to injure other people or
damage their property.
• If we write or publish a newspaper article or a book, we must not make untrue statements
about other people which might harm their reputation.
• If we go out for a walk, we must not wander onto private property without permission.
These duties are well known and apply, automatically, to all of us.
They exist not because we have agreed to drive carefully, or agreed not to make false
statements or promised to keep off private property, but simply because the law imposes
them on everyone.
If we break one of these duties and cause harm to another person, it is likely that they will be
able to sue us and claim damages – financial compensation. The type of breach of duty or
wrong which we are describing is known as a tort.
The word tort, in its simplest sense, means ‘wrong’ and the legal action the victim might
bring against us is known as an action in tort. These points bring us to a well-known
definition of a tort:
Tortious liability arises from the breach of a duty primarily fixed by the law; such duty
is towards persons generally and its breach is redressable by an action for
unliquidated damages.

Consider this
this…
…
Tort law is not part of ‘insurance law’ as such, but the relationship between tort law and
insurance is very close. Think of an example of an insurance claim under liability insurance
cover that you have seen and consider whether it was based upon tort.

Most people who are sued in tort are covered by insurance – normally some form of liability
insurance, including third party motor insurance. This means that the real defendant (or
compensator) in the vast majority of tort claims – probably 95% or more – is an insurance
company.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Battery Breach of contract Breach of duty Breach of statutory

duty

Contributory Damages Defamation Duty of care

negligence

Employers’ liability Injunction Libel Malice

Psychiatric illness Privilege Tort Trespass

Vicarious liability Wrongful behaviour

Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/3

A Nature of tort
In this section, we will look at how tort relates to both crime and breach of contract
contract.

Chapter 2
A1 Torts and crimes
Tort Crime

Civil or criminal law? Civil Criminal

Purpose of legal To provide compensation or The object of criminal proceedings is

action? reparation for the victim who has to punish offenders who are found
been harmed by the tortious (i.e. guilty of a wrong which is harmful to
wrongful) act of the defendant. the interests of society as a whole.

Who brings the legal The victim themselves (the claimant) More commonly brought in the name
action? of the Crown by the police (in the UK)
or a public prosecutor – although
private prosecutions are occasionally
found.

Be aware
The same behaviour may amount to both a crime and a tort.

Example 2.1
• If A steals B’s coat there is a crime (theft) and a tort (trespass
trespass to goods and
conversion).
• If A physically attacks B there is a crime (assault in some form) and a tort (trespass to
the person).
• If A carelessly drives into B’s car there may be a crime (perhaps driving without due
care) and a tort (negligence).

The result, in each case, is that A may be prosecuted in a criminal court and punished, and
sued in a civil court by B and ordered to pay compensation to them. Separate legal
proceedings, therefore, arise from the same wrongful act.

A2 Tort and breach of contract

You will recall from the definition above that a tort is a breach of duty fixed by law, in other
words a general duty which the law imposes on everybody. In the law of contract (an
important branch of the civil law discussed in chapter 3) the duties are fixed by the parties
themselves and set out in the contract.

Example 2.2
Under an insurance contract, the insured has a duty to pay the premium and the insurers
have a duty to pay claims. These are not general duties but duties which arise voluntarily
by agreement.

Here, too, the same circumstances may sometimes give rise to a breach of contract
and a tort.

Example 2.3
• If A hires a taxi and is injured as a result of careless driving by the taxi driver (B), they
may be able to sue B for breach of contract (because a contractual duty to drive
carefully is implied in the agreement to hire the taxi) and for the tort of negligence.
• If a doctor (A) causes harm to a private patient (B) by improper medical treatment,
they may be sued by B both for breach of contract and negligence.

In these examples, however, there would be one set of proceedings only, in a civil court, and
the issues of negligence and breach of contract would be considered together.
 2/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

A3 Remedy of damages
Consider this
this…
…
Chapter 2

Look back to the definition of tort quoted in the introduction to this chapter. It states that
the remedy in tort is ‘an action for unliquidated damages’.

Refer to section N There are, in fact, other remedies in tort but damages is the main remedy under
for damages and
remedies common law.
We need only note here that damages mean financial compensation.

Be aware
You should not confuse this with the word damage which, in legal terms, means harm or
injury.

‘Unliquidated’ (or unspecified) means that the amount of damages is not fixed in advance
but will be decided by the court, according to the seriousness of the injury which has been
caused.
As we shall see in chapter 3, damages in contract are sometimes liquidated (or specified);
this means that the parties to a contract will have agreed, in advance, a fixed amount of
compensation to be paid if there is a breach of contract. We shall also see that each tort has
different ingredients and, although there is some overlap between the torts, there is no
general principle of liability which is common to them all. Some writers, therefore, refer to
the law of torts because this branch of the law contains a number of distinct legal wrongs,
rather than the law of tort, which suggests a single body of rules. However, both expressions
are used and both are acceptable.

B Classification of torts
It will help our understanding of the subject to look at various ways in which torts can be
classified.

B1 What interest is protected?

The general purpose of the law of torts is to protect people’s rights by allowing them to sue
if their interests are invaded, threatened or harmed.
However, different torts protect different interests. For example:

Defamation (libel and slander) Protects a person’s interest in their reputation.

Trespass to the person Protects a person against deliberate physical harm.

Private nuisance
nuisance,, trespass to land Protects a person’s interest in the land they occupy.

Breach of copyright or patent Protects a person’s interest in ‘intellectual property’ –

design i.e. creations of their own mind.

The interests protected by some torts are very broad. For example, in appropriate
circumstances, one can sue in negligence for death, bodily injury, mental injury, financial loss
or damage to land or goods.

B2 Is injury or damage required?

In most cases an action in tort will succeed only where the claimant has suffered some form
of injury, damage or loss. However, in some cases a tort may be actionable per se
(actionable in itself). This means that the claimant does not have to prove that they have
suffered loss or damage, only that the tort has been committed.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/5

Example 2.4
A major example is the tort of trespass, every form of which is actionable per se. So, for
example, one can sue a person for trespass to land without having to prove that the

Chapter 2
trespasser caused any damage to the land.

B3 What sort of wrongful behaviour is necessary?

Another way to classify torts is to look at the type of behaviour which the wrongdoer must
exhibit and, in particular, the degree of fault (if any) which is necessary.

B3A Intentional torts

Some types of tort are classed as ‘intentional torts’ as there is a requirement for intention on
the part of the defendant to commit the tortious act.

Example 2.5
The major example, again, is the tort of trespass. So, for instance, to deliberately strike a
person with an umbrella is trespass to the person. However, to do so accidentally is not a
trespass and, according to the modern view, nor is it a trespass to do so negligently.

Another intentional tort is that of deceit, which is committed where one person deliberately
makes a false statement to another with the intention that the other will rely upon it, and the
person who is misled suffers loss or damage as a result. This tort is referred to again in
chapter 3, section D6 (misrepresentation) and chapter 6, section C (breach of the
pre-contractual information duties).

B3B Torts requiring negligence or other fault

In some cases, there is no requirement of intentional conduct but negligence or other fault is
necessary if liability is to arise. The obvious example is the tort of negligence itself, but there
are many other torts where negligence or other fault is an essential agreement.

Example 2.6
Negligence is required in some forms of private nuisance and, even where no negligence
is required, the defendant’s conduct must at least be ‘unreasonable’. It goes without
saying that in these cases there will be no liability for conduct which is purely accidental,
i.e. where there is no fault on the part of the defendant.

B3C Strict liabilities

Sometimes a person may be held liable even though their actions are neither intentional nor
negligent. We call this strict liability, in other words, ‘no-fault’ liability.
As we shall see in chapter 3, liability in contract is normally strict, and it will usually be no
defence to a breach of contract for the defendant to plead that all reasonable care was
taken and there was no negligence on their part. Strict liability may arise in tort also.
A minor but interesting example is found in the rule in Rylands v. Fletcher (1868) and there Refer to section F
for Rylands v.
are many instances of strict liability arising under statute, some of which are discussed in this Fletcher (1868)
chapter. There is something of a tendency for the law to impose strict liability on people who
engage in particularly dangerous activities but to require fault where harm is caused through
activities which are not intrinsically dangerous.

Be aware
Finally, you should bear in mind that the existence of strict liability does not imply that
there can never be any defence against it. We will see that even in cases of strict liability
some defences may be available to the defendant.
 2/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B4 Malice or motive
We have seen above that liability in tort may depend on the existence of either negligence
Chapter 2

or intent in many cases.

The law of torts does not on the other hand usually concern itself with why the defendant
behaved in the way they did, in other words, the motive for their actions. This is why malice
is not usually relevant in the law of torts – malice in the legal sense meaning not just personal
spite or ill-will but any improper motive.
Because malice or motive is not usually relevant, a person who acts with the very best of
intentions in particular circumstances will still be held liable if the action is unlawful. On the
other hand, even if a person carries out an act with malicious intent, they will not be liable if
what they have done is not unlawful.
There are, nevertheless, one or two cases where malice is relevant in tort, as follows:
• malice is an essential ingredient in one or two minor torts, for example, malicious
prosecution and malicious falsehood;
• in the tort of defamation certain defences are not available if there is malice;
Refer to section E • in the tort of nuisance some actions which are normally reasonable (and, therefore, lawful)
for nuisance
will be held unreasonable (and, therefore, unlawful) if motivated by malice.
We will now examine, in outline only, some of the main torts.

C Trespass
We will begin with the tort of trespass because, in some ways, it is the easiest to understand.
It is also the oldest tort, with reported cases going back well over 500 years with origins that
date back much earlier. Many of the more modern torts (including negligence) grew out of
the law of trespass.
Trespass takes various forms but all forms have the following characteristics:

The act of the defendant There is no liability in trespass unless the injury or harm is caused directly.
must be direct: For example, if I hit a person with a stick or shoot them with a gun or
throw rubbish on their land, I may be liable in trespass. However, if I dump
rubbish in the road and a motorist collides with it and is injured, there is no
trespass because the injury is indirect. To succeed, the motorist would
probably need to sue in negligence, or possibly, public nuisance.

The act of the defendant There is certainly no liability in trespass for any purely accidental injury.
must be intentional: There is some doubt as to whether an action in trespass can be brought
for an act which is negligent rather than intentional.

The tort is actionable The claimant does not have to prove that they have suffered any loss or
per se: damage in order to succeed.

Trespass takes three main forms:

• Trespass to the person.
• Trespass to goods.
• Trespass to land.
We will look at each in turn.

C1 Trespass to the person

Trespass to the
person itself takes
three forms:

assault battery false imprisonment

Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/7

C1A Assault
An assault is any act of the defendant which directly causes the claimant to fear an attack on

Chapter 2
their person (which, as we shall see, is a ‘battery’). So, to point a loaded gun at the claimant
or wave a stick at them or make any threatening gesture is an assault. There has always been
doubt as to whether threatening words alone (without any accompanying gesture) could
amount to an assault.

Be aware
The legal definition of assault is different to that commonly used in everyday language.

Case example
However, in the historic case of Tuberville v. Savage (1669)
(1669), the words spoken actually
cancelled out what would otherwise have been an assault. The defendant had put his hand
on his sword and said ‘If it were not assize time, I would not take such language from you’,
meaning that he would have attacked the claimant if the (assize) judges had not been in
the district. This was not an assault because the presence of the judges in the district
meant that there was no prospect of the threat being carried out.

C1B Battery
Battery is the hostile application by the defendant of physical force, even though it may be
slight, to the claimant. So, shooting a person or hitting them with a stick is a battery.
You will appreciate that assault and battery typically go together but it is possible to have
one without the other: a real threat of violence which is not carried out is still an assault, and
a sudden attack from behind, where the claimant is never threatened or put in fear of
violence is a battery, but not an assault.

C1C False imprisonment

False imprisonment occurs when the defendant imposes total bodily restraint on the
claimant, preventing them from going where they want to go. The word ‘false’, in this case,
simply means wrongful.
No physical contact is necessary, so locking a person in a room which they have entered
voluntarily may be false imprisonment. The ‘imprisonment’ may be in a house, a prison or
mental institution (if a person is wrongfully detained there by the authorities) or even a
vehicle (if a person is locked in the vehicle or it is driven so fast that they cannot safely
get out).
Most actions for false imprisonment are brought against the police, prison authorities, store
detectives and other officials whose job involves detaining people from time to time.

C2 Trespass to goods
Trespass to goods occurs where the defendant directly and intentionally interferes with
goods which are in the possession of another. So, taking goods from the possession of
another is a trespass, as is moving them from one place to another, throwing things at them
or meddling with them in some other way. Other examples might include letting down the
tyres of a bicycle or scratching a car, which belongs to another person.

C2A Conversion
If the defendant deliberately deals with the goods in a way which is inconsistent with the
rights of the person who owns or possesses them, they can be sued for conversion. In this
case, the defendant does more than merely meddle or interfere with the goods.

Example 2.7
Merely moving goods from one place to another is a trespass but not a conversion,
whereas stealing goods or selling borrowed goods is a conversion.
 2/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 2.8
Wrongfully causing damage to another’s goods will always be a trespass but will amount
to a conversion only where the goods are effectively destroyed or made useless.
Chapter 2

Receiving goods which belong to another person may also be a conversion. So, if you are
unfortunate enough to buy a car or other property which has been stolen you must (in most
cases) give it back if the true owner turns up and claims it. If you refuse to do so, the owner
may sue you in conversion for the return of the goods.
Under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 the collective description ‘wrongful
interference with goods’ was introduced to cover trespass to goods, conversion and certain
other torts concerning goods. The Act simplified procedures and remedies relating to these
torts but did not change the common law principle which we have briefly described.

C3 Trespass to land
Trespass to land is the direct interference with land which is in the possession of another.
This is probably the most well-known form of trespass.
As we have suggested, the tort is actionable per se and no damage to the land need
necessarily occur for an action to be brought. If it was necessary to prove damage it would,
of course, be almost impossible to protect private property against trespassers. Trespass to
land must be intentional in the sense that the defendant must have intended to go on the
land in question. If the defendant enters private land by mistake it is, nevertheless, a
trespass, provided they intended to enter.
Trespass to land takes three forms:
• Unlawful entry onto the land of another.
• Unlawfully remaining on the land of another (i.e. where the defendant entered the land
lawfully but refuses to leave when their permission to be there has expired).
• Unlawfully placing or throwing any material object upon the land of another (such as
rubbish or litter).

Be aware
If a person enters land lawfully but abuses their right to be there they are treated as a
trespasser from the moment they entered the land. This is known as trespass ‘ab initio’
(‘from the beginning’).

The term ‘land’ generally includes anything beneath its surface and all space above the land,
so tunnelling beneath a person’s land or crossing their airspace may be a trespass. Non-
consumer (business) organisations often have statutory power to work beneath private land
to extract coal or other minerals. Similarly, aircraft operators are generally permitted to
overfly private land.

C4 Trespass and insurance

Consider this
this…
…
Would an act of trespass be covered under a standard insurance policy? If not, why not?

We have dealt only briefly with the tort of trespass because its relevance to insurance is
rather limited. You will appreciate that insurance policies only cover losses that are
‘fortuitous’, i.e. accidental, whereas actions that amount to a trespass in law will always be
deliberate in some sense. So, for example, an insurance company would not normally have to
pay for a claim against a person who had deliberately assaulted another person.
Nevertheless, some insurance policies do specifically cover the risk of trespass to land
or goods.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/9

Example 2.9
Public liability policies issued to contractors often cover the risk of trespass to the
property of third parties. However, these insurances would not cover damage that was

Chapter 2
caused deliberately, or cases where the insured was sued for trespass that was actionable
per se (i.e. when there was no loss or damage), since liability insurance policies respond
only when the claimant has suffered some form of harm.

Activity
Look at your own personal home contents insurance policy. Is there an exclusion for any
losses arising out of trespass?

D Negligence
Negligence is by far the most important tort today, particularly for insurers, and it is the
source of most tort cases which come before the courts. For example, virtually all actions
arising from motor vehicle accidents are based on negligence, and a high proportion of the
many cases arising from employment injuries are also negligence cases.
The concept of negligence has been known to the law for centuries and actions based on
negligence have their origin in the law of trespass. In the past, however, negligence was
most often pleaded in order to establish that some other legal wrong (such as trespass or
nuisance) had been committed – in other words, it was an ingredient of other torts.
Negligence is, essentially, a failure to take care in circumstances where the law demands that
care should be taken, giving rise to a claim for damages by the person who suffers harm as a
result. However, careless behaviour will not always amount to negligence.
For an action in negligence to succeed, there are three essentials:
• a duty of care owed by the defendant to the claimant;
• a breach of that duty by the defendant (negligence); and
• damage suffered by the claimant as a result of the negligent act.
It is important to note that only reasonably foreseeable losses that result from the negligent
act will be compensated.
We will look at each of these in turn.

D1 Duty of care
Originally the law recognised only a certain number of situations where a duty of care was
owed including, for example, that of one driver or other road user to another and that of an
employer towards their employees. An action in negligence would, therefore, fail if the case
fell outside the established categories. However, a general principle governing the duty of
care was established in the famous case of Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932)
(1932).
 2/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Case example
In Donoghue v. Stevenson, the claimant, May Donoghue, had visited a café with a friend
who had bought her a bottle of ginger beer. She drank some of this but when she poured
Chapter 2

out more, a decomposed snail emerged from the bottle. Although she was only mildly ill
as a result, she was persuaded to sue. She could not sue the café proprietor for breach of
contract because she did not buy the ginger beer, nor could she sue him for negligence,
because the drink was in an opaque bottle and the proprietor could not have known that
the snail was there. Therefore, she sued the manufacturers in negligence, and succeeded.
This was the first case in which it was held that a manufacturer owed a duty of care to the
consumer of their products (this being a new ‘category’ of negligence at the time). Even
more important, however, was the general principle which the case established, known as
the ‘neighbour principle’ or ‘neighbour test’. The principle of the ‘neighbour test’ comes
from the words of Lord Atkin, when he was discussing the duty of care in the
Donoghue case:
The rule that you are to love your neighbour becomes in law, you must not injure
your neighbour; and the lawyer’s question, Who is my neighbour? receives a
restricted reply. You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which
you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour. Who, then, in
law is my neighbour? The answer seems to be – persons who are so closely and
directly affected by my act that I ought reasonably to have them in contemplation
as being so affected when I am directing my mind to the acts or omissions which
are called in to question.

Be aware
The neighbour principle is, therefore, one of ‘reasonable foreseeability’. A duty of care is
owed to another person if it is reasonably foreseeable that they will be affected by one’s
acts or omissions.

The tort of negligence developed quickly after the Donoghue case because it was now clear
that the law was not rigidly tied down by precedent to established ‘duty’ situations: another
judge in the Donoghue case, Lord MacMillan, remarked that ‘the categories of negligence are
never closed’.
However, in recent years the courts have become more conservative in developing the law
of negligence. In addition to ‘foreseeability’, they emphasise the need for sufficient
‘proximity’ (closeness) between the defendant and the claimant and take the view also that
a duty of care should be imposed only where it is reasonable to do so.

D2 Breach of duty
A breach of duty occurs when the defendant fails to do what a ‘reasonable’ man would have
done in the circumstances, or does what a reasonable man would not have done.
Alternatively, we can say that a breach occurs when the defendant fails to take reasonable
precautions.

Consider this
this…
…
By whose standards do we judge what a ‘reasonable’ man would have done?

Under English law, the standard by which the defendant’s behaviour is judged is objective.
This means that the same standard applies to everybody.

Example 2.10
Anybody who drives a car is expected to meet a basic standard of competence: the
standard expected does not vary according to whether the driver is a learner or a
professional racing driver.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/11

However, a defendant who holds himself out as having some particular skill or ability will be
expected to exercise that skill in a competent fashion.

Chapter 2
Example 2.11
A professional person such as a doctor will be judged by the standards prevailing in the
medical profession and not according to the medical knowledge of the ‘man in the street’.

Whether a breach has occurred is a question of fact, to be decided by the court in the light
of all the circumstances of the case. The courts do, however, take into account a number of
factors in examining the question, including:
• the magnitude of the risk involved in the defendant’s activities (i.e. the likelihood of
damage being caused and the potential seriousness of such damage);
• the ease with which the risk could have been eliminated or reduced and the potential
costs involved; and
• the current state of scientific or technical knowledge.
In short, the greater the risk presented by the defendant’s activities, the greater will be the
care expected of them. In the case of the most hazardous activities (such as operating a
nuclear power station), the utmost care and the greatest precautions will be demanded,
even if the costs involved are high. On the other hand, where the risk or injury is trivial or
remote (such as when playing table tennis), the courts will not expect any elaborate and
expensive precautions to be taken. In other words, while the defendant is expected to take
‘reasonable precautions’ in any case, what is reasonable will depend on the circumstances.

D3 Damage
Be aware
Any degree of damage is actionable in negligence unless it is absolutely trivial.

Damage may take a number of forms, including death, bodily injury and damage to property.
There are no special rules regarding liability in these cases. However, the rules governing the
amount of compensation to be awarded for death and bodily injury (which are outside the
scope of this course) are complex. However, there are special considerations where the
damage takes the form of nervous shock or financial loss, and these are discussed
separately later.

D3A Causation and remoteness of damage

A defendant is not liable in negligence (or tort generally) for every loss which has some
connection with their wrongful act. The law attempts to place a reasonable limit on the
defendant’s responsibilities by releasing them from liability where the damage is ‘too
remote’.
Originally the ‘test’ for remoteness of damage was based purely on causation: the defendant
was liable for any injury or damage which was caused directly by their negligence, but was
not liable for indirect consequences. This principle was rejected and overruled by the Privy
Council in 1961.
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Case example
Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v. Mort
Mort’’s Dock and Engineering Co Ltd (1961) (often
referred to as ‘The Wagon Mound
Mound’’)
Chapter 2

This case established a new test based on foreseeability: damage would be too remote if
it was of a type which was not reasonably foreseeable.
The facts were that men employed by the defendants negligently spilt fuel oil into Sydney
Harbour. The oil mixed with cotton waste and other debris and spread to the claimant’s
wharf where welding operations were causing sparks to fall into the water. The sparks
caused the oil to ignite, setting fire to the claimant’s wharf.
Although the fire was a direct result of the defendant’s negligence (which satisfied the
‘old test’), the Court held that the damage was too remote because it was of a type which
was not reasonably foreseeable. At the time, apparently, it was not known that oil could
catch fire in this way.
While The Wagon Mound was an Australian case, the decision has since been followed in
England and Wales. You will appreciate that the test for remoteness is not the same as the
‘neighbour’ test although both involve foreseeability. The defendants owed a duty of care
to the claimants in The Wagon Mound case because some damage was foreseeable
(perhaps contamination by the oil), but the type of damage which did occur was not
foreseeable. Therefore, it was too remote.

The decision on The Wagon Mound did not alter an old common law rule that ‘you take your
victim as you find him’. This rule applies in what are known as ‘thin skull’ or ‘eggshell skull’
cases. These are cases where the damage is not reasonably foreseeable because it results
from some pre-existing physical weakness or defect in the claimant of which the defendant
is not aware.

Case example
skull’’ rule: Smith v. Leech Brain and Co. Ltd (1961)
‘Thin skull
In this case, a worker had pre-malignant cancer of the lip which was activated when a blob
of molten metal struck him through the negligence of a fellow employee, and he died of
the disease. Although death from such an apparently trivial injury was quite
unforeseeable, the employers were fully liable. Cases such as this are an exception to the
general rule that no claim lies for damage which is not foreseeable.
Remoteness of damage: Abouzaid v. Mothercare (UK) Ltd (2001)
A 12-year-old boy was left blind in his left eye after attempting to attach a sleeping bag to
a pushchair. The sleeping bag had two elasticated straps and, when the boy attempted to
buckle the straps together, they slipped from his grasp. The strap with the metal buckle
recoiled and hit his left eye.
The boy sued the defendants who sold the sleeping bag through their stores for
compensation. His argument that the defendants were negligent was dismissed. This was
on the basis that a reasonable person in the position of the defendants would not have
realised there was a real risk that people like the claimant might suffer some form of
physical injury as a result of the sleeping bag being designed the way it was. Before the
claimant was injured, there was no reason for anyone to think that someone using the
sleeping bag could suffer this kind of accident.
The claim did, however, ultimately succeed on the basis of product liability under the
1987. The court accepted that there was a defect in the product
Consumer Protection Act 1987
in this case as no warning or instructions were included in the product by the
manufacturer as to the incident occurred.

Although the main test for remoteness is now ‘reasonable foreseeability’ the issue of
causation is still important. If the defendant’s negligence was not the direct cause of the
damage, they will not be responsible for it and the issue of foreseeability need not even be
considered.
Where the ‘chain of causation’ leading from the defendant’s negligent act is broken by a
‘novus actus interveniens’ (‘new intervening cause’), the defendant will not be responsible
for any damage which occurs subsequently.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/13

D4 Negligent misstatement
Originally there was no liability in tort for negligent words or negligent advice, only for

Chapter 2
negligent acts. Liability for negligent advice could arise only where there was a contract
between the parties. This meant that professional people who gave bad advice could be
sued only by their clients, who would have a contractual relationship with them. They would
not be liable to other people who suffered loss as a result.
The law was changed by the decision of the House of Lords in Hedley Byrne v. Heller and
Partners (1963)
(1963).

Case example
This case established, for the first time, that liability could arise in tort for negligent
misstatement. As we shall see, it established also a new category of liability in tort for pure
economic loss.
The facts were that the claimants had contacted the defendants, who were bankers to a
firm with which they were about to do business, for a reference. The defendants gave a
good reference concerning the firm’s credit-worthiness, although the document was
headed by the words ‘Without Responsibility’ – a disclaimer of liability. The claimants
acted on this misleading report (the firm was in trouble) and gave substantial credit, so
that they lost heavily when the firm went into liquidation. They sued the defendants and
the House of Lords held that the bankers would have been liable in negligence if they had
not expressly disclaimed liability.

Liability under the Hedley Byrne rule arises where:

• there is a ‘special relationship’ between the parties (but not a contract) where it is
reasonable for the claimant to rely on the advice given;
• the giver of the advice can reasonably foresee that the advice is likely to be acted upon
and that the recipient is likely to suffer if it is inaccurate; and
• the advice is, in fact, acted upon, causing loss to the claimant.
The key element in the Hedley Byrne case was the ‘reliance’ on the part of the claimant.
However, the Hedley Byrne rule has expanded in recent years and it is clear that the rule now
applies not just to negligent ‘advice’ or ‘statements’ but to negligent professional work
generally, including the drawing up of plans, the carrying out of surveys and similar
activities. Furthermore, it is now clear that actual ‘reliance’ on the part of the claimant is not
necessary, provided there was an assumption of responsibility towards the claimant by the
defendant.

D5 Economic (or financial) loss

Consider this
this…
…
A negligent act which causes physical damage may cause economic loss as well. If
contractors negligently set fire to a factory the result may be physical damage to the
premises but what other losses may be incurred?

The factory owner may also suffer economic loss, in the form of production lost while the
damage is repaired.
Where economic or financial loss accompanies physical damage and results directly from it, Refer to
section D3A for
the defendant is liable for such loss, provided the economic loss is not too remote. However, remoteness
the courts have been reluctant to allow claims in tort for ‘pure’ economic loss, that is, claims
for financial loss which is not accompanied by any physical damage to the claimant or their
property.
 2/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Case example
In Spartan Steel and Alloys v. Martin and Co. (Contractors) Ltd (1973)
(1973), the defendants
negligently cut through a cable carrying electricity to the claimant’s factory, interrupting
Chapter 2

the power supply for 15 hours. Metal in the claimant’s furnaces was damaged, reducing its
value by £368. The claimants also claimed for £400 profit they would have made on this
‘melt’ and a further £1,767 for profit on four further melts which they would normally have
completed in the time that the electricity was cut. The court held that they could recover
only the loss in value of the metal actually in the furnaces and the profit on that metal
(£768). The rest of the loss was a pure financial loss which was not related to any physical
damage which the firm had suffered.

It appeared at one time that the courts might extend the boundaries of pure economic loss
in tort and develop new categories of liability. However, the principle in Spartan Steel (no
liability in tort for any economic loss which does not flow directly from some physical
damage suffered by the claimant) has been reaffirmed in a series of subsequent cases.
The one clear exception to the rule that pure financial loss is not recoverable in tort is the
Hedley Byrne principle, discussed above – that is, cases where there is a ‘special relationship’
between the parties and pure financial loss is suffered when the claimant acts in reliance on
negligent advice given by the defendant.

Be aware
Finally, you should understand that these restrictions apply only to the law of torts. Where
there is a contract between the parties, economic loss resulting from a breach of the
contract is always recoverable. The law of contract generally is considered in chapter 4.

D6 Psychiatric illness
Activity
Public interest in the subject of psychiatric illness has increased as a result of coverage
given by the media to a series of recent disasters in the UK. Look at archive press
coverage of ‘PTSD’ (post traumatic stress disorder) suffered by survivors and rescuers
involved in the Kings Cross Underground fire, the Piper Alpha explosion and fire and,
particularly, the catastrophe at the Hillsborough football stadium in 1989.

This is an area where legal liability is expanding. The expansion has been caused, at least in
part, by medical advances that have led to a better understanding of psychiatric illnesses
and greater confidence in their diagnosis.

D6A Who can sue in negligence for psychiatric illness?

The first point to make is that a person who suffers bodily injury will always be allowed to
recover damages for any psychiatric harm that accompanies it: there are no special rules or
restrictions. Thus, a person who suffers bodily injury in a car accident caused by the
negligence of another will be entitled to additional damages for any psychiatric illness that
results from the accident.

Consider this
this…
…
What about the classic case of the victim who suffers psychiatric illness as a result of
witnessing a terrible accident caused by the negligence of another? Should they be able
to recover damages even though they have not suffered any bodily injury? What about
someone who develops psychiatric illness that results from stress at work?

The position is less simple when the negligent act of one person causes psychiatric illness in
another without the latter having incurred any bodily harm.
Before looking at the various types of claimant we should emphasise that:
• claims for psychiatric illness are subject to the general principles of the law of negligence,
including the usual requirement of foreseeability; and
• only those claimants who suffer a recognisable psychiatric illness will succeed.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/15

There is no liability for ‘mere’ grief or sorrow – for that which is not the symptom of an illness.
In practice, the vast majority of successful claims are for the illness known as post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).

Chapter 2
Be aware
Successful claimants are likely to fall into one of two broad categories:
• Those who suffer psychiatric illness as a consequence of an ‘accident’, caused by the
negligence of another, in which people are injured or put in danger (lawyers use the
term ‘nervous shock’ to cover this sort of case).
• Those who suffer psychiatric illness by some other means.

D6B ‘Nervous shock

shock’’ cases
If a person develops a psychiatric illness following the shock of witnessing a terrible accident
caused by the negligence of another, and seeks damages, they will have to establish that
they fall within a class of persons to whom a duty of care is owed. At present there are two
main categories – primary and secondary victims.

Primary victims Persons who suffer shock through fear for their own safety. This category of
claimant was the first to be recognised by English law.

Case example
In the decision of the House of Lords, Page v. Smith (1996)
(1996), it was held that a primary
victim of this type need only prove that some form of injury was foreseeable in order to
recover compensation. They do not have to establish foreseeability of psychiatric injury.
In Page, the claimant suffered a reoccurrence of myalgic encephalomyelitis (‘M.E.’)
following a collision with a car negligently driven by the defendant. Whether this
particular illness was foreseeable did not matter, given that some form of personal injury
was foreseeable.

Secondary victims Persons who suffer shock through fear for the safety of others. As the
twentieth century progressed, the law came to recognise claims by persons
who suffered shock through fear for the safety of persons other than
themselves.

The scope of the duty owed to secondary victims was set out by the House of Lords in an
appeal that arose from litigation surrounding the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium
disaster.

Case example
This was in the important case of Alcock v. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police
(1992). The South Yorkshire police, who were responsible for policing the match,
(1992)
negligently allowed an excessive number of football supporters to enter the ground with
the result that 96 people were crushed to death and many more were injured. The cases of
16 claimants were considered in Alcock. They, themselves, had not suffered bodily injury
and nor had they been at risk, but they had suffered psychiatric injury through witnessing
the plight of others. The House of Lords held that in cases such as this, foreseeability alone
was not a sufficient test of liability.

The court held that ‘secondary victims’ such as these should not be entitled to damages
unless they could also establish proximity in terms of:
• their relationship with the immediate victim: this had to be characterised by a ‘close tie of
love and affection’;
• their closeness in space or time to the incident or its immediate aftermath; and
• the means by which they learned about the accident, which had to be through their own
unaided senses.
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The effect of the decision was to deny compensation to claimants who were not closely
related to the immediate victims of the Hillsborough disaster, those who were affected by
the disaster only after it had occurred and those who were not present at the ground but
Chapter 2

saw the events unfold on television.

Some police officers who carried out ‘rescue’ work at the Hillsborough disaster initially won
damages for ‘nervous shock’ in claims against their employers.
However, the decisions were later reversed by the House of Lords.

Case example
In White v. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police (1999)
(1999), the House of Lords held
that the Chief Constable owed his police officers a duty to take reasonable steps to
protect them from physical harm, but that duty did not extend to protecting them from
psychiatric injury when there was no breach of duty to protect them from physical injury.
In other words, ‘rescuers’ such as the police officers in question, who were not in any
danger of physical injury themselves, were to be classified as ‘secondary’ victims.
Accordingly, they would only recover damages if they were able to fulfil the additional
control tests laid down by the House of Lords in Alcock, including a ‘close tie of love and
affection’ with immediate victims.

D6C Other sources of liability for psychiatric illness

Beyond these ‘nervous shock’ cases are those where nobody has been injured or put in
danger. We can divide them as follows:
1. Psychiatric illness caused by stress at work.

Case example
The leading case under this heading is Walker v. Northumberland County Council (1995)
where it was held that a senior local authority social worker was entitled to recover
damages in respect of a nervous breakdown, caused by stress and pressure of work,
which forced him to stop work permanently. Six months earlier, he had suffered a similar
breakdown but little had been done to ease his burden. Although it was not reasonably
foreseeable to the local authority that the claimant’s workload would give rise to the risk
of mental illness in the case of the first breakdown, the second was foreseeable, given
what had happened before. In the light of the first breakdown, the local authority should
have provided additional help to prevent it happening again.

Refer to Harassment by colleagues or employees of another employee can also cause or

section H3 for
vicarious liability contribute to stress at work, leading to psychiatric illness. Here, the employer may be
vicariously liable, provided the harassment would be actionable in tort against the
perpetrator. For harassment of a sexual or racial nature, an employer is liable for all acts
of its employees committed in the course of employment and, in this case, damages
may be awarded for injury to feelings not amounting to psychiatric injury.
2. ‘Phobia’ cases.
Most of these are cases where employees who have been exposed to something
harmful (such as asbestos) through their employer’s negligence are not yet physically
ill but develop a psychiatric illness as a result of a well-founded fear for what the future
may hold for them. However, this principle could also apply to people who suffer
negligent exposure to hazardous substances when not in the course of employment.
3. Miscellaneous cases.
These include cases where the claimant has suffered psychiatric injury as a result of
witnessing damage to property; it seems that people can form an attachment to
property that is just as strong as their attachment to fellow human beings.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/17

E Nuisance
Nuisance is a tort which is ancient in origin and, as in the case of trespass, the development

Chapter 2
of the modern tort of negligence has reduced its importance somewhat.
Nuisance can take two forms:
• Public nuisance.
• Private nuisance.

E1 Public nuisance
Public nuisance has been defined as the ‘carrying on of an activity which is likely to cause
inconvenience or annoyance to the public, or a section of the public, or interference with a
right common to all’.

Example 2.12
Public nuisance could arise if toxic fumes from a factory engulf a whole neighbourhood or
if noise from a nightclub keeps the whole local community awake.

However, by far the most prevalent area of liability is nuisance on the highway, either by the
defendant blocking or obstructing it, or making it unsafe to use.
The point is that the use of the highway is an important public right which the law is keen to
protect.
Public nuisance is treated as a crime because it affects the public at large. However, an
individual who suffers ‘special damage’, i.e. loss or inconvenience which is greater than that
suffered by the general public, may bring a civil action.

Example 2.13
Digging a hole in the road might amount to a public nuisance (since it inconveniences the
public as a whole) but an individual who suffers injury as a result of falling in the hole
might be able to bring an action in tort for damages.

Actions in nuisance will generally succeed only where there is an element of repetition in the
interference or it amounts to a continuous state of affairs.

E2 Private nuisance
The prime purpose of the tort of private nuisance is to protect a person’s interest in
their land.
A private nuisance is an unlawful interference with a person’s use or enjoyment of their land
(which includes houses and buildings attached to it).

E2A Forms of private nuisance

The interference on the part of the defendant may take either one of two forms:
• wrongfully allowing noxious (i.e. harmful) things to escape from their own property so as
to interfere with the claimant’s land (such as noise, smoke, smells, vibration, damp or
vermin); or
• wrongful interference with servitudes, or rights attaching to the claimant’s land (such as
rights of way, rights to light or rights of support to land or buildings).

E2B Damage
For the interference to be actionable, damage must result. This means that the interference
must either cause actual physical damage to the land or at least adversely affect the
claimant’s use and enjoyment of it.
 2/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 2.14
If the claimant is unable to sit comfortably in their garden because of excessive and
continual noise from neighbouring property this might amount to a nuisance even though
Chapter 2

the land itself is not harmed.

Be aware
Damage in the form of personal injury is not actionable in nuisance, because the object of
the tort is to protect a person’s interest in their land rather than in their person. However,
personal injury is actionable in public nuisance and, of course, in other torts such as
negligence or trespass to the person.

E2C Interference must be ‘unreasonable

unreasonable’’
The law of nuisance attempts to create a fair balance between ‘neighbours’ by allowing
people to make reasonable use of their own land but preventing unreasonable use of land
which will adversely affect others. It is recognised that there must be some ‘give and take’
between neighbours so not every trivial interference will amount to a nuisance in law.

E2D Who may sue and who is sued?

The claimant in a nuisance case will usually be the occupier of the land which is affected,
who may be the owner-occupier or a tenant.
The person who is sued (the defendant) is the person who creates the nuisance. This will
normally be the occupier of the property from which the nuisance comes.

Be aware
However, a landlord could be liable if they create a nuisance and then let the property, or
authorises a tenant to commit a nuisance or allows a nuisance created by a third party to
remain.

E2E Defences and remedies

Defences generally are dealt with later in section L. However, a special defence in nuisance is
available under the Prescription Act 1832
1832. This provides that if the defendant can establish
that the actionable nuisance has existed openly and continuously for at least 20 years, their
right to continue with the activity in question cannot be challenged.
It is no defence in nuisance that ‘the claimant came to the nuisance’. Equally, it is no defence
to claim that the activity which gives rise to the alleged nuisance is to the benefit of the
community.
Refer to section N The usual remedies for nuisance will be damages or an injunction. However, the claimant
for remedies
may also employ ‘reasonable self help’ to abate (stop) a nuisance, for example, by cutting off
roots or branches which project from a neighbour’s trees.

E2F Nuisance and insurance

The majority of liability insurance claims are founded on negligence, and claims based solely
on the tort of nuisance are likely to be quite rare. However, work done by builders and other
contractors can sometimes cause damage to adjoining property that leads to claims in
nuisance.
Most forms of liability insurance require some form of concrete injury, loss or damage to
occur before the policy will respond, whereas claims in nuisance may be based on a mere
interference with the enjoyment of land. This interference could arise, for example, from
excessive noise or unpleasant smells that cause no damage as such. Liability insurers are
unlikely to become involved in cases of this sort.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/19

F Rule in Rylands v. Fletcher

The rule developed in the case of Rylands v. Fletcher (1868) and is generally regarded as a

Chapter 2
separate form of nuisance. It is an example of strict liability – that is, liability that can arise
even where there is no fault or negligence.

Case example
Rylands v. Fletcher (1868)
The circumstances of the case were that the defendant employed independent
contractors to construct a reservoir on his land to supply water to his mill. In the course of
construction, the contractors came across some disused mine shafts filled with earth
which, unknown to the defendant and the contractors, communicated with the claimant’s
mine. After the work was completed, and the reservoir was filled, one of the shafts gave
way and water burst through the old workings and flooded into the claimant’s colliery. It
was found as a fact that the defendant had not been negligent. Nevertheless, the
defendant was held liable and the judgment was confirmed by the House of Lords on
appeal. The ‘rule’ is contained in the judgment of Blackburn, J, in the lower court:
We think that the true rule of law is that a person who, for his own purposes,
brings on his lands and collects and keeps there anything likely to cause mischief if
it escapes, must keep it at his peril, and if he does not do so, is prima facie
answerable for all the damage which is the natural consequence of its escape.

The House of Lords’ decision in Transco Plc v. Stockport MBC (2004) seems to establish
that the Rylands v. Fletcher rule applies where A has brought onto, or kept on, some land an
exceptionally dangerous or mischievous thing in extraordinary or unusual circumstances. If
the thing escapes from A’s land and consequently damages B’s land, and if the kind of
damage that the thing causes is a kind that was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of
such an escape, then B will be entitled to sue A for compensation for that damage unless A
can raise a defence to B’s claim. This type of claim is therefore relatively rare.
Although the rule in Rylands v. Fletcher imposes strict liability, the following defences are
available:
• consent of the claimant;
• act of God;
• unexpected act of a stranger; or
• statutory authority.
We will look at general defences in tort in section L.

G Breach of statutory duty

The torts we have looked at so far are part of the common law and developed almost
entirely through decisions of the courts over the years. Other torts are to a greater or lesser
degree the product of statute law. In some cases, the statute in question was passed merely
to rationalise or ‘tidy up’ the existing common law rules with, perhaps, some small changes.
This is the case with the Occupiers
Occupiers’’ Liability Act 1957 and the Occupiers
Occupiers’’ Liability Act 1984
which are discussed later. It is not usual to describe a case brought under this sort of
legislation as an action for breach of statutory duty because the underlying rules are those of
the common law.
However, Parliament has in other cases created new duties by legislation which are quite
distinct from those of the common law. An action for breach of statutory duty is an
appropriate description for civil actions brought under statutes of this sort.
The main period of development of the tort was the nineteenth century when a large amount
of statute law was passed in the field of industrial safety, with a view to improving conditions
in factories and other places of work.
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Example 2.15
Section 41(1A) of the Highways Act 1980 provides that the highway authority for a
particular highway owes the highway’s users a statutory duty to maintain it. It states ‘In
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particular, a highway authority is under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably

practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.’ A
breach of these duties gives rise to an action for breach of statutory duty.
However, s.58(1) of the Act provides a defence for the highway authority if it proves that it
took reasonable steps to see that the highway would be reasonably safe to travel.
Therefore, a claim by a user of a highway who is injured or whose property has been
harmed because the highway authority failed to ensure that the highway was properly
maintained may be met by this defence.
Moreover, s.41(1A) is limited to doing what is reasonably practicable to clear the highway
of snow or ice.

Breach of statutory duty, thus, developed as a tort in its own right, distinct from negligence.
To succeed in an action for breach of statutory duty the claimant must establish the
following:
1. That the statute was intended by Parliament to allow a civil remedy.
There is no automatic right to claim compensation if one is harmed as a result of
someone else’s failure to comply with a statute or regulation. To succeed in an action
the claimant must prove that Parliament intended to give people the right to sue for
damages.
2. The statute must impose a duty on the defendant and not merely a power.
The statute must impose a positive obligation on the defendant to do something (such
as to fence dangerous machinery). No action can be brought where the statute merely
gives the defendant permission or a power to do a particular thing.
3. The claimant must prove that the statutory duty was owed to them.
Statutes are often passed for the benefit of particular classes of person, for example,
workers in factories or mines. In this case, the claimant must prove that they belong to
the class of person which the statute was intended to protect.
4. There must be a breach of the duty by the defendant.
In some cases, the duty will be strict and no negligence on the part of the defendant
need be proved.
5. The damage suffered by the claimant must be caused by the breach and be of a kind
which was contemplated by the statute.

H Employers
Employers’’ liability
This part of the law of torts is concerned with the liability of the employer for injuries
suffered by employees in the course of their employment. Because employment injuries are
very common, there is a large body of case and statute law on the subject.

Be aware
You should understand, however, that the general principles of the law of torts apply to
accidents at work and the rules in this field are not essentially different from those which
apply to other sorts of injury.

H1 Liability in negligence at common law

Employers’’ liability for injuries to their employees can arise in a number of ways. First, an
Employers
employee may have a claim for negligence at common law. However, where employment
injuries are concerned the general duty of care which an employer owes to their employees
is usually broken down into a number of more specific duties.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/21

The employer must take reasonable care to:

• select competent staff;

Chapter 2
• provide and maintain proper plant, premises and equipment; and
• provide a safe system of work.
As we have suggested, the duties described above are best regarded as a distinct branch of
the tort of negligence. The employer’s duty at common law is, therefore, not strict but rather
a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of their employees. However, the standard of
care demanded of employers by the law is high, much as it is for those who drive motor
vehicles.

H2 Health and safety at work

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 takes the general common law duties of the
employer mentioned above and makes them subject to the criminal law.
Substantial criminal penalties, including unlimited fines and imprisonment of up to two years,
can be imposed under the Act, and both employers and employees may be subject to its
sanctions. The Act applies to all places of work, all employees and some persons who are not
employees.
Section 2(1) of the Act provides:

It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the
health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

Section 47(1)(a) of the 1974 Act makes it clear that breach of the duty under s.2(1) will not be
not civilly actionable. As a result, an employer cannot be sued for breach of statutory duty if
they breach the general duty that they owe their employees under s.2 of the Act.
Section 15 of the 1974 Act gives the Government power to create statutory regulations
governing health and safety in the workplace. Previously, s.47(2) provided that a breach of a
duty arising under these regulations would be civilly actionable unless the regulations
provide otherwise. However, this has now been reversed by s.69 of the Enterprise and
2013. This amends s.47(2) so that a breach of duty under health and
Regulatory Reform Act 2013
safety regulations will not be civilly actionable unless those regulations expressly provide
that it should be.
As all the health and safety regulations passed between 1974 and 2013 were created in the
expectation that their breach would automatically be civilly actionable, it is unlikely that any
of them expressly provide this. As a result, virtually none of these regulations can now be
relied on to bring a claim against an employer.
One set of regulations which seems to be unaffected by s.69 of the 2013 Act is the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 1999. This states that an employer
may be sued if an accident at work is attributable to an employer’s failure to implement a
suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

H3 Vicarious liability
This is an appropriate point at which to introduce the concept of the common law doctrine
of vicarious liability
liability, which is of particular importance in the field of employers’ liability.
Liability is said to be ‘vicarious’ when one person is held liable for wrongs committed by
another. Vicarious liability is, therefore, not a tort or a wrong in itself but a way in which
liability may be imposed: a person may be directly liable for their own torts or vicariously
liable for torts committed by others.

Example 2.16
The key (but not the only) example of vicarious liability in tort arises from the relationship
of ‘master and servant’, which effectively means employer and employee.
The rule is that an employer is vicariously liable for the torts committed by an employee in
the course of their employment.
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This means that where a worker injures a fellow employee in the course of their job, or
injures somebody who is not a fellow employee (such as a visitor to the premises), the victim
can claim compensation from the employer, who is vicariously liable.
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Consider this
this…
…
Why has liability for their employees’ actions been imposed upon the employer?

One reason for imposing liability on the employer is apparent. The employer (a firm or
corporation in most cases) is much more likely to have the financial means to pay the claim
than the individual employee. Furthermore, the employer is likely to have insurance cover for
accidents of this sort. In the case of injury to an employee, insurance is (in most cases)
compulsory under the Employers
Employers’’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 19691969.

Be aware
Historically, it has not been possible to hold an organisation vicariously liable for the
actions of an independent contractor, Recently, however, the Court of Appeal has held
that the independent contractor defence is no longer recognised for vicarious liability
claims.

In Barclays Bank v. Various Claimants (2018)

(2018), the Court of Appeal upheld a 2017 High Court
decision that Barclays Bank should be held liable for alleged sexual assaults committed by
an independently contracted doctor. The High Court had applied the two stage test as laid
down in Cox v. Ministry of Justice (2016)
(2016):
1. Is the relevant relationship one of employment or ‘akin to employment’?
2. Is the tort sufficiently closely connected with that employment or quasi employment?
The courts were satisfied that the five criteria applicable to stage one (as identified by Lord
Philips in Catholic Child Welfare Society and Others v. Various claimants and Others
(2012)) had been met. The five criteria are:
(2012)
1. The employer is more likely to have the means to compensate the victim than the
employee and can be expected to have insured against that liability.
2. The tort will have been committed as a result of activity being taken by the employee
on behalf of the employer.
3. The employee’s activity is likely to be part of the business activity of the employer.
4. The employer, by employing the employee to carry on the activity, will have created
the risk of the tort committed by the employee.
5. The employee will, to a greater or lesser degree, have been under the control of the
employer.
Substituting tortfeasor (or wrongdoer) for employee, the courts have been able to establish
a relationship akin to employment for independent contractors, and therefore find vicarious
liability. Although the second stage of the test was not appealed, the Court of Appeal
reiterated that the ‘medical examinations were sufficiently closely connected with the
relationship between [the independently contracted doctor] and [Barclays]. They were the
whole purpose of that relationship’.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/23

I Liability for defective or dangerous

premises

Chapter 2
Consider this
this…
…
What is the legal position if someone is injured while visiting your office premises? Who is
responsible? Would the position be different if they were an invited guest, or a contractor
mending equipment or someone who entered without permission?

People are quite frequently injured when visiting unsafe or badly maintained premises. Even
where the building itself is safe, the visitor may come into contact with unexpected hazards,
such as dangerous machinery, vicious animals or toxic materials.
Under the old common law there were special rules governing the liability of occupiers of
land or buildings towards visitors who suffered injury because of defects in the premises or
dangers which were present there. The rules were complicated because the duty of care
owed by the occupier depended on the status of the person who was injured. A high
standard of care had to be exercised with regard to guests who were invited onto the
premises but a lower standard applied to other people, such as contractors or officials who
entered as of right. No positive duty was owed to trespassers although the occupier could
not set traps (such as guns activated by trip wires or mantraps) which were deliberately
intended to injure them.

I1 Occupiers
Occupiers’’ Liability Act 1957
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 was passed to simplify the old common law rules. Under
the 1957 Act a ‘common duty of care’ (i.e. the same duty of care) is owed to all visitors
present on the land of another, that is all persons who are not trespassers. The duty is:
… a duty to take such care as in all the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see
that the visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for
which he is invited or permitted by the occupier to be there.
In most cases, this duty will be much the same as the general duty of care imposed by the
law of negligence.

I2 Trespassers
The 1957 Act did not change the law concerning trespassers to whom no positive duty was
owed. However, in British Railways Board v. Herrington (1972) British Rail were found liable
when a child trespasser, in an area where children were known to play, climbed through a
gap in their fence and was severely injured upon coming into contact with a live electrified
rail. The House of Lords held, for the first time, that occupiers of land owed a duty of
‘common humanity’ to trespassers.

I3 Occupiers
Occupiers’’ Liability Act 1984
The principles established in the Herrington case were put into statutory form in the
Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984. Accordingly, the 1984 Act extends a duty of care to
trespassers and other ‘uninvited entrants’. There are, however, limitations on this duty when
compared to the broader duty to visitors under OLA 1957:
• A duty is owed only if the occupier knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that the
danger exists and the trespasser is/may come into its vicinity.
• The risk must also be one against which the occupier may reasonably be expected to offer
a trespasser some protection.
• The only protected forms of damage are death and personal injury, with no duty in
relation to property.
It should be noted that visitors and trespassers are owed only a duty to take such steps as
will make them reasonably safe. Trespassers, for their part, are owed duties only in respect
of hazards of which occupiers are or should be aware, and only if the occupier should be
aware of their presence.
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Finally, we should stress that under English law liability for dangerous or defective premises
is generally placed on the occupier rather than the owner of premises. Persons who own but
do not occupy the land in question are liable only in exceptional cases.
Chapter 2

J Liability for defective products

Product liability is also an important area of law because defective products are another
common source of injury and damage.

Example 2.17
• Defective electrical equipment is a frequent cause of fire or bodily injury.
• Products made for direct human consumption, such as foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals
can result in serious illness if they are unsafe.

Where a person suffers harm from goods supplied by another there may be more than one
legal remedy. This will depend upon whether the person who suffered the injury was the
buyer of the product which caused the injury.
If the victim was the buyer of the goods, they will usually be able to sue the seller for breach
of contract. This branch of the civil law is considered in chapter 3.
If the victim was NOT the buyer of the goods:
• an action in contract will not be possible; and
• their only legal remedy will be an action in tort.
An action in tort may be based either on negligence or under the Consumer Protection
Act 1987
1987.

J1 Negligence
Refer to section D If the action is based on simple negligence the ordinary rules governing this tort will apply.
for negligence
The parties need not be buyer and seller.
Any person who suffers harm as a result of a defect in the goods can sue. Any person whose
negligence caused the defect, or allowed the defect to harm the claimant can be held liable.
Liability may, therefore, be attached to a manufacturer, wholesaler, carrier, retailer or any
other person in the chain of supply who acted negligently.

J2 Consumer Protection Act 1987

Negligence arises from a failure to take reasonable care: it goes without saying that an
action cannot succeed when the defendant is not at fault. However, proving negligence can
sometimes be difficult and may involve prolonged litigation. It has frequently been argued
that a person who suffers injury from a defective product should be entitled to damages
without the need to establish fault. Tragic cases, such as the birth defects arising from the
use of the drug Thalidomide in the 1960s, and the difficulty which claimants faced in
establishing liability on the part of the manufacturers, created pressure for a change in the
law which would make it easier for victims to recover compensation. It was argued that
liability for defective products should operate on a no-fault basis – in other words that there
should be strict liability.
Eventually a form of strict liability for defective products was introduced in the Consumer
Protection Act 1987. The immediate source was an EC Directive on liability for defective
products which the Act carries into English law. Under the Act a producer is liable for
personal injury, or damage in excess of £275 to property used for private purposes caused
by a defect in their product.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/25

Who is the producer? The producer is defined as the manufacturer, or the person who has won or
abstracted materials (such as a company which extracts oil or mines
minerals) or who has processed material which has not been manufactured

Chapter 2
or abstracted (such as a processor of agricultural products). Liability is
imposed also on a person who puts their ‘own brand’ on a product made by
somebody else or imports it from outside the EU.

What is the product? A product is defined as any goods or electricity including property
comprised in another product as component or raw material. A house or
other building is probably not a product within the meaning of the Act,
although components in a house are included, as are vehicles and
components of vehicles. The product must be one intended for private use.

When is the product According to the Act a product is defective when ‘the safety of the product
defective? is not such as persons generally are entitled to expect’, a definition which
obviously leaves considerable scope for judicial interpretation.

The ‘state of the art

art’’ Although the Act imposes strict liability, the effect is weakened by what is
defence known as the ‘state of the art’ defence, which is contained in the Act. By
virtue of this defence, the producer will escape liability if the state of
scientific or technical knowledge at the relevant time was not such that a
producer of products of that sort might be expected to have discovered the
defect. It seems, therefore, that if a product has a design defect the
producer will not be liable if the defect could not have been detected or
prevented with the scientific knowledge and technology available at the
time. However, the burden of proof will lie with the producer in such a case.

K Defamation
The purpose of this tort is to protect a person’s interest in their reputation. Defamation is,
essentially, a false statement about a person which causes injury to that person’s reputation.
The tort of defamation takes two forms:
• Libel
Libel: the defamatory statement is in a permanent form, e.g. an email, text, posting on
social media or in a written publication.
• Slander
Slander: the statement is in a transient (non-permanent) form. Slander will usually take
the form of defamatory speech or possibly defamatory gestures.

K1 Defamatory statement
According to the classic definition, a statement is defamatory if it is false and exposes the
claimant to ‘hatred, ridicule or contempt or lowers them in the eyes of right-thinking
members of society generally’.
An alleged defamation can give rise to a claim for damages and so businesses and
independent professionals may obtain liability cover for defamation claims as part of their
professional indemnity insurance. In terms of what qualifies as defamation, a distinction must
be made between statements which are defamatory and ones which amount only to vulgar
abuse. The former harm a person’s reputation whereas the latter merely hurt their dignity.
Defamation may be by way of innuendo, which is where an apparently innocent statement
about another has a hidden and defamatory meaning. In such a case, the claimant must
‘prove the innuendo’, i.e. establish that persons to whom the statement was published
understood it in a defamatory sense.
The claimant must establish that they were the one identified by the statement. If they are
not mentioned by name they must prove that a reasonable person reading the statement,
and knowing the claimant, would assume that it referred to them.

Be aware
The reference to the claimant need not be intentional.

A defamatory statement is not actionable unless it is published, i.e. communicated to some

person other than the claimant.
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K2 Damage
This must be a material loss having some financial value, such as loss of employment, or loss
Chapter 2

of financial benefits through the refusal of persons to contract with the claimant. Slander is
not generally actionable per se and damage must be proved. There are two exceptions to
this rule. These are cases in which the defendant falsely alleges or implies that the claimant:
1. is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment; and
2. is unfit to carry out their profession, calling, trade or business.

K3 Defences
A number of special defences are available in the tort of defamation which include the
following:
• Truth
Truth: in which the alleged defamation arises from factual statement.
• Honest opinion
opinion: in which the statements are a matter of comment or opinion. The
defendant must prove the statements were honest, relevant and made without malice.
• Publication on a matter of public interest
interest: this will succeed provided the subject matter
of the publication is a public interest matter and the publisher ‘reasonably believed’ the
publication was in the public interest whether the allegation was true or false.
• Innocent defamation
defamation: in which the statement was published unintentionally. This usually
requires an offer to publish a correction and apology, together with appropriate damages.
• Privilege
Privilege: this applies in judicial and Parliamentary proceedings and applies to statements
made to the police by members of the public.

L General defences in tort

In this chapter we have examined a number of special defences which apply to particular
torts. In addition to these, there are a number of general defences – that is defences which
apply to more than one tort, and in some cases, to several. We will look briefly at the more
common examples and discuss their application.

L1 Self-defence
The law allows people to use reasonable force to defend themselves, their property and to
defend other persons, such as members of their family or employees. Reasonable force can
also be used to prevent crime. Self-defence is a good (legal) defence to intentional torts
against the person, such as battery or false imprisonment.

L2 Necessity
Necessity is another possible defence to intentional torts such as trespass. Essentially it is a
plea that the act which is alleged to be a tort was carried out in order to avoid a greater evil.

L3 Statutory authority
Statutory authority is a plea that the action which is alleged to be a tort is permitted by
statute law.
It is a common defence because, in the interest of society as a whole, Parliament often allows
firms and individuals to engage in activities which have some harmful effect on others. We
have seen, for example, that statute law permits civil aircraft to fly over private land (which
would otherwise be a trespass). Statutory authority may also be a defence in nuisance.
Again, statutory authority may be a defence to claims under the rule in Rylands v. Fletcher.

Be aware
Statutory authority will not be a defence in negligence, because it is most unlikely that
Parliament would ever intend to authorise negligent behaviour.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/27

L4 Consent and volenti non fit injuria

These are two separate defences but are dealt with together because of their similarity.

Chapter 2
Consent
The defence of consent applies where the claimant agrees to a deliberate act by the
defendant which would be a tort if no consent had been given.

Example 2.18
• The participants in a boxing match consent to being punched by each other.
• Customers in a hairdresser’s salon agree to have their hair cut or treated.
If no consent was given each of these actions would amount to a battery.

You should note that in the case of sportsmen who engage in contact sports consent to
physical contact is implied: it does not have to be expressly granted. Equally, however,
sportsmen do not consent to foul play or breaches of the rules of the game: there have been
many cases where football players and others have successfully sued for injuries inflicted in
such circumstances.
You will appreciate that consent is primarily a defence to deliberate torts, and particularly to
trespass to the person. However, it may also be a defence to other torts, such as libel or
nuisance.
Volenti non fit injuria.
The expression ‘volenti non fit injuria’ literally means ‘no legal wrong is done to a person who
consents’. In this case, however, the defence is based on the proposition that the claimant
consented not to a deliberate act but to the risk of negligence by the defendant. For this
reason, the defence is sometimes known as ‘assumption of risk’.
In the last century the defence was often used to defeat claims by workmen who were
injured in the course of their employment. The employer would point out that the employee
was aware of the dangers which their job entailed and, in continuing to come to work, clearly
consented to run the risk of injury. Similarly, in this century the defence has often been used
to defeat claims by passengers who were injured in car accidents but knew that the driver
was drunk and, therefore, likely to drive in a negligent way.

Example 2.19
The defence cannot now be used by a driver who negligently injures a passenger
travelling in their car, even where the passenger knows that the driver is drunk and
incapable. The defence is prohibited by the Road Traffic Act 1988
1988.

This defence will hardly ever apply to an employment injury. It is also clear that volenti is
generally no defence to claims by employees based on breach of statutory duty.
Volenti does not apply in ‘rescue’ cases, that is cases where a rescuer voluntarily risks their
own safety to save others and the rescue is reasonable, necessary and foreseeable (the
defence may apply where there was no real need to rescue).
Courts have tended to favour the concept of contributory negligence which is more flexible
than volenti.
Volenti non fit injuria is primarily a defence to negligence. However, it may also operate as a
defence to certain other torts. In particular, it is specifically stated to be a defence to a
breach of the ‘common duty of care’ owed by an occupier under the Occupiers’ Liability
Act 1957.

L5 Contributory negligence
Contributory negligence (or contributory fault) arises where the claimant is partly to blame
for the injuries which they have suffered at the hands of another.
Previously under common law, contributory negligence like volenti was a complete defence.
This meant that the defendant would escape liability completely if they could establish that
the claimant was in any way to blame for their own injury.
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However, as a result of the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 1945, contributory
negligence is no longer a complete defence: it merely reduces the damages awarded to the
claimant to the extent that the claimant was himself to blame for the injury. Contributory
Chapter 2

negligence is, therefore, a ‘plea in mitigation’ (reduction) of liability rather than a true
defence.
Section 1(1) of the Act reads:
Where any person suffers damage as the result partly of the fault of any other person
or persons, a claim in respect of that damage shall not be defeated by reasons of the
fault of the person suffering the damage, but the damages recoverable thereof shall
be reduced to such extent as the court thinks just and equitable having regard to the
claimant’s share in the responsibility for the damage.
Under the Act deduction will be appropriate where:
• the cause of the accident was, in some part, the claimant’s own behaviour;
• their behaviour made the results of the accident more serious; or
• both of the above.
A common example of the second situation is where a person is injured in a motor vehicle
accident caused wholly by the negligence of another person, but suffers a more serious
injury than would normally be expected as a result of their failure to wear a seat belt. Here
the claimant in no way causes the accident but suffers a greater injury through their
own fault.

Be aware
Contributory negligence on the part of the claimant will reduce damages in any tort
action: its operation is by no means restricted to negligence claims.

L6 Reduction of liability
Contributory negligence focuses on whether the defendant can attribute some
responsibility to the claimant, but it may sometimes be open to the defendant to reduce
their liability by claiming that someone else should share responsibility for the losses.
Under s.1 of the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978
1978:
Any person liable in respect of any damage suffered by another person may recover
contribution from any other person liable in respect of the same damage (whether
jointly with him or otherwise).
The amount of the contribution will be such as the court finds to be ‘just and equitable
having regard to the extent of that person’s responsibility for the damage in question’ (s.2)
and may amount to a complete indemnity. It should also be noted that this provision applies
whether the liability arises in tort or contract.
The greatest restriction on the usefulness of s.1 arises from the need for both wrongdoers to
have caused the ‘same damage’. This phrase has been narrowly interpreted by the courts.
Section 1 is not a defence in the true sense, as it involves not a reduction in liability to the
claimant (as contributory negligence does) but the ability to pass liability on to another
party. If the other party is unable to pay his contribution, the defendant remains liable in full
to the claimant.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/29

M Limitation of actions
The law allows a person who is the victim of a civil wrong only a limited period of time in

Chapter 2
which to begin their action against the wrongdoer.

Consider this
this…
…
Why should the law limit the time allowed for an action to be brought?

To allow unlimited time would be unfair to the defendant since the possibility of legal action
could hang over them indefinitely. A very long delay would also make a fair hearing difficult
since evidence tends to become less clear and less easily available with the passage of time.
The time periods allowed are governed by legislation and for this reason a claim which is
made too late is described as being ‘statute-barred’.
Claims based on tort are governed by the Limitation Act 1980 as amended by the Latent
1986. The main limitation periods are:
Damage Act 1986
• one year where the claim is for libel or slander;
• three years for personal injury claims; and
• six years for most other tort actions (mainly property damage claims).

M1 When time begins to run

The limitation period begins on the date on which the cause of action accrues. The ‘cause of
action’ means the situation which gives rise to the claimant’s right to sue the defendant, and
in the law of torts the date in question is usually the date when the damage or injury was
sustained by the claimant.
In some cases, however, the duration of the normal limitation period may be modified.

Example 2.20
If, at the time when the cause of action accrues, the injured party is ‘under a disability’ for
the purpose of the Limitation Act 1980 – such as situations in which they are a minor or are
of unsound mind – time does not begin to run until this ‘disability’ ceases. For example,
when they reach the age of majority, regain their mental capacity or in the event of
their death.

Special rules apply also in the case of latent (i.e. hidden) injuries or damage. The rules are
complex and only a brief and simplified description is given here.

M1A Latent bodily injuries

Consider this
this…
…
Asbestos related illnesses have resulted in thousands of claims made against the
insurance industry. Typically the victims only become ill years after they were exposed to
asbestos – sometimes decades later. When does the injured person’s cause of action
accrue?

Some forms of illness or injury remain hidden for a long time and many years may pass
before the first symptoms begin to show. Asbestos-related diseases, which may take 30 or
more years to develop, are a good example.
If the claim is for an illness or injury of this sort, the time period (three years) begins to run
not from the date when the illness began but from the date of knowledge, which in most
cases means the date when the claimant first realised that they were suffering from a
significant injury attributable to the tortuous act/omission of the defendant.

M1B Latent property damage

More recently the principle described above has been applied to latent property damage.
Latent property damage includes damage to a building caused by the defendant’s
negligence which is not immediately visible, such as deterioration of the foundations or
cracks at the top of a high chimney.
 2/30 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

In this case, the claimant has six years to sue, beginning from the date when the damage first
began, or three years from the date when it was discovered, if this produces a longer period.
There is also a ‘long-stop’ (or cut-off date) of fifteen years from the date of the alleged
Chapter 2

negligence or wrongful act by the defendant.

N Remedies in tort
You will recall from the definition of a tort given at the beginning of this chapter that the
principal remedy in the law of torts is an award of damages, that is, monetary compensation
to the claimant. Damages is a common law remedy but, as we shall see, certain equitable
remedies are also available.

N1 Damages
The object of an award of damages is to compensate the claimant by paying for the loss
which the defendant has caused by their wrongful act.
When assessing damages, the court will attempt to arrive at a sum of money which will, as
far as possible, put the claimant in the financial position they would have enjoyed if the
wrong had not been committed. The principles governing the assessment of damages are
complex – particularly in personal injury cases.
Damages may fall into the following categories:
• Special damages and general damages.
• Aggravated damages.
• Exemplary (or punitive) damages.
• Nominal damages.
• Contemptuous damages.
We will look at each of these in more detail below.

N1A Special damages and general damages

Special damages are those of which the claimant is required to give notice when they make
their claim against the defendant and which they must prove strictly at trial.

Examples (arising, say,

from injuries received in
a car accident) might
include:

damage to
loss of earnings medical expenses
clothing

General damages do not require such strict pleading and proof because they relate to losses
which the law automatically presumes to result from the tort; for example, pain and suffering
following an injury. The term ‘special damages’ is also used to describe damages which are
capable of precise financial assessment, as distinct from general damages, which cannot be
precisely quantified but only assessed on the basis of what a ‘reasonable man’ would deem
appropriate to compensate for the loss.

N1B Aggravated damages

As already stated, the purpose of general damages is to compensate the claimant for the
injury/loss sustained.
In certain torts (for example, assault or trespass) the court may award additional damages to
reflect the fact that the motives and conduct of the defendant have aggravated the injury
suffered, by injuring the claimant’s sense of dignity or pride.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/31

N1C Exemplary (or punitive) damages

The object of an award of damages is not to punish the wrongdoers but to compensate the

Chapter 2
claimant, punishment being a function of the criminal law rather than the civil law.
Exemplary damages – awards which exceed the loss which has actually been suffered –
intended to punish the defendant for their conduct, are nonetheless occasionally awarded in
tort actions.

Be aware
Exemplary damages are not available in negligence claims.

Although rare in the United Kingdom today, awards of punitive damages are quite common
in other jurisdictions, such as the United States.

N1D Nominal damages

Where a person has committed a tort which is actionable per se (such as libel or trespass)
but no real loss has been caused to the claimant, the court may award a nominal (i.e. token)
sum to mark the fact that the defendant was in the wrong.

N1E Contemptuous damages

This is the award of a tiny sum (traditionally the smallest coin of the realm) to mark the
court’s low opinion of the claim of the claimant or record their disapproval of the claimant’s
conduct. Contemptuous damages may be awarded for any tort, whether actionable per se
or not.

N2 Injunctions
In some cases, an award of damages will be inappropriate or inadequate. In many cases, the
claimant’s main wish will be to prevent in advance the commission of a tort or stop the
defendant from continuing to commit one.

Example 2.21
The claimant may wish to:
• prevent the defendant from publishing a libellous book;
• stop them trespassing on private land; or
• cease an activity which is creating a nuisance.

In all these cases an injunction will be appropriate.

An injunction is a court order commanding the defendant:
1. to do a particular thing (such as knock down a wall which is blocking a right of way) – a
mandatory injunction.
2. to refrain from doing a particular thing (such as publish a libellous book) – a prohibitory
injunction.
An injunction may be awarded instead of, or in addition to, damages. However, it is an
equitable remedy and, unlike the common law remedy of damages, cannot be claimed as of
right. The decision to grant an injunction is at the discretion of the court and it may be
refused if damages are more appropriate, or on a number of other grounds.
Where the claimant is seeking an injunction, it may be necessary to apply for an injunction at
the outset of proceedings to protect their position until the trial of the claim. Such
injunctions are generally only available if they are prohibitory.
 2/32 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:
Chapter 2

Torts

• A tort or legal wrong arises from a breach of duty fixed by law; the duty is towards persons
generally and the victim can bring an action in tort against the wrongdoer.
• The same behaviour can amount to a tort and a crime.
• The remedy in tort is an action for unliquidated damages. Unliquidated means that the amount of
damages is not fixed in advance but decided by the court.
• The general purpose of the law of torts is to protect people’s rights by allowing them to sue if their
interests are invaded, threatened or harmed.
• Torts can be classified by looking at the interests that they protect:
– Defamation (libel and slander) protects a person’s interests in their reputation.
– Trespass to the person protects a person against deliberate physical harm.
– Private nuisance and trespass to land protect a person’s interest in the land they occupy.
– Breach of copyright or patent design protects a person’s interest in their intellectual property.
• Torts can also be classified by the type of behaviour that the wrongdoer must exhibit and the
degree of fault (if any) which is necessary.
• Torts can be intentional; or require negligence or other fault.
• Torts can also impose strict liability where no intent or fault is required.

Trespass

• Trespass is actionable per se and requires:

– Direct act by defendant.
– Intentional act by defendant.
• Trespass takes three forms; to the person, to goods and to land.
• Trespass to the person can be assault, battery or false imprisonment.
• Trespass to goods occurs when the defendant directly and intentionally interferes with goods in
possession of another.
• If they then deliberately deal with the goods in a way inconsistent with the rights of the owner then
they can be sued for conversion.
• Trespass to land is the direct interference with land which is in the possession of another and can
take three forms; unlawful entry onto the land of another; unlawfully remaining on the land of
another; and unlawfully placing or throwing any material object upon the land of another.
Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/33

Negligence

• Negligence is the most important tort today.

Chapter 2
• Negligence is a failure to take care in circumstances where the law demands that care should be
taken, giving rise to a claim for damages by the person who suffers harm as a result.
• For an action in negligence to succeed the claimant must show a duty of care is owed to them by
the defendant; that the defendant breached that duty; and that the claimant has suffered damage
as a result of the breach.
• The leading case on duty of care is Donoghue v. Stevenson (the case involving the snail in the bottle
of ginger beer).
• Donoghue v. Stevenson introduced the neighbour principle which is one of reasonable
foreseeability – a duty of care is owed to another person if it is reasonably foreseeable that they will
be affected by ones acts or omissions.
• A breach of duty occurs when the defendant fails to do what a reasonable man would have done in
the circumstances; or does what a reasonable man would not have done. The standard is objective.
• The defendant will only be liable for damage that is not too remote.
• Where the chain of causation is broken by a ‘novus actus interveniens’ (‘new intervening cause’) the
defendant will not be liable for subsequent damage.
• The Hedley Byrne case established liability for negligent misstatement where there is a special
relationship between the parties; it is reasonably foreseeable that advice will be acted upon and
loss will be suffered if the advice is inaccurate; the advice is indeed acted upon and the claimant
sustains loss.
• The courts will not allow normally claims for pure economic loss i.e. claims for financial loss which is
not accompanied by any physical damage to the claimant or their property.
• A person who suffers bodily injury will always be able to recover damages for any psychiatric injury
that accompanies it.
• A person who suffers psychiatric illness following the shock of witnessing a terrible accident caused
by the negligence of another will have to establish that they fall within a class of persons to whom a
duty is owed in order to recover damages.
• There are two main categories; primary victims and secondary victims.
• Primary victims suffer shock through fear for their own safety; secondary victims suffer shock
through fear for the safety of others.
• The Hillsborough cases confirmed that secondary victims have to establish proximity in order to
recover damages.

Nuisance

• Nuisance can take two forms; private and public.

• Public nuisance is the carrying on of an activity likely to cause inconvenience or annoyance to the
public. Private nuisance is an unlawful interference with a person’s use of enjoyment of their land.

Rylands v. Fletcher

• The Rylands v. Fletcher rule is an example of strict liability for escapes of a damage-causing thing
arising from non-natural use of land, and gives rise to a form of nuisance claim.

Liability for defective or dangerous premises

• Vicarious liability is where one person is held liable for wrongs committed by another – the most
common example is employer/employees.
• The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, which codified the common law position, places a duty on
occupiers to take care to ensure that visitors will be ‘reasonably safe’ in using the premises.
• This principle was extended to trespassers, firstly in the case of a child trespasser in British Railways
Board v. Herrington (1972), then more widely under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984.
• It should be noted that visitors and trespassers are owed only a duty to take such steps as will make
them reasonably safe. Trespassers, for their part, are owed duties only in respect of hazards of
which occupiers are or should be aware, and only if the occupier should be aware of their presence.

Liability for defective products

• Liability for defective products can be strict under the Consumer Protection Act.

Defamation

• Defamation can take two forms; libel and slander.

 2/34 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

General defences in tort

• General defences in tort include self-defence; necessity; statutory authority; consent and volenti;
and contributory negligence.
Chapter 2

Limitation of actions

• The law allows a person who is the victim of a civil wrong only a limited period of time in which to
bring their action against the wrongdoer – three years for cases involving personal injury, one year
for libel and slander, and six years for all other claims.

Remedies in tort

• The main remedies in tort are damages and injunctions.

Chapter 2 Law of torts 2/35

Self-test questions
1. How would you distinguish a tort from breach of contract?

Chapter 2
2. Why is contributory negligence, strictly, not a defence?
3. What are the key characteristics of the tort of trespass?
4. What must a claimant prove in order to succeed in an action for negligence?
5. What is the ‘neighbour test’ (or neighbour principle)?
6. What two forms may private nuisance take?
7. What is vicarious liability? Give an example.
8. What are the defences available in defamation?
9. What are the main limitation periods in the law of torts?
10. How does the law treat trespassers and non-trespassers differently, with respect to
occupiers’ liability for injuries incurred on the property?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

 2/36 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 2.1: Question

Apply the law of tort to practical situations (LO2.5)
Chapter 2

Your colleague tells you that her 19-year-old son, Ben, was caught stealing car parts from
a scrapyard. The police are not taking any further action and the car parts have been
returned to the owner of the scrapyard. The owner of the scrapyard has said that he will
sue Ben in the civil courts. Ben was injured while in the scrapyard and says that he wants
to sue the scrapyard owner.
1. Do you think the scrapyard owner will be successful in suing Ben?
2. Do you think Ben will be successful in suing the scrapyard owner?
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.
 Law of contract
3

Chapter 3
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Types of contract 3.1, 3.10
B Formation of a contract 3.2, 3.10
C Terms of a contract 3.3, 3.10
D Defective contracts 3.4, 3.10, 5.6, 6.4
E Discharge of contracts 3.5, 3.10
F Remedies in contract 3.6, 3.10
G Privity of contract 3.7, 3.10
H Assignment 3.8, 3.9, 3.10
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the nature of contractual liability;
• identify the rules relating to the formation of a contract;
• understand how contract terms are classified;
• describe the elements which affect the validity of contracts;
• distinguish between void, voidable and illegal insurance contracts;
• explain the circumstances in which a contract may be discharged;
• describe the remedies for breach of contract;
• understand the basic principles of assignment; and
• understand the rules which govern the assignment of insurance contracts.
 3/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
A contract is a legally binding agreement, that is, one which the courts will recognise and
enforce. An insurance policy (the contract of insurance) is, therefore, a legally binding
agreement to insure. It is the binding nature of an insurance contract which provides a solid
foundation for the business of insurance and enables people to buy policies with confidence
that obligations will be fulfilled.

Consider this
this…
…
Chapter 3

Why is some knowledge of contract law essential for those working in the insurance
industry?

The law of contract is, therefore, central to insurance and some knowledge of its rules is
essential for people who work in the industry.
Of course, contracts are made for many purposes besides insurance. There are contracts for
the sale of goods and land, contracts of carriage, contracts of hire, contracts of employment
and many others.
In this chapter we examine the general law of contract; that is, the body of rules and
principles which applies to all types of contract, including insurance.
First, we will examine how contracts are classified and how a contract is formed. Next, we
analyse the contents of a contract and classify the various terms which make up the
agreement. We also consider various factors which may destroy or affect the validity of a
contract. We will then consider the discharge (that is, the ending) of contracts, including the
rules governing performance and breach of contract, and the remedies which are available
for breach of contract. Finally, we will look at the subject of assignment, that is, how rights
under a contract may be transferred to another person.
Most of the detailed rules of the law of contract were developed in the nineteenth century,
and you will find that a number of the leading cases date from this period.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Agreement Breach Conditions and Consideration

warranties

Contracts under seal Contractual capacity Defective contracts Equitable assignment

Illegality Improper pressure Misrepresentation ‘Posting rule’

Privity of contract Promissory estoppel Restitution Restraint of trade

Specified time Termination Time limit Unilateral and bilateral

contracts

A Types of contract
We have suggested in our introduction that contracts can be grouped according to their
subject matter (e.g. insurance, sale of goods or land, employment, hire etc.). There are
various useful classifications which we will examine.

A1 Contracts under seal and simple contracts

A contract under seal (or special contract or contract by deed) is a formal contract which is
in writing and is witnessed, and which originally had to be sealed and delivered.
Some contracts must be in this form to be valid: the subject is discussed later. All other
contracts are simple contracts (or informal contracts).

Consider this
this…
…
If you agree with your friend that you will buy their car from them but nothing is put in
writing, has a contract been formed? Is an oral contract valid?
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/3

Contracts can generally be in any form (including that of an oral agreement) although
sometimes they must be in writing or be evidenced in writing. Details will be found in
section B on the formal requirements of contracts.

A2 Unilateral and bilateral contracts

There must always be at least two persons to make a contract but under a unilateral
contract only one of them is legally bound.

Chapter 3
Example 3.1
A promise by the owner to pay a reward for lost property may be legally binding but only
on the party who offers the reward. No one is legally obliged to find the property and
hand it in but the owner must pay the reward if somebody does so.

Under a bilateral contract each party makes a promise to the other and both are legally
bound.

Consider this
this…
…
We have seen above that an insurance policy is a contract, a legally binding agreement.
What are the promises made by the insured and by the insurer which bring about this
agreement?

Example 3.2
Under an insurance contract the insured is bound to pay the premium and the insurers are
legally bound to pay valid claims in return.

We will see examples of both types of contract later.

A3 Void and voidable contracts

For a number of reasons a contract may not be fully valid in law:

A void contract: has no binding effect on A voidable contract is binding:

either party:

because a void contract is no contract at all, the but one (or possibly both) of the parties will have
expression is really a contradiction in terms the right, if they wish, to set it aside

however, the expression is useful to describe contracts may be voidable on a number of

agreements which neither party can fully enforce different grounds, such as misrepresentation
misrepresentation,
drunkenness or insanity and we will examine these
and various other examples in this chapter

We will explore defective contracts and void and illegal insurance contracts more fully in
section D.

B Formation of a contract
The following are the five essentials for the formation of a valid contract:
1. there must be an agreement
agreement, which in English law is generally shown by offer and
acceptance;
2. there must be the intention to create legal relations;
3. there must be consideration (in the case of simple contracts);
4. the agreement must be in the form required by law (if any);
5. the parties must have capacity to contract.

Be aware
The contract must also not be illegal or contrary to public policy. This is dealt with later.
 3/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B1 Agreement
In English law, agreement is usually established by a process of offer and acceptance:
• The party who makes the offer is the offeror.
• The party who receives it is the offeree.
Offer and acceptance are dealt with in turn below.

B1A The offer

Chapter 3

In this section we will look at offers and invitations to treat.

An offer may be made:
• in writing;
• orally;
• by conduct.
• to one person;
• to a group of people; or
• to the public as a whole.
Where there is a true offer, the offeror intends to be immediately bound if their offer is
accepted as it stands.
We must, therefore, distinguish between true offers and statements which are made when
negotiations are still in progress. These include invitations to treat, which are in effect
invitations to make an offer. Circulars, advertisements and the like often fall in this category
and it is generally accepted that the display of price-marked goods in a shop is merely an
invitation to treat.

Case example
In Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v. Boots Cash Chemists (1953)
(1953), it was held that
a customer did not accept an offer when he took items from the shelves of a self-service
store. Taking the goods to the cashier was the offer to buy, which the cashier accepted
when money was taken in payment.

You will appreciate that the dividing line between true offers and invitations to treat is often
a fine one. In difficult cases, it is for the court to decide whether the offeror intended that the
other party should be able to accept their offer without further negotiation.
Communication of the offer

Consider this
this…
…
Imagine that you find a wallet and return it to the owner, but only then find out that a
reward of £100 had been advertised for the wallet. Are you legally entitled to the reward?

An offer must be communicated to the other party, since a person cannot accept an offer
unless they are aware of it. Therefore, strictly speaking, a person has no legal entitlement to
a reward for returning lost goods if they only learn of the reward after returning them to the
owner.
Duration of the offer
An offer does not remain open indefinitely and, once it comes to an end, it can no longer be
accepted.
It can end in the following ways:
• A time limit or a ‘reasonable time
time’’
An offer will lapse if the offeror imposes a time limit for acceptance and the other party
does not accept within that time.
For example, an offer to buy shares may remain open for a limited number of days only. If
no time limit is given, the offer lapses after a reasonable time. What is reasonable will
depend on the circumstances.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/5

Consider this
this…
…
In what situation would an offer lapse after only a short time?
An offer to sell a ton of fresh fish would probably lapse quite quickly!

• Death
The death of either party before acceptance will usually terminate the offer. Death after
acceptance will not affect most contracts, except contracts for personal services (such as
an agreement to sing in a show).

Chapter 3
• Acceptance
Acceptance of an offer will complete the contract and bring the offer to an end. If an offer
is made to a group of people but can be accepted by one person only (such as an offer to
sell one bicycle for £100), the offer ceases to exist for the rest of the group when one
person accepts.
• Revocation
The offeror may revoke (withdraw) their offer at any time before acceptance. They may
do this even if they have promised to keep the offer open for a definite period of time.

Be aware
The situation is different if the offeree has paid a sum of money or given something of
value in return for the promise to keep the offer open (sometimes known as ‘buying the
option’). If the offer is withdrawn in these circumstances, the offeror will be in breach of
what is, in effect, a subsidiary contract to keep negotiations open, and may have to pay
damages.

Revocation must be communicated to the offeree, by either words or conduct. Selling

goods to a person other than the original offeree would be an example of such conduct
although the offer to the first offeree ends only when they learn of the sale.
Communication may be made by the offeror themselves or by any other reliable source.
• Rejection, counter-offer
If the offeree rejects the offer, it then terminates. If they afterwards change their mind
they cannot complete the contract, since there is now no offer to accept. All they can do
is make an offer themselves which the other party can either accept or reject.
A counter-offer will also operate as a rejection. A counter-offer overrides the
original offer.
We will return to the subject of counter-offers in the section on acceptance which follows.

B2 Acceptance
If an offer has been made, a contract will come into existence when the offer is accepted,
provided all the essential terms of the contract are agreed.
The first key point to make is that acceptance must be unqualified; in other words it must
exactly match the terms of the offer. If the offeree tries to vary the offer or to add conditions
of their own, it is ineffective as an acceptance.
You will remember that a qualified acceptance of this sort also operates as a rejection of the
original offer. Furthermore, it will probably take effect as a counter-offer.

Be aware
Trivial variations from the terms of the offer will not affect the validity of an acceptance.
This is merely the application of a broad legal rule: ‘de minimis non curat lex’ (‘the law
does not concern itself with trifles’), often referred to as the ‘de minimis’ principle.

B2A Manner of acceptance

An acceptance, like an offer, can generally be made in any form. It may be through words,
either written or spoken, or may be implied by conduct.
 3/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

However, if the offeror states that the offer must be accepted in a particular way (for
example, in writing) then the offeree must generally use that method. An acceptance made
in a different manner will, however, be valid if it is just as effective as the method requested,
from the offeror’s point of view: a request for acceptance by post might, for example, be
satisfied by a message sent by email.

B2B Positive act of acceptance

Whatever form it takes, there must be some positive act of acceptance: an offer cannot be
accepted by silence or by doing nothing.
Chapter 3

B2C Communication of acceptance

As a general rule, acceptance is not effective until it is communicated by the offeree
themselves or by an agent authorised by them. (Unlike revocation, acceptance cannot be
communicated by ‘any reliable source’.)
There are two main exceptions to the rule concerning communication.
Where the offer dispenses with communication
The terms of the offer may indicate that the other party can accept simply by carrying out
their part of the agreement, without bothering to tell the offeror.
Where the ‘posting rule
rule’’ applies

Consider this
this…
…
A makes B an offer to sell a car to B; B accepts in writing, posting the letter two days after
the offer was made. Before receiving the acceptance letter, but after it was posted, A sells
the car to someone else. What effect does B’s letter have, if any?

Under the ‘posting rule’, a letter of acceptance is effective the moment it is posted and not
posting rule
only when it is received, as in the case of an offer. A contract can be made by posting even if
the letter of acceptance never arrives. For the rule to apply, however, the letter must be
properly addressed, stamped and posted and it must be reasonable to use the post. This
would not be the case where the offeror had made it clear that an instant or urgent response
was required. Furthermore, the offeror can prevent the rule from applying by making it clear
that acceptance must be actually communicated to them or, of course, can state that
acceptance must be made by some means other than the post.
The posting rule applies only to acceptance: a letter containing an offer, revocation or
rejection will only take effect when it is received.
The posting rule applies to telegrams or telemessages but not to instantaneous methods of
communication such as telephone or email where the party accepting will generally know
that the communication has not arrived and could be expected to try again. In such cases,
actual communication of acceptance is necessary and there is no contract if, say, the
telephone line ‘goes dead’ and the message is not received.
The posting rule could possibly apply to an acceptance sent by fax: a contract might come
into existence when the message was transmitted, even though it was illegible when
received. On the other hand, there would probably be no contract if the sender knew that
the transmission had failed. The same principles might apply to email, EDI (electronic data
interchange) and other forms of online communication (e.g. webchat or messages sent on
social media platforms).

B3 Intention to create legal relations

Even when two parties have reached an agreement, there may be no contract if they did not
intend their arrangement to be legally binding.
In the case of non-consumer (business) agreements, however, proof of this intention is
usually unnecessary because contractual intention is assumed to be present. However, there
are one or two exceptions, discussed below.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/7

B3A Express term of the agreement

The parties can expressly state in the agreement that it is not to be legally binding.

B3B Social and domestic agreements

Consider this
this…
…
Imagine you agree to cook dinner for your flatmate, but later on you change your mind
and go out instead. Did your agreement form a contract?

Chapter 3
In contrast with non-consumer (business) transactions, it is assumed that social
arrangements and day-to-day family matters are not intended to have legal consequences.
No one supposes that accepting an invitation to a party creates a contract or that an
agreement to cook the dinner is binding in law. Domestic arrangements are not legally
binding, unless very strong evidence of contractual intention can be found.
To summarise, we can say that non-consumer (business) agreements are assumed by the
courts to be legally binding unless there is strong evidence to the contrary. On the other
hand, domestic or social arrangements are assumed not to be binding unless, again, the
circumstances are unusual.

B4 Consideration
It is helpful to think of contracts in terms of promises. In a contract of sale, for example, the
seller promises to supply certain property to the other party. The law, however, will not
generally enforce a promise unless it is supported by consideration; that is, unless the person
to whom the promise is made agrees to provide something of value in return. If something is
provided in return, a mere promise then becomes a bargain and the law will enforce it.
Consideration can, thus, be described as ‘the price which supports the promise’.

Be aware
Very often the consideration which supports a promise is a further promise made in
return, e.g. the buyer promises to pay for the property. The contract then takes the form
of a mutual exchange of promises, each promise providing consideration for the other. To
talk of consideration for the contract in such cases is incorrect: the consideration is given
for the promise.

Consideration may be either a ‘profit or benefit to the promisor’ or a ‘detriment to the

promisee’.
In the vast majority of cases, however, the detriment to the promisee is also a benefit to the
promisor and, since in most cases the contract is in the form of an exchange of promises,
each party gains a benefit and suffers a detriment.
It is important to understand that a legally binding contract can come into force before the
‘benefit’ of the consideration is actually conferred on the other party, provided there is a firm
promise to do so.

Example 3.3
For example, a promise to pay the agreed premium for insurance cover is good
consideration and the contract can come into force before any payment is actually made.

Contracts under seal

Since the central idea behind the doctrine of consideration is the provision of something in Refer to
section B6A for
exchange, it follows that a bare or gratuitous promise, such as a promise to make a donation contracts
to charity for no return, is not supported by consideration. Although in English law such a under seal

promise is not generally enforceable, it becomes binding if it is made under seal, in the form
of a deed.
 3/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B4A Rules of consideration

There are five main rules:
• Consideration must be real or genuine
The courts will not enforce vague promises, or ones in which there is no real benefit or
detriment at all.
• Consideration need not be adequate
Although consideration must have some value, the value does not have to be adequate,
i.e. worth what is given in exchange for it. If one party makes a bad bargain, the courts will
Chapter 3

not step in to help.

One result of this rule is the device of nominal consideration which enables valuable
property such as a house or land to be validly ‘sold’ for a few pence or exchanged for a
peppercorn or some other item of minimal value. This provides a second means (in
addition to a promise in the form of a deed) by which a gratuitous promise or gift can be
made legally binding.
• Consideration must not be past
Consideration must be given in exchange for the promise which it supports; in other
words, the two must be linked from the beginning. It follows that when services have
already been given for nothing, a promise to pay for them made afterwards is not good
consideration.
If an act is done for which no payment was fixed, a promise to pay which is made
afterwards will be binding if the act was done at the request of the promisor and the
understanding between the parties was that payment was to be made. Here, there is an
implied promise to pay a reasonable sum for the work. This rule covers the common
situation when a job is done on a non-consumer (business) basis but the price is agreed
afterwards.
• Consideration must move from the promisee
A person cannot enforce a promise (even though it is made to them) if the consideration
for it was supplied wholly by some other person.

Example 3.4
If A promised to give B £5 if C washes A’s car, B cannot enforce the promise because the
whole of the consideration comes from C. If B provided some of the consideration
(perhaps by finding C and arranging for them to do the job) they would be able to sue.

• Consideration must not be something which the promisee is already bound to do

Since the essence of consideration is a ‘benefit to the promisor or detriment to the
promisee’, a promise to do something which the promisee is already bound to do gives
the promisor nothing beyond what they already are entitled to and imposes no extra duty
on the promisee.
The pre-existing duty may be a public duty imposed by the general law rather than by a
contract with the promisor. Therefore, a promise to pay the police for protecting one’s
property is not enforceable unless the degree of protection granted is greater than
normal. For example, as is the case when football clubs pay police to provide officers
inside their grounds.

B5 Promissory estoppel
Although a promise made without consideration cannot be enforced and will not complete a
contract, it may be used as a defence to a legal action.
If, therefore, X promises not to enforce their strict contractual rights against Y, and the
promise is intended to be binding and intended to be acted upon, X may be ‘estopped’ (that
is, prevented) from going back on this promise if Y has in fact acted on the strength of it.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/9

Case example
In Central London Property Trust v. High Trees House (1947) (referred to as ‘The High
Trees’ case), the landlords of a block of flats had let them to the defendants at a rental of
£2,500 a year.
Owing to the outbreak of war, the defendants could not find tenants for the flats and
considered ending the lease. The claimants then agreed in writing to reduce the rental to
£1,250 a year, with effect from 1941.
The defendants continued with the lease under these circumstances but in 1945, the

Chapter 3
claimants claimed again the original rent from 1941 on the basis that no consideration had
been given for their agreement to reduce it.
The judge held that the claimants were entitled to the full rent from 1945 (since the
agreement implied that the full rent should be payable when the abnormal war-time
situation ended), but that it would be inequitable to allow them to go back on their
promise and recover the full rent from 1941.
The defendants had relied on the promise to accept a lower rent and had acted upon it by
reducing the rent payable by their own tenants during the period in question. They had
therefore relied upon it to their own detriment.

This principle operates only ‘as a shield and not a sword’: in other words as a defence to the
party sued rather than as a weapon of attack enabling the other party to sue on a gratuitous
promise.
Promissory estoppel is an equitable principle and the defendant will not be allowed to claim
relief unless they themselves have acted fairly (‘he who comes into equity must come with
clean hands’).

B6 Form
In some cases, the law requires a contract to be in a particular form and this will always
involve some type of written documentation. Writing obviously makes for greater certainty
as to what has been agreed and may warn people against entering into a contract too lightly.
Nevertheless, the general rule is that most contracts can be made without any writing or
other formality and only a limited number of contracts are subject to formal rules.
Although formal requirements always involve writing, the necessary documentation varies
from case to case. There are, in effect, four categories:
• contracts which must be under seal;
• contracts which must be in writing;
• contracts which must be evidenced in writing by a ‘note or memorandum’; and
• contracts where one party must give certain written particulars to the other.

B6A Contracts which must be under seal (contracts by deed)

A deed must be signed and witnessed. Furthermore, the face of the document must make it
clear that it is intended to be a deed.
A lease for more than three years must be made by deed, and if not by deed, is void for the
purpose of creating a legal estate. We have already mentioned that gratuitous promises (i.e.
those not supported by consideration) are not generally enforceable but become so if made
by deed.
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B6B Contracts which must be in writing

Contracts in this group include:
• bills of exchange;
• cheques and promissory notes;
• the transfer of shares in a registered company;
• some consumer credit (‘hire-purchase’) transactions; and
• contracts of marine insurance.
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Since 1989, all contracts for the sale or other disposition of land must also be in writing and
signed by the parties.

B6C Contracts which must be evidenced in writing

In this case, there must be a ‘note or memorandum’ of the contract in writing although,
unlike contracts which must be in writing, the document(s) may come into existence after
the time when the contract was made. These requirements apply to contracts of guarantee
(contracts in which one party agrees to answer for the debt, default or miscarriage of
another).

B6D Contracts where one party must supply certain written

particulars to the other
A requirement of this sort applies in many cases: an employer may, for instance, have to set
out the main terms of their employees’ contracts in writing; and a landlord may have to give
their tenant a rent-book containing certain particulars.

B7 Contractual capacity
Some people and bodies are subject to special rules which restrict their contractual
capacity. The main categories are minors, people who are mentally ill or drunk, and
capacity
corporations.

B7A Minors
Under English law a minor is a person below the age of 18 (Family
Family Law Reform Act 1969
1969).
The main purpose of the special legal rules which govern contracts made by minors is to
protect them from their own inexperience, which may lead them into agreements which are
disadvantageous to them. The law also tries to avoid causing too much hardship or
inconvenience to adults who deal with minors.

Contracts made by minors

fall into three categories:

contracts which are contracts which are

contracts which
binding unless not binding on
are binding
repudiated the minor

We will briefly summarise these categories:

Contracts which are binding
A minor is bound by contracts for ‘necessaries’ and are liable to pay for necessaries which
they have bought. These include foodstuffs and clothing appropriate to the minor’s ‘station
in life’, and can also include services such as the provision of education. They do not include
items which are mere luxuries. A minor is also bound by contracts of employment or of
similar agreements such as a contract of apprenticeship. The contract is binding provided
that it is, on the whole, for their benefit.
Contracts which are binding unless they are repudiated
Certain contracts of a continuing nature are binding on both parties. However, the minor
(though not the other party) can avoid liability by repudiating the contract, discharging
them from any further liability. These include leases, partnerships and shareholder
agreements.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/11

Contracts which are not binding on the minor

All contracts other than those in the two sections above fall in this category. They include
contracts to buy goods which are not necessaries and contracts to borrow money.

Be aware
Although these contracts do not bind the minor, they do bind the other party. The minor
can, therefore, sue if that other party does not keep to the agreement.

These contracts differ from those discussed above in that the minor does not have to

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repudiate the contract to avoid liability. If, however, the minor ratifies the contract when
they reach their majority, they will be bound by it. Ratification can be by words or by
conduct which shows that the minor regards themselves as bound. For example, if a minor
paid for goods which are not necessaries, they cannot claim their money back on the
grounds of minority.
Restitution
The law of restitution is concerned with those situations where a person is liable to restore
property to another. As we have seen above, a minor may acquire property from another
under a contract which the other party cannot enforce.

Example 3.5
A minor who acquires goods which are not necessaries on credit cannot be made to pay
for them. This can obviously create difficulties for those who trade with minors and the
law, therefore, gives such persons remedies in restitution.

The main remedy is now provided by s.3(1) of the Minors 1987. The Act
Minors’’ Contracts Act 1987
provides that the court may, ‘if it is just and equitable to do so’, require the minor to transfer
to the other party any property acquired by the minor under the contract or any property
representing it.

Example 3.6
If a minor buys a motorcycle (which we will assume is not a necessary) on credit for
£1,000 but does not pay for it, the court can order the minor to return the machine to the
seller. If the minor has sold the motorcycle to someone else for £800, the court can order
them to transfer the £800 to the seller. If the minor has spent the £800 on a hi-fi system,
the court can order them to transfer the hi-fi.
If, however, the minor has spent the £800 on a holiday, no court order can be made since
the minor no longer has the original property or ‘any property representing it’. Even if the
minor has other assets worth £800, this is irrelevant since the remedy is in respect of a
particular piece of property only: the minor has no personal liability to pay.

B7B Patients with a mental health condition

Contracts made by patients with a mental health condition are generally valid, although the
contract can be avoided by the patient if they were unable to understand the nature of the
agreement and the other party was aware of this inability.

Note that a patient

with a mental health
condition:

can ratify a contract, must also pay a

which previously did reasonable price for
not bind them, after necessaries supplied
they are cured to them

Again, if the patient’s illness is so serious that their property has been made subject to the
control of the court, contracts where they attempt to dispose of the property do not bind
them, though they bind the other party.
 3/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B7C Drunken persons

The rules affecting drunken persons are similar to those governing patients with a mental
health condition. A drunken person can avoid a contract only if they were so confused at the
time that they did not understand what they were doing and the other party knew of this.
Again, such a contract becomes binding if ratified when the effects of drink have worn off
and a reasonable price must, in any case, be paid for necessaries.

B8 Corporations
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Corporations, in general, were discussed in chapter 1, section J2. Here we are concerned only
with contracts made by them.

B8A Chartered corporations

A contract which is not authorised, or is prohibited, by the charter of a chartered corporation
remains valid.
If the corporation engages in activities which fall outside the terms of its charter, there is also
a risk that the charter may be revoked.

B8B Statutory corporations and registered companies

Refer to chapter 1, Corporations created either directly by Act of Parliament or indirectly by registration under
section J2 for the
Companies Acts the Companies Acts are subject to the ultra vires doctrine. Under the ultra vires doctrine, a
contract may be invalid if it is ‘ultra vires’ (‘beyond the powers of’) the corporation.
In the case of a statutory corporation, these powers are expressed in the Act of Parliament
which created it. In the case of a company formed by registration under the Companies Acts,
they will be found in its memorandum of association.

Be aware
The effect of the ultra vires rule has changed greatly as a result of European legislation
which is now incorporated in the Companies Acts. In order to protect people and
organisations which deal with companies in good faith, the law now provides that acts
performed by companies cannot be called into question by reason of anything in the
company’s memorandum of association.

In simple terms, this means that contracts made by companies will be valid even if they are
outside the powers expressed in the memorandum. However, a member of a company can
bring an action to restrain proposed activities which are outside a company’s powers and
directors may be in breach of their duty to the company if they engage in such activities.

C Terms of a contract
In this section, we begin by considering the terms of a contract: that is, the detailed
provisions contained in the agreement. In England, the law was originally based on a theory
of ‘freedom of contract’; the theory being that people should be allowed to make
agreements on any terms they liked. Even if a contract was particularly disadvantageous to
one of the parties, the court should not interfere or try to make it more fair but should, if
necessary, merely rule on what the parties had, in fact, agreed.

Consider this
this…
…
If a consumer has entered into a disadvantageous contract with a large company, should
the consumer be protected by the law? If so, what should this protection look like?

The courts and Parliament have increasingly stepped in to regulate and control contracts
made by firms and individuals. They have done so in order to protect consumers and those
whose bargaining position may be weak. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 and, subsequently, the
Consumer Rights Act 2015 are both good examples of this, and are discussed later in
this section.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/13

The result is that the parties to a contract are now not wholly free to agree what terms they
like. The law may imply terms into the contract which the parties did not expressly agree and
may refuse to enforce other terms which the parties did actually agree upon.
The courts may also have to decide which parts of a contract are vital to it and which are less
important. This may be necessary if one of the parties breaks some term of the contract and
the court has to rule on how the agreement has been affected and the remedy to which the
other party is entitled.
The law has, therefore, developed ways of classifying the terms of a contract according to

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their importance and the effect on the contract if they are broken.

C1 Certainty of terms
The terms of a contract must be certain and no contract is formed if a vital term is missing or
if the meaning of an essential term is uncertain.
This rule is subject to some qualifications. For example, if a very minor term is meaningless it
can simply be ignored, provided the remaining parts of the agreement still make sense.
Again, if the price or some other detail has not been fixed but the parties have had similar
dealings in the past, it will often be assumed that the terms of the previous
agreements apply.

C2 Classification of terms
One way of classifying the terms of a contract is into express and implied terms. A contract
may contain both kinds of term.
Express terms arise from the words used by the parties in reaching or recording their
agreement, whereas implied terms are those which form part of the agreement even though
the parties never put them into words.

C2A Express terms

Express terms are based on the words spoken by the parties or written down by them. Oral
contracts sometimes present problems of proof but where the contract is in writing, there is
usually no dispute as to the words used although disputes may arise as to their meaning. The
rules governing the construction of contracts (often referred to as ‘interpretation’) are dealt
with in chapter 7.
A term may be implied only if it does not conflict with the express terms of the contract.

C2B Implied terms

Terms may be implied in one of three ways:
• in fact;
• by custom or usage; or
• in law.
Terms implied in fact
A term implied in fact is one which is not actually stated but is presumed to be intended by
the parties.
In some cases, the term in question may be implied because it relates to something which is
so obvious that ‘it goes without saying’. In other cases, the implied term may be necessary to
give ‘business efficacy’ to the contract: in other words, because the contract would be
commercial nonsense without it.
Terms implied by custom or usage
Terms can be implied by the custom of the market in which the parties to the contract
operate, or the usages of a particular locality or trade.
The implied term must not be unreasonable or inconsistent with the rest of the contract.
Terms implied in law
In many contracts, the rights and duties of the parties may be based on terms which the law
automatically applies to the agreement.
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Example 3.7
Perhaps the best known examples of such implied terms are those created by the
Consumer Rights Act 2015 (which, where consumer protection is concerned, has largely
replaced the Sale of Goods Act 1979). Some of the provisions of the Act are as follows:
• there is implied in every contract for the sale of goods a condition that the seller has a
right to sell the goods (s.17).
• where goods are sold by description, there is an implied condition that the goods will
correspond with the description (s.11).
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• when the seller sells goods in the course of business, there is an implied condition that
the goods supplied under the contract are of satisfactory quality and are reasonably fit
(suitable) for the purpose supplied (s.9–10).
• where goods are sold by sample there is an implied condition that the bulk will
correspond with the sample in quality (s.13).

‘Conditions’, as we shall see, are important terms in the general law of contract.
Insurance contracts are also subject to some implied terms.

Example 3.8
Section 39 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906 implies into every contract of marine
insurance a term to the effect that the vessel must be seaworthy.

C3 Standard terms and exemption clauses

Activity
Find one of your own personal insurance policies (motor or household). What part of it is
personalised? Are there standard pre-printed terms which will apply to all customers for
that type of policy?

Contracts are often made on standard terms drawn up by one of the parties. The terms are
usually contained in printed forms which are used in dealings with all customers who want
the same type of goods or services. Insurance policies (especially ‘personal lines’ such as
motor and home insurance) are often standard term contracts.
The use of standard term contracts is obviously necessary to save time and to simplify
dealings of a day-to-day nature.

Consider this
this…
…
Look again at the policy you found in the activity above. Have you read the entire
contract? Did you read it all before taking out the insurance contract?

However, there is also the risk of abuse, because the consumer usually has little chance of
negotiating any changes in the written contract presented to him, and often does not bother
to read what is often described as ‘the small print’. If, therefore, the supplier of goods or
services has included exemption clauses (also known as exclusion clauses) which exclude his
liability to the customer, or limitation clauses which reduce it, the latter may find that he has
little redress when things go wrong.
Refer to In view of their possible abuse, the courts have developed rules to control the use of these
section C3C for
the 2015 Act restrictive clauses and Parliament has limited their effectiveness by a number of statutes,
including the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Be aware
You should note that most of the principles discussed here apply not only to clauses that
restrict a person’s right to sue in contract but also notices or other words that restrict the
right to sue in tort (often called ‘disclaimers’).

We will look first at the rules which the courts have developed to deal with these issues – the
‘common law’ rules.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/15

C3A Common law rules

The person who seeks to rely on an exclusion clause must show that it has been
incorporated in the contract – which means that the other party must have agreed to it
either before or at the time that the contract was concluded.
Incorporation can be achieved in a number of ways:

Signing of written Where the contract is formed by signing a written document, the general
documents rule is that the signer is bound by all the terms of the document which

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they have signed, including any exemption clauses, even if they have not
read it.

Notice If there is no signed contract, the exemption clause may be incorporated

in a notice displayed at the premises where the contract is made, or in a
document (such as a ticket or receipt) which is simply handed or posted
to one party by another.

Activity
The next time you pay for a car park ticket, look for the sign which limits the liability of the
car park owner for damage to vehicles and so on. Is it on the board near the payment
machine, or referred to on the back of the ticket? How has it been incorporated in your
contract with the car park?

The document may refer to conditions which can be found elsewhere.

In order to rely on an exemption clause in such a case, the party who seeks its
protection must:
• First establish that the document was a ‘contractual’ one which could reasonably be
expected to contain terms.
• Also prove that they took reasonable steps to bring the terms to the attention of the other
party by the use of clear words communicated in an appropriate way.
The steps to notify the other party of the terms must be taken before or at the time that the
contract is made.

Example 3.9
In the case of Olley v. Marlborough Court Ltd (1949)
(1949), the claimant’s property was stolen
when she stayed at the defendant’s hotel. Although there was a notice in the bedroom
stating that the proprietors were not liable for any such loss, it was held to be ineffective
because she saw it only after the contract was made at the reception desk.
In the case of Thornton v. Shoe Lane Parking (1971)
(1971), the claimant completed a contract
when he put a coin in the automatic ticket machine outside the defendant’s car park. The
ticket referred to conditions displayed inside the car park, one of which sought to exempt
the defendants from liability for injury to persons using the car park. It was held that the
claimant (who was severely injured in an accident on the premises) was not bound by the
conditions since they were brought to his attention after the contract was made.

Course of dealing
Exceptionally, the courts may allow an exclusion clause to be incorporated in a contract as a
result of past dealings between the parties in which the exclusion clause was regularly used.
In such cases the party who alleges that he is prejudiced by the clause may be held to be
‘fixed with knowledge’ of it even though it was not included in the transaction in question.
To bring this rule into operation there must be a regular and consistent course of dealing.
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C3B Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977

The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA) and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 contain the
most important restrictions on the effectiveness of exemption clauses for commercial and
consumer contracts respectively.
Refer to Until the enactment of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, UCTA applied to certain contracts
section C3C for
the Consumer entered into by consumers. Contracts concluded between a trader and a consumer have
Rights Act 2015 now been removed from the scope of UCTA; as a result, this Act only applies to contracts
concluded between parties acting in the course of business.
Chapter 3

Some of the key provisions are summarised below.

Section 2 – negligence liability
Under s.2 of the Act, no one acting in the course of business can by means of contractual
terms or by any notice given or displayed, exclude their liability for death or bodily injury
arising from negligence.
A person may exclude liability for other forms of loss caused by their negligence
(such as property damage), but only if they can prove that the exclusion is
reasonable.
Section 3 – contractual liability
Where one party deals on the other party’s written standard terms of business, then the
other party cannot exclude or restrict their liability for breach of contract, except subject to
a requirement of reasonableness.
The requirement of reasonableness also extends to terms that purport to entitle the other
party to render performance substantially different from that reasonably expected or render
no performance at all.
Section 6 – sale of goods and hire-purchase
Refer to In these contracts, implied terms as to title cannot be excluded or restricted by a contract
section C2B for
implied terms term. The other important implied terms (as to correspondence with description or sample,
fitness for purpose and satisfactory quality) can only be excluded in a non-consumer
(business) sale where the test of reasonableness is satisfied.
For a term to satisfy the requirement of reasonableness mentioned above, it must, in the
view of the court, be:
a fair or reasonable one to be included having regard to the circumstances which
were, or ought reasonably to have been, known to or in the contemplation of the
parties when the contract was made.
It is interesting to note that in some cases the court is required to take into account the
availability of insurance cover in deciding whether or not it is reasonable for one party to
limit their liability.

Consider this
this…
…
The implication here is that it may be reasonable for one party to restrict their liability for
loss or damage in a case where they cannot easily insure against liability for such loss,
especially when the other party can insure the risk more easily. Do you agree that this
is fair?

Be aware
UCTA applies mainly to ‘business liability’ and does not cover private transactions in
which neither party is acting in the course of business (with the exception of implied
terms in sale of goods and hire-purchase contracts).

Most types of contract are covered by the Act but some, including insurance contracts, are
excluded. The insurance industry sought to have insurance contracts exempted from the
Act, since it would have made the practice of insurance very uncertain. Policy wordings
which had been established and accepted for many years would have been laid open to
continual challenge and premium levels would be very difficult to fix.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/17

C3C Consumer Rights Act 2015

As mentioned above, unfair terms in consumer contracts are now governed by part 2 of the
Consumer Rights Act 2015. This Act came into force in October 2015 and revoked the
provisions previously given in the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
(UTCCR)
(UTCCR).
UTCCR laid down a general requirement of fairness in consumer contracts and also required
that such contracts should be in plain, intelligible language. The 2015 Act continues the
requirement for fairness and applies it to consumer notices as well.

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Section 62 of the 2015 Act provides that an unfair term of a consumer contract or notice is
not binding on the consumer. It defines an unfair term or notice as that which, contrary to
the requirement of good faith, causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and
obligations to the detriment of the consumer. Where a term is not binding on the consumer,
the contract continues, so far as practicable, to have effect in every other respect (s.67).

Be aware
Terms which define the main subject matter of the contract or which determine the price
are excluded from review, as long as they are in plain, intelligible language.

The 2015 Act removes the requirement stated in UTCCR that ‘a term must not have been
individually negotiated before a term could be challenged on the ground that it was unfair’.
The consumer is now entitled to claim the protection of part 2 of the 2015 Act even when a
term of the contract has been individually negotiated with the trader.
Section 65 – exclusions
Under s.65, a trader cannot by a term of a consumer contract or a consumer notice exclude
or restrict liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence. Where a term or
notice aims to do this, a person is not to be taken to have voluntarily accepted any risk
because they agreed to or knew about the term or notice.
Section 65 does not apply to:
• any contract so far as it is a contract of insurance, including a contract to pay an annuity
on human life; or
• any contract so far as it relates to the creation or transfer of an interest in land.
Section 31 – implied terms
Under s.31, a term that excludes implied terms relating to, for example, correspondence with
description or sample, fitness for purpose and satisfactory quality is not binding on the
consumer.
We will look at the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in more detail in chapter 7, section A4A.

C3D Summary
The following table compares the provisions of UCTA and the 2015 Act with regards to
contract terms.

Applies to: Scope: Effect:

The Unfair Business-to- Restricted mainly Makes frequent reference to a

Contract Terms business contracts. to exclusion and ‘reasonableness’ test, with the burden of
Act 1977 limitation clauses. proof of reasonableness on the party
(UCTA) seeking to rely on the restrictive term.

Consumer Consumer Cover all types Subjects terms to a ‘fairness’ test, with the
Rights Act 2015 contracts. of term. burden of proof (of unfairness) on the
consumer.

C4 Conditions and warranties

The terms of a contract can be further classified into conditions and warranties
warranties. This
classification is largely based on the importance of the terms in question and the
consequences if they are broken.
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General law of Importance: If broken:

contract

Warranty Affects only some relatively minor Injured party has a right to claim
aspect of the agreement. damages but not to terminate the
contract.

Condition Relates to an important aspect of the Victim has a right not only to claim
agreement: it ‘goes to the root’. damages but also to terminate the
agreement.
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In fact, the parties to a contract will often expressly classify at least some of the terms of
their agreement in advance and stipulate which are to be regarded as crucial and which
are not.

Be aware
However, the words used by the parties will not always be conclusive and, even if a term
in a contract is expressly described as a condition, the courts will not treat it as such if the
parties plainly did not intend it to be an important part of the agreement.

In some cases such classification appears to exist as a matter of law.

Example 3.10
Prominent examples are found in the Sale of Goods Act 1979, discussed earlier. You will
recall that the Act provides that a number of conditions (such as ‘satisfactory quality’ and
‘fitness for purpose’) will be implied into every contract for the sale of goods. The Act also
creates two implied warranties (freedom from encumbrance and the right to quiet
possession of the goods) in s.12(2).

There is a modern tendency of the courts to adopt a more flexible approach and focus on
the effect of a breach on the injured party to ascertain whether a condition or warranty has
been broken. This has led to the recognition of a third class, known as intermediate or
innominate terms.
These cannot be classified as either conditions or warranties in advance and it is only when
the effects of a breach are considered that the true nature of the term is revealed. A trivial
breach will then give rise to an action for damages only whereas a serious breach will entitle
the injured party to treat the contract as repudiated.

Be aware
Finally, we should note that the classification of terms in insurance contracts is quite
different from that which is described above. In particular, the word ‘warranty’ is used in
an entirely different sense in insurance and refers to a major term of the contract.
Moreover, the Insurance Act 2015 reformed the remedy for breach of insurance
warranties and some conditions. This is discussed in chapter 7.

D Defective contracts
There are a number of matters which may destroy the validity of an apparently sound
contract, or make it partly ineffective.
Defective contracts may result from:
• illegality;
• improper pressure;
• mistake;
• misrepresentation; or
• non-disclosure (this needs care as it has only very limited exceptional application in
general contract law and in the insurance context only in business insurance).
Each of these is now discussed in turn.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/19

D1 Illegality
Although people are generally free to make whatever agreements they wish, contracts
which directly involve the commission of a legal wrong should obviously be discouraged.
Such contracts are termed ‘illegal’ and are generally void in law.
In this section, however, we use the term ‘illegality’ in a broader sense to include also those
agreements which are against public policy, that is, agreements which do not involve the
commission of a distinct legal wrong but which the courts refuse to enforce because of their
tendency to harm society.

Chapter 3
Illegal contracts fall into three categories:
• contracts which are contrary to law;
• contracts which are contrary to public policy; and
• contracts in restraint of trade.
We will consider each of these in turn and look at the effects of illegality (section D2) before
focusing specifically on illegality in insurance contracts (section D3).

D1A Contracts which are contrary to law

These include contracts involving the commission of a crime or tort. Such contracts include
those to:
• forge banknotes;
• steal property; and/or
• kill or injure other people.
In some cases, merely making the contract will be forbidden by law:

Example 3.11
If two parties agree to break into a shop, for instance, the agreement alone is a criminal
conspiracy.

In other cases, it may be the purpose of the contract which is illegal (for example, where a
gun is sold lawfully but the seller knows that the buyer intends to commit murder with it).
In other cases, contracts are forbidden by statute but making such a contract is not a
criminal act. The contract is illegal but there is no criminal penalty.

Example 3.12
The Life Assurance Act 1774 states that ‘no insurance shall be made’ by a person who has
no insurable interest in the life or event in question.

Be aware
If a contract is not prohibited by statute, but simply declared void, voidable or
unenforceable, it is not illegal. This is the case with a marine insurance policy which lacks
the insurable interest required by the Marine Insurance Act 1906. The question of
insurable interest is discussed in chapter 5, section B.

D1B Contracts which are contrary to public policy

A contract may not involve the commission of a legal wrong, or be forbidden by any statute,
but may still tend to bring about results which are in some way harmful to the public or
socially undesirable. A considerable number of examples exist, including those which follow.
Contracts tending to sexual immorality
Although prostitution, as such, is not illegal in the UK, contracts in furtherance of prostitution
or other immoral purposes have been held contrary to good morals and so illegal.
Contracts affecting the freedom of marriage
A contract in absolute restraint of marriage (where a person agrees not to marry at all) is
void. A partial restraint (as in an agreement not to marry an Englishman or an insurance
executive) may be upheld if it is reasonable.
 3/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Contracts of trade with an enemy

A contract which involves trading in wartime with an ‘enemy’ (a person voluntarily resident
or carrying on business in enemy occupied territory) is illegal at common law.
Contracts to break the law of a friendly foreign state
Contracts of this sort are likely to harm good foreign relations and may, therefore, be held
contrary to public policy.
Contracts to deceive public authorities
An agreement between an employer and employee where part of the salary was concealed
Chapter 3

or disguised as ‘expenses’ in order to defraud the tax authorities provides an example.

Contracts to corrupt public life
Contracts to bribe officials or to sell public honours fall in this category.
Contracts which pervert the course of justice
These include contracts to hinder prosecutions, for example, by paying the victim not to
report a crime or not to cooperate in the prosecution.

D1C Contracts in restraint of trade

Although these fall under the general heading of agreements which are contrary to public
policy, they form a particularly important group and are, therefore, treated separately. For
centuries the prosperity of the United Kingdom has depended on trade and for that reason,
there is a long tradition of the common law that agreements which tend to hinder or restrain
trade are to be discouraged.
The general rule is that contracts in restraint of trade are ‘prima facie’ (‘on the face of it’)
void but will be upheld if they are reasonable.
Restraint can take many forms and the following are simply examples of two of the
main types.
Restraints on contracts of employment
Contracts of employment sometimes state that the employee, if they terminate their
employment, may not compete against their present employer by working for a rival firm or
setting up a competing business of their own.
The courts are not sympathetic to restraints of this kind, especially where the effect would
be to prevent the employee from earning his living through the use of some general skill or
knowledge which they have acquired. However, the courts are more willing to allow the
employer to protect themselves from the misuse by the employee of trade secrets,
confidential information and lists of customers and trade connections.
In each case the courts will have to decide whether the restraint is reasonable in the interests
of the parties and of the public and will take into account the nature of the interest protected
and the extent of the restraint clause.

Example 3.13
In Attwood v. Lamont (1920)
(1920), a tailor and draper at Kidderminster employed the
defendant (Lamont) under a contract stating that Lamont could not, on leaving his
employment, carry on a business as a tailor within ten miles of Kidderminster. It was held
that this restriction was merely to prevent the defendant from using his skill in
competition with the claimant and was, therefore, void.
However, in Forster & Sons Ltd v. Suggett (1918)
(1918), the works manager of a glass-making
company had agreed not to work for a rival firm for five years after leaving his present job.
Here, the restraint was held to be valid because the manager knew of a secret
manufacturing process which would be valuable to a rival.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/21

Restraints on the seller of a business

When a business is sold, the buyer will often require the seller to agree that in future they will
not carry on a similar business in competition (which, if established nearby, might attract all
their old customers away from the buyer). The courts are far more ready to uphold restraints
of this sort.
Here the buyer pays for, among other things, the ‘goodwill’ of the business which is a form of
property which the law will protect. Again, when a business is sold the parties are normally in
an equal bargaining position and there is not the danger of exploitation which sometimes
exists in the relationship of employer and employee. Only occasionally, therefore, will the

Chapter 3
courts need to step in to protect the buyer.
In deciding whether the restraint is reasonable, the courts will also bear in mind the
adequacy of the payment received by the seller.

D2 Effects of illegality
An illegal contract is generally void, and the court will not assist a party to the agreement in
any way. The contract therefore cannot be enforced and, furthermore, money or goods
delivered under it cannot usually be recovered by an action in court. (A person who has
transferred money or property under a void contract that is not illegal will generally be able
to recover it).
Where money or goods have changed hands under an illegal contract, the defendant is,
therefore, in a stronger position than the claimant who seeks the aid of the court to recover
it, since the help of the court will be denied once the illegality of the agreement is
discovered. This is expressed in the legal maxim in ‘pari delicto potior est defendentis’
(‘where there is equal wrongdoing the position of the defendant is stronger’).
However, there are some exceptions to this rule, when it may be possible for the claimant to
recover property transferred under an illegal contract:
• when the parties are not in pari delicto (equal in wrongdoing) because, for example, one
party entered the contract through improper pressure
pressure, fraud or mistake;
• when one party ‘repents’, i.e. voluntarily abandons the illegal purpose; and
• when the illegality arises under a statute passed to protect a particular class of people
(such as tenants or people who borrow from moneylenders), in which case a member of
that class will be able to recover their property.

Be aware
You should note that if a contract is illegal in part only, the court may in some cases be
willing to enforce the valid portion of the contract and refuse assistance only with regard
to the illegal part. This is called ‘severance’.

D3 Illegality in insurance contracts

As we have seen, contracts generally will be void if they are illegal or against public policy
and the same is true in the case of insurance contracts.

Consider this
this…
…
In what situations might illegality arise in an insurance contract?
For more on
insurable interest,
read chapter 5,
section B
 3/22 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

No insurable interest We will discuss insurable interest fully in chapter 5, section B.

For now, take note that an insurance contract may be illegal and void
because the would-be insured lacks the insurable interest required by
statute.

Purpose of contract illegal The purpose of the contract may be illegal or against public policy.
Contracts of insurance with enemies or on enemy property may fall in
this category and there are a number of similar decisions to this effect.
For instance, taking out a motor insurance policy on a vehicle which is
intended to be used to commit a crime.

Unlawful use of insured If insured property is used unlawfully, the contract may be rendered
Chapter 3

property illegal. In marine insurance law there are decisions which suggest that
policies of insurance on illegal adventures are themselves illegal.

Close connection with In any case where there is a close connection between the loss for
a crime which the insured seeks compensation and a criminal act, the policy
may well be invalidated (motor insurance cover is excepted, even a
criminal use is covered – see Hardy v. Motor Insurers
Insurers’’ Bureau (1964)
(1964)).
Two principles may be involved here:

First, there is a basic requirement in insurance that losses should be

accidental or fortuitous, so that the insured is not entitled to recover
for losses caused by their own ‘wilful misconduct’.

Second, public policy may prevent the insured from recovering where
allowing them to do so might encourage other people to break
the law.

We will now look at some examples from different classes of insurance to help illustrate the
above points.

D3A Life insurance

Case example
The leading case is Beresford v. Royal Insurance Co. Ltd (1938)
(1938). Here the insured
committed suicide, intending that the policy money be used to pay off his heavy debts, at
a time when suicide was a criminal offence. It was held that the policy did cover suicide
and that the insurers could extend the policy to cover acts of wilful misconduct if they
wished (the first principle mentioned above). Nevertheless, the court held that public
policy (the second principle) would prevent a recovery being made, because payment
would allow the insured a ‘benefit’ from his criminal act in the sense that his estate would
be freed from debts.

For more on There is no doubt that the courts would now reach a different conclusion, because suicide is
insurable interest,
see chapter 5, no longer a crime.
section B

D3B Property insurance

An insurance on property which has been acquired illegally by the policyholder (such as
stolen goods) will certainly be illegal.

Case example
In Geismar v. Sun Alliance (1977)
(1977), the insured had not stolen the insured property (some
items of jewellery) but had smuggled it into the UK without declaring it and paying the
necessary excise duty: this made them liable to forfeiture. The items were subsequently
stolen, but the court held that the claimant could not recover for the theft under his
insurance as this would (at least indirectly) allow him to profit from his criminal act.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/23

D3C Motor and liability insurance

The application of the general principles to motor vehicle insurance is varied due to the
nature and prevailing objective of compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance. A third party
is normally an innocent victim of an insured driver’s wrongdoing, and the courts are of the
view that the third party’s right to be compensated for an injury that they suffer as a result of
criminal conduct by the insured driver should not be invalidated because of the driver’s
criminal act. The insured driver is not entitled to claim under the insurance contract if they
deliberately caused the loss. However, if there is insurance, the insurer and – in the case of
the driver being uninsured or untraced – the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) will be obliged to

Chapter 3
compensate the victim’s loss (Hardy
Hardy v. Motor Insurers (1964)). The insurer or the
Insurers’’ Bureau (1964)
MIB – whoever pays to the third party for their loss – may recoup against the driver who
caused the loss.
If the act involves only negligence (as in the case of some road traffic offences), the validity
of the insurance will not be affected. In the context of liability insurance other than motor
vehicle insurance, the general principle is that a deliberate or even reckless course of
conduct is enough to invalidate the cover even if the result is accidental and the insured is
not convicted of any crime.

Case example
The leading case is Gray v. Barr (1971) in which a man shot and killed his wife’s lover. He
had deliberately taken a loaded gun with the intention of frightening his rival, who was
killed when the gun accidentally went off in a scuffle. He was acquitted of murder and
manslaughter in the criminal trial but was successfully sued for damages by the wife of the
dead man. He claimed an indemnity under the personal liability part of his household
policy, but the court refused to allow him to recover because of a deliberate and
dangerous use of the loaded gun. Recovery under insurance would be against public
policy to allow him an indemnity against the consequences of his conduct.

In motor insurance, however, disallowing the victim to claim against either the insurer or the
MIB where the insured’s conduct was either deliberate or reckless is in conflict with the
purpose that the motor insurance pursues since the Road Traffic Act 1930 (RTA 1930) was
adopted. In summary, the victim of a traffic accident is not prejudiced by the fact that the
insured themselves would have no claim against the insurers. Where the wrongdoer has no
insurance, the victim has a similar claim against the MIB.

Activity
To find out more about claims made to the MIB, visit: www.mib.org.uk.

D4 Improper pressure
A contract is voidable by a person who has been led into it by improper pressure.

Be aware
However, a contract is not voidable merely because one party was in a position to drive a
hard bargain or used hard selling techniques.

The pressure must be ‘improper’ and may take the form of duress or undue influence.

D4A Duress
Originally, duress only arose when a contract was achieved through force or threats of force
against the person of the other contracting party. Later cases recognised duress by means
other than physical violence and accepted that unlawful threats to the claimant’s property or
business interests might also have the same effect.
It is now recognised that any threat to commit a legal wrong can amount to duress if the
other party is forced to agree against their will. In some cases the threat may amount to
duress even when what is threatened is not in itself illegal, as where a blackmailer threatens
to expose the truth about his victim.
 3/24 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

D4B Undue influence

The concept of undue influence is a product of equity which recognised more subtle forms
of ‘persuasion’ than those of duress.
In particular, it is presumed that certain relationships, such as solicitor and client or doctor
and patient, will give rise to improper pressure unless the contrary is proved. This will occur
when one party holds a dominant position over the other or is able to take advantage of a
relationship of trust and confidence between them.
If such a relationship exists, the person seeking to have the agreement set aside need only
Chapter 3

show that the arrangement was manifestly to their disadvantage. This can be done by
showing that the transaction is ‘not readily explicable on ordinary motives’. It is then up to
the other party to rebut the presumption of undue influence. This, if it can be done, is usually
achieved by showing that the other party had proper independent advice. The right to avoid
the contract must be exercised within a reasonable time.

Be aware
An insurance contract could, in theory, be obtained by duress or undue influence but you
should note that even high pressure selling will not in itself amount to improper pressure.

D5 Mistake
In exceptional cases, the validity of a contract may be affected by mistake. This will normally
make the contract void.
Both parties may make the same mistake.

Example 3.14
For instance, they may both believe that something which one party proposes to buy
from the other exists, when, in fact, it has been destroyed.

Alternatively, the parties may effectively make different mistakes:

Example 3.15
One party believes they are contracting about one thing and the other party thinks they
are contracting about another.

In the first case, there is an agreement although it will not have the effect that the parties
intended. In the second, there is really no agreement at all because the parties are at cross
purposes.
In either case, the contract will be affected only if the mistake is fundamental: in other words,
so important that its effect is to undermine the whole contract. If it does not ‘go to the root’
of the contract, it will have no effect on it.
If this were not the case, anyone who had made a bad bargain would be able to escape by
relying on some trivial misunderstanding. The mistake may be a common one of law rather
than fact.
A mistake which makes a contract void is likely to fall into one of three main categories
which we will discuss in sections D5A–D5C.
The principles governing mistakes also apply to insurance contracts in the ordinary way
although, in practice, examples of fundamental mistakes are common. There is little case law
on the subject concerning insurance but a contract to purchase annuity or life insurance
would be void for mistake if the proposer died before the date of purchase.

D5A Mistake concerning the subject matter of the contract

First, the mistake may concern the existence of the subject matter. This is the sort of case
where the parties are at cross purposes and there is no ‘consensus ad idem’ (‘meeting of
minds’) at all. Both parties to the contract must have a consensus ad idem for the contract to
be valid.
In terms of insurance contracts, there are occasional instances where the insured and insurer
have been at complete cross-purposes.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/25

Case example
In Beach v. Pearl Assurance Co. Ltd (1938)
(1938), the proposer wished to insure the life of her
mother, Mary Ellen Ince, but the company’s agent thought that the policy was to be on the
life of her grandmother, Mary Ann Ince. The policy was issued in the name of Mary Ellen
Ince but the details were appropriate to the grandmother and the premium was
calculated on the basis of the grandmother’s age. The Industrial Assurance Commissioner
dismissed a claim for payment on the death of the mother because there was no
consensus ad idem between the parties and a valid contract was, therefore, never made.
The company agreed to return the premiums paid.

Chapter 3
Other mistakes about the subject matter are possible. Where there is a mistake as to the
quality of the subject matter, the contract will not be void unless the mistake rendered the
subject matter of the contract essentially different from the subject matter that the parties
had believed to exist. The mistake must be such as to render the performance of the
contract impossible.

D5B Mistake as to the identity of the other party

Example 3.16
A may enter into a contract for the sale of goods with B but believe that they are, in fact,
dealing with C. Often B will have deliberately led A to believe that they are C, in order to
persuade A to contract with them. In many cases, B is a confidence trickster who pretends
to be a wealthy and respectable person in order to persuade A to part with their goods in
exchange for a cheque which turns out to be worthless. By the time A discovers that they
have been cheated, the confidence trickster will usually have disappeared.
If, before disappearing, B has cashed in on their fraud by selling the goods to someone
else (D), an interesting legal question arises as to the ownership of the goods.
Do they belong to A, who was cheated by the fraudster, or do they belong to D, who
bought them from the rogue in good faith?

The answer depends on the status of the original contract between A and B. If the contract is
void for mistake, title to the goods (that is, ownership) does not pass to B and so B cannot
pass a good title to D. A, therefore, remains the owner and can recover their property
from D.
This remains, however, a very difficult area of law and the position may be different where
parties who deal face to face enter into an oral contract.

D5C Mistakes in recording agreements – rectification

If the parties put their contract in writing but make an error in recording what they have
agreed, the court may rectify the document to make it accurately reflect the true agreement.

Be aware
The mistake must, however, be that of both parties. If the written instrument does
accurately express the prior agreement it cannot be corrected on the ground that the
agreement itself was based on some mistake: the court can only rectify documents, not
contracts.

If rectification were not available, the court would have to either declare the whole contract
void for mistake or enforce it in its uncorrected form. In many cases neither would achieve a
just result.
Cases where one of the parties applies to the court for the rectification of an insurance
policy are not uncommon.

D6 Misrepresentation
Before a contract is made there are often negotiations in which one party makes statements
(known as representations) which are intended to persuade the other to enter into the
contract or to accept particular terms.
 3/26 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 3.17
The seller of a car may persuade the purchaser to buy, or pay a good price, by saying that
the vehicle has been regularly serviced, is totally reliable and so forth.

Sometimes both parties make representations. Representations as such are not part of the
contract itself (unlike conditions and warranties which are, of course, terms of the contract)
but are statements which induce (i.e. persuade) the other party to enter into the agreement.
A misrepresentation is, thus, a false statement of fact which induces the other party to enter
Chapter 3

into the contract. It may be:

• fraudulent;
• innocent; or
• negligent.
To have a damaging effect on the contract, the following requirements must be met:
• The misrepresentation must be one of fact.
Statements of existing fact are to be contrasted with statements of opinion or belief. A
statement of fact must be true. A statement of opinion or belief, on the other hand,
although not true may be excused if, at the time of the representation, the representor
had reasonable grounds to believe that their statement was true.
• The misrepresentation must be made by a party to the contract.
A statement by a third party (such as a bystander at the time of negotiations) is not
actionable. On the same principle, a misleading advertisement by the manufacturer of
goods cannot upset a contract between the seller and buyer from a retail shop.
• The misrepresentation must induce the contract.
The person seeking redress must have relied and acted upon the statement in question.

D6A Remedies for misrepresentation

The broad effect of misrepresentation is to make the contract voidable rather than void as in
most cases of mistake. In avoidable contracts, the party who wishes to avoid is required to
take positive steps to avoid the contract. Until the contract is avoided this way, it is a valid
contract between the parties.
Remedy for misrepresentations differs depending on the misrepresentation being
fraudulent, innocent or negligent.
• A representation is fraudulent if the person who makes it knows it is false, has no belief in
its truth or makes it recklessly, not caring if it is true or false.
• An innocent misrepresentation is a false statement which the maker honestly believes to
be true.
There is a further category of negligent misrepresentation. See Hedley Byrne v. Heller and
Partners (1963) in chapter 2, section D4 for an example of it.
The claimant’s remedies are as follows:
1. Rescission
The claimant may bring an action to rescind (avoid) the contract.
Rescission is available for any type of misrepresentation but s.2(2) of the
Misrepresentation Act 1967 allows the court to award damages in lieu of (instead of)
rescission at its discretion where misrepresentation is innocent.

Be aware
The right to avoid will, however, be lost if the parties cannot be restored to their original
position before the contract: for example, where the goods have been re-sold by the
buyer. Since rescission is an equitable remedy, the right will also be lost if it is not
exercised reasonably promptly. In either case, the claimant will be left with a claim for
damages only.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/27

2. Damages
In the case of fraud, the action for damages is based on the tort of deceit rather than on
the contract. Where there is fraud, the action for damages can be in addition to the
action for rescission.
A purely innocent misrepresentation may result in an award of damages if they are
awarded in lieu of rescission (see above). Damages and rescission are, thus, effectively
alternatives where misrepresentation is innocent. The court can choose which remedy
is appropriate but will not award both.
Section 2(1) of the Misrepresentation Act 1967 gives the right to claim damages for

Chapter 3
negligent misrepresentation.
3. Refusal of further performance
Avoidance of the contract puts the parties back to the positions they were in before
they made the contract. The injured party can refuse to perform their part of the
contract if they have not already performed it. In effect, they do nothing. If they are
then sued, they can raise the misrepresentation as a defence.
4. Affirmation
Since the contract is voidable rather than void, the injured party may choose to affirm
the contract (treat it as binding) if they wish.

Be aware
If they affirm the contract by their conduct or by express words, however, they cannot
later elect to avoid.

D7 Non-disclosure
As a general rule, the parties to a contract are under no positive duty of disclosure.
We have seen above that a false representation will harm the contract but there is no
general obligation to make any disclosure at all.
In relation to contracts for the sale of goods, the position has often been summarised in the
expression ‘caveat emptor’ (‘let the buyer beware’).
In some circumstances, however, a positive duty of disclosure does exist. If, for instance, a
representation made in the course of negotiations afterwards becomes untrue because of a
major change in circumstances, there is a duty to correct the original statement if the
change takes place before the contract is concluded.

Example 3.18
When a company is ‘floated’ on the Stock Exchange and the public is invited to buy
shares, a prospectus (now known as ‘listing particulars’) must be issued. This document
must contain all the information which investors would reasonably require in deciding
whether or not to buy shares. An omission to disclose material facts relating to the
company or share offer may make those responsible for the prospectus liable in damages.

D8 Duty of fair presentation in insurance contracts

Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 (CIDRA)(CIDRA),
consumers are under the duty to take reasonable care not to misrepresent facts before the
insurance contract is concluded. Due to the nature of the duty (to take reasonable care not
to misrepresent), the Act does not allow a remedy for insurers in the case of an innocent
misrepresentation. However, where the duty is either deliberate, reckless or careless, the
insurer is entitled to a remedy. Such a remedy may be avoidance of the contract or
deduction from the insured indemnity or treating the contract as if it was made under
different terms – depending on the seriousness of the breach and depending on what the
insurer proves in terms of inducement to enter into the contract.
A duty of disclosure exists as part of the duty of fair presentation of the risk in relation to
non-consumer insurance contracts.
The subject of non-disclosure and misrepresentation in the context of insurance is a major
topic of this book which is discussed fully in chapter 6.
 3/28 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

E Discharge of contracts
In this section we look at the ways in which a contract may be discharged; that is, how the
rights and obligations of the parties come to an end.
A contract may be discharged by:
• performance;
• breach;
• frustration;
Chapter 3

• agreement; or
• operation of law.

E1 Performance
A contract is performed when each party has carried out their side of the bargain.

Consider this
this…
…
How would a contract for sale of goods be performed?

Example 3.19
A seller of goods will fulfil their duties by delivering goods of the agreed type and quality
and the buyer will do so by accepting the goods and paying for them.

Failure to perform will usually amount to a breach of contract, so discussion of performance

will involve some reference to breach of contract also.

E1A The duty to perform

Each party must do completely and exactly what they have agreed to do: doing anything
different will generally amount to a breach.
However, tiny deviations may be disregarded under the de minimis principle discussed
earlier.
Again, there may be no breach where partial performance is accepted by the other party
(provided they have the choice whether to accept or reject) or where the other party refuses
an offer to perform or actually prevents performance.
As we stated in chapter 2, section B3C, liability in contract is often strict, so that when a
party fails to perform it will usually be no defence that the breach was not their fault.
On the other hand, sometimes a party to a contract will promise only to take reasonable care
in carrying out their contractual duties. In this case, liability will not be strict and the party in
question will be liable only if they have been negligent in carrying out their work.

Example 3.20
When professional people and firms contract with their clients, they usually promise only
to provide advice or treatment of a high professional standard: doctors, for example, do
not usually promise to cure people.
Accordingly, if the advice or treatment does not bring about the results that are desired,
the client must usually prove negligence if the professional is to be held liable.

Non-performance may be pardoned if there is a clause in the contract excusing non-

performance owing to factors which are beyond the party’s control. In other cases (including
many insurance contracts), a clause may simply allow one or both parties to cancel or
terminate the contract prematurely.
Finally, if performance of the contract becomes illegal, impossible or futile, both parties may
be discharged from their obligations under the doctrine of frustration, which is
discussed later.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/29

E1B Time for performance

The time for performance may be agreed in the contract and, where time is ‘of the essence’
of the contract, failure to perform within that time will amount to a breach of condition,
allowing repudiation of the contract (see below).
Time is of the essence when the parties have expressly stated that this is so or where it can
be implied from the circumstances: a contract to supply a wedding dress obviously implies
that it will be delivered before the wedding rather than afterwards.
Where time is not ‘of the essence’, a failure to abide by a time limit in a contract will result in

Chapter 3
liability for damages.
Where no time limit for performance of the contract has been agreed, performance must
take place within a reasonable time, to be decided by the court if necessary.

E2 Breach of contract
If a breach of contract is sufficiently serious, the injured party will have the option of treating
the contract as discharged.
A contractual breach may take the following forms.

E2A Breach by failure to perform

This is the most common form of breach and occurs when one party fails to carry out what
they have agreed to do. Their performance may be inadequate or they may provide no
performance at all.

Example 3.21
A seller may, for instance, deliver goods which are not in accordance with the agreement
or simply fail to deliver anything.

E2B Anticipatory breach

Before the time for performance of the contract arrives, one party may indicate that they will
not fulfil their part of the bargain. They may expressly renounce (or repudiate) the contract
by stating that they will not perform or they may disable themselves from performing by
doing something which makes performance impossible.

Example 3.22
A seller who has agreed to deliver goods to one person may disable themselves by selling
them to someone else before the date of delivery has come.

A breach which takes place before the date for performance has arrived is known as an
anticipatory breach. Where there is an anticipatory breach, the right to sue for breach arises
at once.
Instead of ‘accepting’ the anticipatory breach and suing immediately, the injured party can
ignore the breach and wait until the time for performance arrives. Keeping the contract alive
in this way may be worthwhile if there is a chance that the other party may, in fact, perform
their obligations. However, there is a risk that the right to sue will be lost if the contract is
subsequently discharged by some unexpected turn of events.

E2C Effects of breach

A breach of contract will always give the injured party a right to claim damages. If it is
sufficiently serious, it will also give the right to terminate the contract and bring it to an end.
You will remember that the terms of a contract can be classified into conditions and
warranties and only in the case of a breach of condition (a vital term which ‘goes to the
root’) does the right to terminate the contract arise. The breach of a warranty, or minor term,
gives rise to an action for damages only.
 3/30 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Be aware
We have stated already that in insurance law, the term ‘warranty’ is given a different
meaning and refers to a major term of the contract. Under the current law, the breach of a
warranty in an insurance policy suspends the insurance cover until the insured remedies
the breach. This is discussed in chapter 7.

There are a number of possible remedies for breach of contract in addition to the ones
already mentioned. Remedies are discussed later in this chapter.
Chapter 3

E3 Frustration
We stated earlier that liability in contract is often strict, in the sense that a person can be
liable even when a breach is not their fault.
In some cases, however, a contract may become impossible to perform or illegal or futile
because of some unexpected turn of events after the contract was made. In this case, the
contract may be ‘frustrated’.
Broadly speaking, the effect of the doctrine of frustration is to release both parties from their
obligations. A contract may be ended by frustration due to:
• change in law or operation of law;
• destruction of a thing necessary for performance of the contract;
• non-occurrence of an event on which the contract depends;
• commercial purpose of the contract frustrated; and
• death or personal incapacity.

E3A Change in law or operation of law

Case law provides a good example of frustration by subsequent illegality. In a particular
case, the outbreak of war with Russia made the performance of an existing chartering
agreement illegal, thus discharging the contract.

E3B Destruction of a thing necessary for performance of the

contract
An example of this is shown in case law – a hall was hired out to the claimant for a series of
concerts on four named days but was accidentally burnt down before the date of the first
concert. The claimant’s claim for damages (based on wasted advertising expenses) failed as
destruction of the hall had frustrated the contract.

E3C Non-occurrence of an event on which the contract depends

Good examples are found in the ‘coronation cases’ which resulted from the cancellation of
events connected with the coronation of Edward VII, which was itself postponed owing to
the King’s illness.

Example 3.23
A defendant agreed to hire the claimant’s rooms to watch the coronation procession but
refused to pay the balance of rent due when the procession was cancelled. The court held
that the cancellation of the procession effectively discharged the contract and the rent
did not have to be paid.

E3D Commercial purpose of the contract frustrated

A contract may be discharged when a change in the circumstances is so fundamental that
the duties involved become entirely different from those which were originally envisaged.
A contract will not be discharged simply because new circumstances make it more difficult
to perform.

E3E Death or personal incapacity

Death or serious illness will discharge a contract where the person in question is required to
provide personal services.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/31

A contract to perform in a concert is an obvious example and contracts of employment can

also be discharged in this way.

E3F Effects of frustration

Frustration automatically brings the contract to an end. Both parties are freed from their
obligations and neither need take any steps to rescind the agreement. The law then
attempts, as far as possible, to put the parties back to where they were before the contract
was made.

Chapter 3
E4 Discharge by agreement
Since a contract is formed by agreement, it follows that the parties can make a further
agreement to release each other from their obligations. By releasing each other, the parties
both give up a benefit and, thus, provide consideration. This form of release is known as
waiver.
However, if one party has performed their duties under the contract, a subsequent promise
to release the other will not be binding in itself because there is no consideration for it. If the
promise is to be binding it must, therefore, be made in the form of a deed or the party to be
released must give some fresh consideration for it. They can provide consideration by doing
something different from that which was originally required of them, even if it is only a small
favour. This form of release is known as accord and satisfaction, the agreement to discharge
being the accord and the fresh consideration being the satisfaction.

Example 3.24
If A has agreed to pay B £1,000 for the purchase of a motorcycle, the contract will be
discharged if B accepts a pair of roller-skates instead of £1,000 in exchange for the cycle.

E4A Discharge of money debts

A debt cannot be discharged by the payment of a smaller sum unless there is a change in the
time or mode of payment or something extra is added.

Example 3.25
If A owes B £1,000 (perhaps for the motorcycle mentioned above) an agreement by B to
accept £500 instead would not be binding (and would not prevent B from later claiming
the whole sum) unless the payment was made earlier than was previously agreed or in a
different form or something else of value was given as well.

Finally, a discharge by agreement may take the form of the substitution of a new contract:
this is known as novation. Novation is discussed later.

E5 Discharge by operation of law

A contract may also be discharged by the operation of the law itself; for example by merger,
death or bankruptcy.

F Remedies in contract
Consider this
this…
…
If a contract is breached, what remedies does the aggrieved party have?

The main remedies in the law of contract are:

• termination;
• an action for damages;
• an action for specific performance; and
• an action for an injunction.
Certain other remedies will also be considered briefly.
 3/32 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Be aware
Some of the remedies discussed are common law remedies (developed in the Common
Law courts) and some are equitable remedies (developed by the Court of Chancery). The
distinction is important because common law remedies are available as of right whereas
equitable remedies are granted only at the discretion of the court and may be refused in
some circumstances, such as where another remedy is more appropriate.

F1 Termination
Chapter 3

We have seen that failure to perform a contract properly, or failure to perform at all, will
generally amount to a breach. If the breach is sufficiently serious, the injured party will be
entitled to termination of the contract.
They can do so by refusing to perform their own obligations under the agreement, by
refusing to accept further performance from the other party (e.g. by rejecting goods) (this is
called repudiation). Alternatively, they can claim for restoration of the situation which
existed prior to the contract (e.g. by asking for the return of money which they have paid
under a contract).

Be aware
The right to terminate will generally arise only where the breach is so serious as to ‘go to
the root’ of the contract. You should bear in mind the classification of terms into
conditions and warranties here. Again, if the situation can be adequately redressed by the
payment of damages to the injured party, this will generally be the preferred option of
the court.

F2 Damages
As in the law of torts, the main common law remedy for breach of contract is an award of
damages; that is an award of financial compensation to the claimant.
As we have suggested, damages can be claimed as of right when a contract is broken. By
contrast, equitable remedies (such as injunctions and specific performance) are awarded at
the discretion of the court only.
The central purpose of an award of damages is to place the claimant in the financial position
they would have enjoyed if the contract had been performed fully and properly.
To claim substantial damages, the claimant must have suffered loss. If the claimant has
suffered no loss at all, they are entitled to nominal damages only, that is, a token amount.
This may be the case, for example, if the defendant fails to deliver goods ordered by the
claimant and the latter is able to obtain them elsewhere without extra cost or inconvenience.

Be aware
Damages in contract are intended to compensate the claimant and not to punish the
defendant.

F2A Types of loss

When assessing damages in contract, the courts recognise various types of loss including
personal injury, damage to property and financial loss.
Damages may also be awarded for distress or injury to feelings where the object of the
contract was to provide comfort and pleasure and a breach of contract creates the opposite
result. For example, a travel agent sells a holiday which promises a stay in a brand-new hotel.
On arrival, the holidaymakers find the hotel is still under construction and are forced to
relocate to another hotel which causes them stress. In this instance, the travel agent has
breached their contract and the holidaymakers may potentially be awarded damages for
distress or injured feelings. English courts, however, found that the purpose of insurance
contracts is not pleasure or relaxation, and denied claims for damages of this nature.
Therefore, if an insurer upsets the insured, the insured’s claim for non-pecuniary losses is
likely to be rejected.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/33

F2B Measuring the loss

The measure of damages will vary according to the circumstances.

Consider this
this…
…
If you have a contract to buy goods and the seller fails to deliver them, how would your
damages be calculated? What if the goods you ordered would now cost more to buy
elsewhere?

The buyer will normally be entitled to damages based on the cost of substitute goods. If they

Chapter 3
have paid the seller, they will be entitled to the full market price of substitute goods. If they
have not paid, they will be entitled to damages based on the increased cost of the goods if
the market price has risen in the meantime.
If a buyer wrongfully refuses to accept and pay for goods, the same general principles will
apply and the seller will be entitled to the difference between the contract price and the
market price if the market price has fallen. If the market price has risen, there will probably
be no loss since the goods can now be sold to someone else for a higher sum.
In other cases, the appropriate basis of damages may be the cost of remedying the defective
performance such as the cost of correcting mechanical faults in a car or defective work
carried out by a builder.

F2C Mitigation of loss

The victim of a breach of contract is under a duty to mitigate (minimise) their loss and
cannot recover damages for losses which they could reasonably have avoided by their own
efforts.

F2D Liquidated damages and penalties

Like an action in tort, an action for breach of contract is usually an action for unliquidated
(also known as unspecified) damages: that is, the amount to be awarded is fixed by the
court. However, the results of an action for breach of contract can be hard to predict and to
remove uncertainty the parties sometimes agree in advance that a certain fixed sum or sums
should be payable in the event of specified types of breach.

Example 3.26
A construction contract might stipulate that if the work is not completed on time the
building contractor shall pay the employer the sum of, say, £1,000 for each day’s delay in
handing over the building.

If such provisions are a reasonable attempt to estimate and provide for anticipated losses in
advance, they are valid in law and are known as liquidated damages clauses. If, however, the
amounts concerned are excessive or unreasonable they are known as penalty clauses and
are invalid.

F2E Remoteness of damage and causation

The doctrine of remoteness of damage applies to the law of contract as well as the law of Refer to
chapter 2,
torts. Accordingly, damages will not be awarded for losses that are too remote from the section D3A for
original breach of contract. remoteness of
damage
The general effect is that damage will not be too remote if it is reasonably foreseeable or if
the defendant is aware of special circumstances that make a loss likely.
You will recall that damages can only be recovered in tort where there is a direct causal
connection between the wrongful act and the loss. The same is true in the law of contract,
where the defendant will not be liable if the source of the loss is not the original breach but
some new intervening cause (or ‘novus actus interveniens’).

F3 Specific performance and injunctions

These remedies are means by which a contract can be specifically enforced. In other words,
they are remedies which compel the defendant to honour their promise to the claimant
rather than simply pay compensation for breaking it.
 3/34 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

The court may 1. Positively order the defendant to do something which they have promised to
do, such as transfer particular property to the claimant.

2. Forbid the defendant to do something which they have promised not to do,
such as set up a business in competition with the claimant.

In the first case, the order is one of specific performance. In the second, the order is an
injunction (which we have met already when discussing the law of torts). Failure to obey
either is a contempt of court for which the defendant can be punished, by prison if
necessary.
Chapter 3

Specific performance and injunctions are equitable remedies and are awarded only at the
discretion of the court. You will recall that the common law remedy of damages is available,
not at the court’s direction, but as of right.
Specific performance will not be awarded where the claimant can be adequately
compensated by an award of damages.

Be aware
The court will not order specific performance of contracts for personal services or, indeed,
any contract where it would be difficult to supervise performance.

The remedy will also be refused if the claimant has not acted fairly. This requirement applies
to all equitable remedies.
Where a contract contains a negative undertaking such as a promise not to work for another
person or set up a rival business in competition, an injunction can be sought to prevent a
breach of the promise. For obvious reasons, this is known as a prohibitory injunction.
A mandatory injunction is an order requiring the defendant to do something positive to end
a wrongful state of affairs which they have brought about (such as an order requiring the
defendant to demolish a structure which they have erected in breach of a promise not to
build).
The restrictions on the availability of an injunction are broadly similar to those which apply
to specific performance.
An injunction will not be granted if the effect would be to compel performance of a contract
that could not be enforced by an order of specific performance. The breach of some part of
a contract that is not specifically enforceable may, however, be restrained by injunction.

F4 Other remedies for breach of contract

Other remedies exist besides those mentioned above.
An action for an agreed sum (a common law remedy) may be brought when one of the
parties has broken an undertaking to pay a specified sum of money.

Example 3.27
A buyer might agree to pay £1,000 for goods which are to be delivered at a later date but
fail to do so. The seller in this case could sue for the sum in question.

A remedy in contract may also take the form of a claim for restitution, a claim for the return
of money which has been paid or other property which has been transferred.

Example 3.28
Where there has been a total failure of consideration under a contract and the claimant
has received nothing of value from the defendant by way of performance, they can sue to
recover money or property which they have transferred under the agreement.

Finally, a person may bring an action on a ‘quantum meruit’ (‘as much as they have earned or
deserved’). For example, if a contract is discharged by the defendant’s breach, the claimant
may claim on a quantum meruit as an alternative to damages.
The remedy may also be available when work has been done under a void contract (when,
by definition, an action for breach of contract cannot be brought).
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/35

F5 Limitation of actions
In chapter 2, section M, we saw that the law gives a person who is the victim of a civil wrong
only a limited period of time in which to begin their action against the wrongdoer.

Consider this
this…
…
Why does the law limit the time in which a victim can bring an action?

To allow unlimited time would be unfair to the defendant since the possibility of legal action

Chapter 3
could hang over them indefinitely. A very long delay would also make a fair hearing difficult
since evidence tends to become less clear and less easily available with the passage of time.
The time periods allowed are governed by legislation and, for this reason, a claim which is
made too late is described as being ‘statute-barred’.
Claims for breach of contract are governed by the Limitation Act 1980
1980. The main limitation
periods are:
• six years in an action on a simple contract; but only
• three years where the claim is in respect of personal injuries; and
• twelve years in an action brought on a speciality contract (deed).

F5A When time begins to run

The limitation period begins on the date on which the cause of action accrues. The ‘cause of
action’ means the situation which gives rise to the claimant’s right to sue the defendant, so
the date in question is normally the date of the breach of contract.

F5B Claims for specific performance, injunctions or other

equitable remedies
The limitation rules discussed above do not apply, in general, to claims for equitable
remedies.

F5C Specified time

Contracting parties frequently include an express term that a claim for breach may only be
made within a specified time
time. In non-consumer (business) contracts these time limits may
well be short (a matter of months rather than years) and the courts will generally
uphold them.

G Privity of contract
Privity of contract is a doctrine which restricts the rights and duties created by a contract to
the persons who originally made it.
Under this doctrine, a contract between A and B cannot confer any legally enforceable
benefit on a third party and cannot impose any duties on the third party. ‘Only a person who
is a party to a contract can sue upon it’.

G1 Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

A strict application of the doctrine of privity of contract would often hinder useful and
sensible non-consumer (business) arrangements. For this reason, a number of exceptions to
the rule have become established over the years.
Some of these have been created by statute; others are common law exceptions (i.e., they
have been developed by the courts). The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
applies to contracts entered into on or after 11 May 2000. The Act provides that a third party
(i.e. someone other than one of the original contracting parties) can enforce a contractual
term if:
a. the contract provides that they may do so; or
b. the contract purports to confer a benefit on the third party, unless on a true
construction of the contract it appears that the parties did not intend the term to be
enforceable by the third party.
 3/36 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

The third party can only enforce the contractual term if they are expressly identified in the
contract by name, or they belong to a general class of persons identified in the contract (e.g.
‘all purchasers of products’). The third party need not be in existence when the contract
is made.
The Act supplements the existing law and does not remove or replace any of the existing
exceptions to the doctrine of privity.
A number of contracts are specifically excluded from the Act, including bills of exchange,
terms in contracts of employment against an employee, and most terms in contracts for the
Chapter 3

carriage of goods by sea (and some other contracts of carriage).

Be aware
Insurance contracts are not excluded from the Act, but it is perfectly possible for the
parties to an insurance contract (or any other contract) to exclude the operation of the
Act altogether.

Consider this
this…
…
What types of third party do you think may want to enforce a contractual term in an
insurance contract? What would their interests be in the operation of the policy, and why
would an insurer want to take steps to prevent them from exercising their right to enforce
the relevant term?

The doctrine of privity of contract, the exceptions to it, and the 1999 Act have important
implications for the practice of insurance. This is so because insurance policies often appear
to cover not one but several people or ‘confer a benefit’ on persons other than the
policyholder (i.e. the person who originally entered into the contract with the insurer). The
question then arises as to whether these ‘additional insureds’ or other third parties can claim
on the insurance policy. There is another complicating factor, because one (or more) insured
persons may break the terms of an insurance policy that covers several people, whereas
other insureds may not. This raises a question as to whether the insurance policy is wholly
invalid or only partially so. We will return to these important questions in chapter 7,
section C.

H Assignment
We have seen that under the doctrine of privity of contract discussed earlier, only the parties
to a contract may sue on it.
An original party to the contract may be able to assign (transfer) their rights under the
contract to another who then stands in their place.
We will look at the general rules of assignment first and then, in section H4, we will look at
assignment in relation to insurance contracts.

Be aware
This topic is important because in some classes of insurance (particularly life and marine)
policies are quite frequently assigned. In fact, the assignment of policies in each of these
two classes is governed by special legislation.
• In the case of marine insurance
insurance, it is governed by section 50 of the Marine Insurance
Act 1906.
• In the case of life insurance
insurance, it is governed by the Policies of Assurance Act 1867
1867.
Otherwise, the general rules of assignment apply to insurance contract as we will now
discuss.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/37

H1 Transfer of rights
Example 3.29
If A owes B £100 for work which B has done, B may decide to transfer the right to receive
the £100 to C, either as a gift or in exchange for something else. B is, therefore, the
assignor (or creditor) and C is the assignee. The debtor (A) is not a party to the
assignment and their consent, in general, is not required (although it will be advantageous
to the other parties if they are given notice). As a result of the assignment, C will gain the
right to enforce the debt against A.

Chapter 3
A contractual right is a ‘chose (thing) in action’, a valuable but intangible piece of property. It
is called a chose in action because it cannot be physically seized but only enforced through
an action in court.
A ‘chose in possession’, in contrast, is a piece of tangible property which can be seized or
physically controlled.
The most common types of assignment are as follows.

H1A Statutory assignment under the Law of Property Act 1925

s.136
Under this section, the assignment of a debt or chose in action transfers the underlying legal
right to the assignee. Such an assignment must be:
• absolute, and not purport to be by way of charge only;
• in writing (although no particular form is necessary); and
• expressly made in writing to the debtor or trustee (although an assignment may be valid
in equity without such notice).
Essentially, under s.136, an assignee can sue the debtor in their own name, which equitable
assignees are not generally able to do (see section H1B). There is no need for consideration
to support a s.136 assignment (it can be by gift), and it can be used for a debt which is
payable at a future point in time (such as future instalments of rent).

H1B Equitable assignment

If an assignment does not comply with all the requirements for a statutory assignment given
above, it may still take effect as an equitable assignment
assignment, provided there is a clear intention
to assign. This can take place in one of two main ways:
• the assignor informs the assignee that they transfer the chose to them; or
• the assignor instructs the debtor to discharge the obligation by payment to, or
performance for, the assignee.

H2 Rights which cannot be assigned

Most rights can be assigned but there are a number of exceptions. In particular, there are
restrictions on the assignment of rights under what are described as ‘personal’ contracts.
These are contracts where it would be unreasonable to expect a party to perform their
obligations towards any person other than the one with whom they originally contracted.
In section H4, we will discuss assignment of insurance contracts more fully but it is worth
noting here that many insurance contracts are of a ‘personal’ character in the sense that the
insurer agrees to provide cover on the basis of the insured’s personal characteristics and
would not necessarily offer the same terms to another.

Example 3.30
Motor policies are not freely assignable because an insurer’s willingness to offer cover
depends not only on the vehicle but also on many factors personal to the insured, such as
age and driving record.
 3/38 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

H3 Transfer of obligations
As we have seen, rights can often be transferred. However, a person cannot generally
transfer their obligations under a contract to another without the consent of the other party
and the assignee. Everybody has a right to choose with whom they will contract, and no one
is obliged without their consent to accept the liability of a person other than the person with
whom they made their contract. Consequently, the burden of a contract cannot in principle
be transferred without the consent of the other party so as to discharge the original
contractor.
Chapter 3

Example 3.31
If A owes B £100 and B owes C £100, they can agree between them that B’s debt should
be extinguished and that C should be allowed to recover the money from A instead.

This is known as a ‘novation’. In this case, nothing is transferred – rather one debt is cancelled
by agreement and a new debt is created in its place.
It is not unusual for one person to delegate their contractual duties to another. This would
not, however, be assignment as the original contracting party will continue to be liable for
any breach committed by the person to whom the duties have been delegated.

Example 3.32
A builder who undertakes to build a house will normally sub-contract much of the work to
plumbers, electricians and other specialist tradesmen. In this case, there is no transfer of
liability by the contractor since they retain full responsibility and are answerable to the
other party for any defects in the work.

Alternatively, we can see that there is no privity of contract between the customer for whom
the work is done and the sub-contractor employed by the builder.

H4 Insurance contracts
There are three types of assignment that are relevant to insurance contracts:
• assignment of the subject matter of the contract;
• assignment of the benefit of the contract; and
• assignment of the contract itself.
Assignment of the subject matter does not usually transfer any rights under the policy and,
indeed, will normally terminate the contract automatically. Again, while the benefit of an
insurance contract can be freely assigned, the contract itself usually cannot.

H4A Assignment of the subject matter

Consider this
this…
…
In what situations would the subject matter of an insurance contract often be transferred
from one person to another?

Example 3.33
A motor policyholder may, for instance, sell their car to another, or the insured under a
household buildings policy may sell the house.

Assignment of the subject matter does not, however, carry with it any automatic assignment
of the policy in question.
So the person who buys a car or a house from another does not automatically take the place
of the insured under the seller’s policy. In fact, if the insured disposes of the subject matter of
the insurance, the usual effect will be to bring the contract to an end. This is because they
will no longer have any insurable interest in the property which they have disposed of and
can suffer no loss.
To read more on insurable interest, see chapter 5, section B.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/39

H4B Assignment of the benefit of the contract

The right to recover money under an insurance contract is a chose in action which can be Refer to
section H1 for
assigned to another person. The key point is that the entire contract is not assigned, but transfer of rights
merely the benefit of it.
There is no change in the subject matter of the contract (such as the property which the
policy covers), or in any other aspect of the risk; the insurance money is payable on exactly
the same event or events. The assignor is simply saying that the proceeds of any valid claim
they may have should go to the assignee in question.

Chapter 3
As we noted in section H1A, there can be a statutory assignment of the benefit of the policy
in line with s.136 of the Law of Property Act 1925 or an equitable assignment. Therefore:
• Notice must be given to the insurer if the insurer is to be liable directly to the assignee.
• If no notice is given, the assignee can only enforce his rights by bringing an action against
the assignor.
• Although notice should be given to the insurer, the consent of the insurer is not necessary.
• The assignment can take place either before or after the loss.
• The assignee need have no insurable interest in the subject matter of the insurance.

Example 3.34
By way of example, an insured might assign the benefit of his household policy to a
builder as a means of paying for the repair of storm damage which is covered by the
policy. The insurer must be notified of this arrangement and is under no legal obligation to
pay the builder directly unless this is done. If the insurer is not notified the builder can
enforce the agreement only against the insured. The insurers do not have to consent to
the arrangement, but merely have notice of it. The arrangement could be made before any
damage occurs (which would be a little unusual!) or afterwards. Finally, the builder need
have no insurable interest in the house.

H4C Assignment of the contract itself

The assignment of an entire insurance contract is subject to some limiting factors.
‘Personal
Personal’’ contracts are not freely assignable
As we noted in section H2, many insurance contracts are of a ‘personal’ character, in the
sense that the terms of the cover granted to the insured by the insurer will often depend, to
some extent, on the insured’s own personal characteristics.

Example 3.35
An insurer’s willingness to provide motor insurance cover and the terms of the cover
granted (including the premium payable) will depend not only on the vehicle to be
insured but also on the age, occupation, experience and driving record of the insured and
any other persons who may drive the vehicle.

Most property insurances will also be ‘personal’ contracts, because the risk is likely to
depend partly on the nature of the person who controls and manages the property and the
particular use they make of it.

Example 3.36
If the ownership of a factory changes, the standard of ‘housekeeping’ may decline, making
the fire risk worse.

Again, liability insurance is very much of a personal character because most claims arise
from the actions of the insured.
Since the risk depends on the identity of the insured in these cases, the policy cannot be
assigned without the consent of the insurer.

Be aware
In practice, insurers are unlikely to grant such consent and will usually provide insurance
only under a new contract.
 3/40 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

So, if A sells his car, house, or business to B, A’s insurers will usually ask B to submit a new
proposal if he wishes them to cover the risk, and a new contract will be formed involving a
fresh offer, acceptance and consideration. Where, exceptionally, the policy expressly states
that assignment is permitted, it may also impose contractual terms as to how and/or when
notice of assignment must be given.

Consider this
this…
…
What types of insurance contract are likely to allow for assignment? What factors specific
to insurance are likely to make assignment more complex?
Chapter 3

Assignment must take place at the time when property is transferred

If a policy is assigned when the property it covers is sold, the assignment must take place at
the same time as the sale. This is because the policy will normally lapse automatically if the
subject matter is disposed of and, therefore, there will be no contract to assign once the sale
has taken place. On the other hand, if assignment is attempted before the sale the assignee
may not yet have sufficient insurable interest in the property to make the insurance valid.
Marine insurance
Because of the limitations mentioned above, few insurance contracts are freely assignable
in practice.

Be aware
However, marine cargo policies are an exception. The ownership of cargo may change
several times in the course of a voyage, and it is obviously convenient if the insurance
cover can be easily transferred at the same time. Normally, the risk will not alter as a result
of a change in the ownership of the goods, because they will usually remain on the same
ship. A cargo policy is, therefore, not a ‘personal’ contract and there is no reason why such
assignments should not take place. Marine hull policies, however, are not freely assignable
because the ownership of a vessel will obviously affect the risk. Assignment of marine
policies is governed by section 50 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906.

H4D Assignment of life policies

Life insurance provides a means of investment as well as a source of protection, and many
life policies acquire a cash (or surrender) value once a certain number of premiums have
been paid. The insured then has a useful and valuable piece of property which they may wish
to sell or transfer to another, or use as security.
Life policies are freely assignable because, provided the identity of the life insured does not
change on assignment, there is no change in risk.
In this sense, life policies are not personal contracts.

Example 3.37
To illustrate this, let us suppose that A has a policy on his own life.
• A is the insured – the policyholder who will benefit from the policy money when it
matures, or whose estate will benefit when he dies.
• A is also the life insured – in other words A’s life is the subject matter of the contract
and the death of A is an event on which the sum insured is payable.
• If A assigns the policy to B the life of A remains the subject-matter of the contract and
the policy money is still payable on the death of A, and not of B. When the policy is
assigned, B may become the insured under the policy and entitled to the policy money:
A, however, remains the life insured.

Be aware
The key point, which we already have made above, is that the risk does not change when
the contract is assigned.

Our example (with a further assignment to C) is represented in table 3.1.

Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/41

Table 3.1
Insured Life Insured

Own policy in the name of A A A

A assigns policy to B B A

B assigns policy to C C A

The assignment of a life policy may be conditional or absolute.

Chapter 3
Example 3.38
An example of a conditional assignment is by way of mortgage. In this case, the policy is
assigned as security for a loan or other debt but the mortgage can be redeemed and the
policy recovered once the debt is repaid.

Types of assignment
• An equitable assignment of a life policy has always been possible. This may be done, for
instance, simply by handing the policy to another – provided the intention to assign
is clear.
• Statutory assignment became possible as a result of the Policies of Assurance Act 1867.
This Act allows legal assignment of life policies, with the result that an assignee can
enforce the policy in his own name as long as the requirements of the Act are complied
with. The Act indicates the form of words which must be used for the assignment, requires
these words to be endorsed on the policy or contained in a separate instrument, and
requires that written notice of the assignment be given to the insurer at its principal place
of business.
• Alternatively, a life policy may be assigned by the procedure laid down in s.136 of the Law Refer to
section H1A for
of Property Act 1925 (as outlined earlier in this chapter). the Law of
Property Act

H4E Assignment of insurance contracts by operation of law

On the death or bankruptcy of a person, their property generally, including any rights under
insurance policies, passes to their personal representatives or trustee in bankruptcy, as the
case may be. Policies often specifically provide that cover will continue following this sort of
involuntary assignment, even though they may expressly prohibit any voluntary assignment
by the insured.
 3/42 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Types of contract

• Contracts can be either contracts under seal (a formal contract in writing which must be witnessed)
or simple contracts (all other contracts).
• Contracts can be either bilateral contracts or unilateral contracts – there must always be two
persons to make a contract but under a unilateral contract only one of them is bound.
Chapter 3

• A contract may not be fully valid in law for a number of reasons; it can be void or voidable.

Formation of a contract

• There are five essentials for the formation of a valid contract:

– An agreement (offer and acceptance).
– Intention to create legal relations.
– Consideration (for simple contracts).
– In the form required by law (if any).
– The parties must have capacity to contract.
• The contract also must not be illegal or contrary to public policy.
• Special rules restrict the capacity to contract of minors, mental patients and drunken persons.

Terms of a contract

• Terms in a contract can be classified into express and implied terms; implied terms can be implied in
fact, by custom or in law.
• Exclusion clauses must be incorporated into the contract in order to be valid. Those in commercial
contracts are governed by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and those in consumer contracts by
the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
• Terms in a contract can further be classified into conditions and warranties. This classification
largely depends upon the importance of the term and the consequence if broken. In general
contracts a condition goes to the root of the contract; a warranty affects only some minor element
of the contract. (This is different in insurance law, and will be covered later in the text.)

Defective contracts

• Contracts can be defective as a result of:

– illegality;
– improper pressure;
– mistake;
– misrepresentation; or
– non-disclosure.

Discharge of contracts

• A contract may be discharged by: performance; breach; frustration; agreement; or operation of law.

Remedies in contracts

• The main remedies in the law of contract are termination; an action for damages; an action for
specific performance and an action for an injunction.
• Claims for breach of contract are governed by the Limitation Act 1980; the claimant has six years to
bring a claim on a simple contract.

Privity of contract

• Privity of contract is a doctrine which restricts the rights and duties created by a contract to the
persons who originally made it.
Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/43

Assignment

• Rights under a contract may be assigned by an original party to the contract to another who stands
in their place. Assignment can be statutory or equitable.
• Assignment of insurance contracts can occur in the following three ways:
– Assignment of the subject matter of the contract – this does not carry with it any automatic
assignment of the policy in question.
– Assignment of the benefit of the contract – this can be statutory or equitable assignment.
– Assignment of the contract itself – personal contracts are not freely assignable; life policies are
freely assignable because, provided the identity of the life insured does not change on

Chapter 3
assignment, there is no change in risk; and marine cargo policies are also assignable.
 3/44 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Self-test questions
1. What are the essentials for the formation of a valid contract?
2. A person goes to a supermarket, picks up a bar of chocolate from the shelf and
pays at the cash desk. At what point is the contract of sale concluded?
3. What is an ‘invitation to treat’?
4. Acceptance must generally be communicated to the offeror. How can this be done?
5. Give two examples of contracts which must be by deed.
Chapter 3

6. What are ‘necessaries’?

7. Distinguish between a warranty and a condition in the general law of contract.
8. When may a contract become frustrated?
9. How may a contract be discharged?
10. Under what circumstances may an insurance policy be illegal?
11. How does the assignment of the benefit of an insurance contract differ from the
assignment of the contract itself?
12. Under what circumstances might there be an equitable assignment of a life
insurance policy, and what is the main disadvantage to the assignee of a life
insurance policy if the assignment is only an equitable one?
13. Why are motor insurance policies not freely assignable?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 3 Law of contract 3/45

Scenario 3.1: Question

Apply the law of contract to practical situations (LO3.10)
An insurance firm advertises its products on television. In its advertisement, the firm
states that there is a discount for travel insurance for those over 65 years of age for one
month only. A potential customer has been refused the discount and he makes a
complaint. He claims that, because he responded to the advertisement, there is a contract
in law. He is threatening to take the firm to court.

Chapter 3
Explain with justification whether you think the potential customer is correct in what
he says.
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.
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 Law of agency
4
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes

Chapter 4
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Law of agency 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6
B The principal of an insurance agent 4.1, 4.5, 4.6
C Duties of an agent 4.3, 4.5, 4.6
D Imputed knowledge 4.2, 4.5, 4.6
E Rights of an agent 4.3, 4.5, 4.6
F Authority of an agent 4.3, 4.5, 4.6
G Contract made by an agent 4.3, 4.5, 4.6
H Termination of agency 4.4, 4.5, 4.6
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the nature of agency;
• describe the relationships between principal agent and third parties;
• describe the creation of agency;
• discuss the nature of an agent’s rights, responsibilities, authority and duties;
• discuss the role of agents in insurance contracts and how an agency relationship can
be created;
• understand an agent’s role in disclosure of material facts;
• understand and apply knowledge of agency to the relationship between insurer, insured
and intermediary; and
• explain the termination of agency and the effects of termination.
 4/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
Insurance policies are often arranged through an agent (usually, a professional insurance
broker or a ‘part-time’ agent who arranges insurance policies in addition to their other
activities). For this reason, some knowledge of the law of agency is important for insurance
students.
In this chapter, we will introduce the general principles of the law of agency and look at the
topic in the context of insurance. We will first examine how the relationship of the principal
and agent is created. We will then look at the rights and duties of agents and the nature of
the authority or power which they have. We will then consider how the exercise of this
authority affects the principal and third parties. Finally, we will examine the way in which an
agency relationship may come to an end.

Key terms
Chapter 4

This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Agency by ratification Apparent authority Appointment by Broker

express or implied
agreement

Disclosed and Express and implied Good faith Imputed knowledge

undisclosed principle actual authority

Law of agency Personal performance Remuneration Renunciation

Termination of agency

A Law of agency
An agent is a person who has the authority or power to act on behalf of another person,
known as the principal.
Usually, the task of the agent is to bring about a contract between their principal and a third
person, referred to as a third party.

Example 4.1
• Estate agents are employed to arrange contracts of sale between buyers and sellers of
property.
• Employment agencies are used to bring employers into contact with potential
employees, with a view to the formation of a contract of employment.
• Travel agents bring about contracts between their customers and holiday companies,
airlines and the like.

Agents are, therefore, essentially intermediaries or ‘middlemen’. Of course, they may do

other things besides arrange contracts for their principals.

Consider this
this…
…
Insurance intermediaries such as brokers do not simply arrange insurance contracts. What
other services do they provide for their clients?

Example 4.2
Insurance intermediaries provide many additional services other than simply arranging
insurance contracts for their clients. These include providing general advice on risk
management and loss prevention as well as assistance in negotiating claims.

Be aware
In some cases, a person or firm described as an agent or agency may not be an agent in
the strict legal sense of the word.

On the other hand, people who are agents may be described by another word, for example,
insurance intermediaries may go under the name of insurance brokers
brokers, insurance
consultants or use some other title.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/3

Again, all employees who deal with third parties (such as customers of the firm for which
they work) do so as agents of their employers, although it is not usual to describe them as
agents. You may recall from chapter 1, section J, that corporate bodies (e.g. companies)
have no physical existence and, therefore, can only operate through agents, such as their
employees.
Questions of agency law often arise when an insurance intermediary makes a mistake or is
generally negligent in carrying out their duties.

Example 4.3
• The intermediary may grant cover to a client on behalf of an insurer and, in doing so,
disobey the insurer’s instructions or exceed the authority that they have been given.
For instance, they may give cover on a type of a risk which the insurers have told them
to decline.
• In non-consumer (business) insurance, the intermediary may fail to pass on to the
insurers important information about the risk that has been given to them by the

Chapter 4
proposer. As a result, the insurers might avoid the policy for non-disclosure, perhaps
leaving the proposer with a large uninsured loss.
• An insurance broker may purchase an insurance contract for the period which is shorter
than what the insured desired, or may take out an insurance contract with a deductible
which leaves no realistic prospect for the insured’s recovery.

We will start our review of the general principles of the law of agency by considering how
the relationship of principal and agent is created.

A1 Creation of agency
The relationship of principal and agent may come about in three main ways:
• by agreement (or consent);
• by ratification; and
• by necessity.
A summary of the ways an agency relationship may be created is given in figure 4.1.

Figure 4.1: Creation of agency – summary

Creation of agency

By By By
agreement ratification necessity

Express Implied
agreement agreement

A2 Agency by agreement (or consent)

In almost every case the agency relationship is created through an agreement between the
principal and agent. This agreement will often be a contract in itself, described as a contract
of agency.
However, in some instances the agreement will not amount to a legal contract, particularly
when the agent receives no commission, fee or other payment for his work.

Example 4.4
A person may ask a friend or a family member to do some shopping on their behalf
without a contract being formed between the two.
 4/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Consider this
this…
…
If you buy your insurance cover through an agent such as a broker, will they be a party to
the insurance contract between you and the insurer?

It is important to understand that when an agent is employed to buy or sell, or arrange some
other contract between the principal and third person, the agent is not usually a party to the
contract arranged. Although the agent has the authority or power to bind the principal in a
contract, the agent simply ‘drops out’ of the picture once the contract is made.

Be aware
For this reason, it is not necessary for the agent to have full contractual capacity, provided
the principal and third party have such capacity. A minor (i.e. a person under the age of 18
years in the UK) may, therefore, act as an agent and bring about a contract between
others which would not be fully binding if made for themselves, such as a contract for the
purchase of goods which are not ‘necessaries’.
Chapter 4

The agreement by which the agent is appointed may be express or implied.

A2A Appointment by express agreement

Most agencies, including insurance agencies, are created in this way. The agreement may be
a formal one, in writing, or an informal oral agreement.
In the case of a formal agreement, the terms of the agency will usually be set out in detail.
The terms include the:
• authority and powers of the agent;
• duties to be performed;
• commission or other remuneration
remuneration; and
• period of the agreement.
In some cases, the appointment may be in the form of a deed. If an agent is appointed by a
deed, the deed is known as a power of attorney. If the agent is to be given the power to sign
deeds on the principal’s behalf, the agent must be appointed in this way.

A2B Appointment by implied agreement

An agency agreement may be implied by the conduct of the parties and the relationship
between them.
An agency is likely to be implied where one person acts on behalf of and at the request of
another, particularly if commission or some other payment is made for the work.
As we shall see later, the authority of an agent may, in turn, be either express or implied.
Where the appointment of the agent is by implied agreement, all the agent’s authority will
be implied. Where there is an express agreement, at least some of the agent’s authority will
be express.

A3 Agency by ratification
In some cases, the relationship of principal and agent can be created retrospectively (i.e.
after the ‘agent’ has carried out their task) under the doctrine of ratification.

Example 4.5
If A purports to be the agent of B, without B’s knowledge, and does something in B’s
name, such as agree the sale of B’s car to C, B may afterwards accept the agreement as
binding. In this case, B could sue C for breach of contract if the latter failed to go through
with the purchase of the car, even though B had not authorised A.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/5

A number of conditions must be satisfied for agency by ratification to be possible:

• The ‘agent’ doing the act must purport to do it on the principal’s behalf and not on the
agent’s own behalf (e.g. the agent must make it clear that it is the principal’s car and not
the agent’s own car that is being sold, although the principal need not be named).
• The principal must be the person whom the agent had in mind at the time of the act.
• At the time of ratification, the principal must have full knowledge of the circumstances
relevant to the act, or must have waived further inquiry.
• The principal must have existed and have had the contractual capacity to do the act at the
time it was done.
• Ratification must take place within a reasonable time.
• Void or illegal acts cannot be ratified.
• The whole contract must be ratified.
A valid ratification ‘relates back’, in other words it is retrospective to the date of the agent’s

Chapter 4
original act.

Be aware
However, ratification validates only past acts of the agent and does not in itself give the
agent any authority for the future.

Under the doctrine of ratification, a person may ratify an insurance contract which has been
arranged on their behalf, even if the person was unaware that the insurance ‘agent’ had
arranged the cover. In marine insurance, the contract may be ratified even after a loss has
occurred.

A4 Agency by necessity
Agency by necessity arises where a person is entrusted with goods belonging to another
and an emergency makes it necessary to do something to preserve them.
An agency of necessity will arise only in cases where it is impossible to obtain the owner’s
instructions in time. Such an agency will, therefore, occur only rarely now, when modern
communication technology is available to most people.

B The principal of an insurance agent

This is a key topic. In most business transactions, an agent acts on behalf of one party only –
for example, they may be the agent of the buyer or the seller of property, but not of both.

Be aware
However, in insurance an intermediary may, at different times, act on behalf of both the
proposer/insured and the insurer in the following ways:
• Giving general advice.
• Granting cover.
• Collecting premiums.
• Completion of the proposal form.

B1 Giving general advice

When an agent advises the proposer about the sort of insurance they need and recommends
a general type of policy, the agent is clearly acting on behalf of the proposer who is,
therefore, the principal at this point.

B2 Granting cover
On the other hand, insurance intermediaries who are empowered by insurers to grant cover
(particularly common in the case of ‘personal lines’ business such as motor and household)
will obviously be acting on behalf of the insurer when doing so. This will be the case where
the agent has actual authority to grant cover or where they have apparent authority only.
 4/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B3 Collecting premiums
An agent may also be acting on behalf of the insurer when they collect insurance premiums
for the latter.

B4 Completion of the proposal form

Insurance agents often assist proposers in the completion of proposal forms. Quite often the
agent will complete the form on behalf of the proposer and then give it to the proposer to
sign. Indeed, it has been known for proposers to sign a blank form and for agents to fill in the
necessary details afterwards!
Sometimes an agent will act negligently in carrying out this task.

Example 4.6
• They may fail to record accurately on the form information which is given to them by
Chapter 4

the proposer.
• They may omit from the form information that was supplied by the proposer.
• They may fail to supply extra information about the risk which they know is material
and should, therefore, be disclosed.

The consequences of such a failure will depend on whether the agent was acting for the
proposer or for the insurer at the time.
If the agent was deemed to be acting for the insured at the time, the insurers may be able to
avoid the policy for breach of the pre-contractual information duty because the agent’s
knowledge will be deemed to be known by the insured (subject to the exceptions under
sections 4 and 6 of the Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015)
2015), as we will discuss in section D). If the
insurers avoid the policy, the insured may then be able to sue the agent for breach of duty.
If the agent was deemed to be acting for the insurer in handling the proposal form, the
insurers will not be able to avoid the policy for breach of the duty of fair presentation of the
risk because knowledge of the true facts will be imputed to the insurers (IA 2015, s.5). In
other words, the law will assume that the insurers were aware of the true facts, even though
the agent did not actually pass them on. In this case the insurers may have a right to sue the
agent.

B5 Consumer insurance
The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 (CIDRA) sets out rules
for determining whether an agent – through whom a consumer insurance contract is
effected – is acting either as the agent of the consumer or of the insurer. Accordingly, the
agent is to be taken as the insurer’s agent where:
• the agent collects information from the consumer under the express authority of the
insurer;
• the agent enters into the contract as the insurer’s agent if the insurer has given the agent
express authority to do so; or where
• the agent does something in their capacity, as the appointed representative of the insurer,
for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (section 39 of that Act).
In any other case, it is to be presumed that the agent is acting as the consumer’s agent
unless, in light of all the relevant circumstances, it appears that the agent is acting as the
insurer’s agent. For instance, the agent may be considered as acting for the consumer if the
consumer pays the agent a fee. The agent may be considered as the insurer’s agent, for
example, where the insurer permits the agent to use the insurer’s name in providing the
agent’s services.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/7

B6 Summary
The following is a detailed summary of the circumstances in which an insurance intermediary
is deemed to be an agent of the proposer and those in which they are deemed to be acting
for the insurer.
The agent is an agent of the proposer:
• when an agent gives general advice to the proposer as to the cover they require and the
market in which they should place their business;
• if no authority is given by the insurers and the only recognition they receive from the
insurers is the payment of commission;
• when they fill in, alter, or add to the answers in a proposal form, and the proposer knew or
ought to have known of this;
• when they complete a form on the proposer’s behalf and the form incorporates a wording
to the effect that if the form is completed by someone other than the proposer, that

Chapter 4
person is deemed to be the agent of the proposer;
• when they and the proposer are in collusion to defraud the insurers; or
• when the agent gives the insured advice about how to formulate their claim.
The agent is agent of the insurer:
• when they have express authority from the insurer to receive and handle proposal forms;
• when they handle the forms according to a previous course of business with the insurers
and within an implied authority that has arisen;
• when they are instructed by the insurers to ask questions and fill in the answers on a
proposal form – they are then the insurers’ agent even when the proposal contains a
declaration to the contrary;
• when they survey and describes the property on the insurers’ behalf;
• when they act without express authority, and the company either ratifies their action or
has ratified such action in the past; or
• when they have express or implied authority to collect premiums.
Consumer agency
Section 9 of the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 (CIDRA)
refers to schedule 2 of the Act in relation to determining whether an agent – through whom a
consumer insurance contract is effected – is the agent of the consumer or of the insurer. The
guidance stated in schedule 2 only applies to the determinations for the purpose of the
2012 Act.
According to schedule 2, the agent is to be taken as the insurer’s agent:
1. When the agent does something in their capacity as the appointed representative of
the insurer for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
2. When the agent collects information from the consumer, if the insurer had given the
agent express authority to do so as the insurer’s agent.
3. When the agent enters into the contract as the insurer’s agent, if the insurer had given
the agent express authority to do so.
The Act then states that in any other case it is to be presumed that the agent is acting as the
consumer’s agent.
The 2012 Act also provides some guidance which helps to confirm whether the agent is
acting for the consumer or the insurer. The following circumstances may tend to confirm
that the agent is acting for the consumer:
1. If the agent undertakes to give impartial advice to the consumer.
2. The agent undertakes to conduct a fair analysis of the market.
3. If the consumer pays the agent a fee.
 4/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

On the other hand, the following examples may tend to confirm that the agent it acting for
the insurer:
1. The agent places insurance of the type in question with only one of the insurers who
provide insurance of that type.
2. The agent is under a contractual obligation which has the effect of restricting the
number of insurers with whom the agent places insurance of the type in question.
3. The insurer provides insurance of the type in question through only a small proportion
of the agents who deal in that type of insurance.
4. The insurer permits the agent to use the insurer’s name in providing the agent’s
services.
5. The insurance in question is marketed under the name of the agent.
6. The insurer asks the agent to solicit the consumer’s custom.
Conflicts of interest
Chapter 4

The fact that an insurance intermediary can act for both parties in the one transaction can
lead to some difficult situations.

Case example
In North & South Trust Co. v. Berkeley (1970)
(1970), a broker negotiating a claim settlement on
behalf of the insured was held in the Court of Appeal to be the agent of the insurer when
he was shown documents by the latter which were the basis of the repudiation of the
claim. Therefore, the broker was not at liberty to disclose the contents of the documents
to the insured.

C Duties of an agent
The duties of an agent to the principal are as follows and apply equally to insurance agents
as for other forms of agency:
• To obey the principal’s instructions.
• To exercise proper care and skill.
• To perform duties personally.
• To act in good faith towards the principal.
• To account for monies received on behalf of the principal.
The agency agreement will normally take the form of a written contract, and so the agent’s
duties will usually be set out in the contractual terms. Whether the agreement is in writing or
not, the duties of the agent – as established in common law – will apply to the contract.

C1 Obedience
An agent must obey the principal’s instructions, provided they are lawful and reasonable,
and may be liable in damages if the instructions are not carried out.
However, the agent is under no obligation to perform any act which is either illegal or void.
Where an insurance intermediary has no instructions on a particular point, they may follow
market usage where such practice is clear.

C2 Care and skill

Agents must exercise reasonable care and skill in the performance of their duties as agents.
The level of care and skill required will depend on the circumstances. Experts and
professional people must exercise the care and skill which is expected in their trade or
profession. Again, people who claim to have some special skill must be able to live up to
their claims.
An insurance intermediary must exercise a level of care and skill that is appropriate for the
class of agent they represent.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/9

Example 4.7
The standard of care is what is reasonably expected from a broker. It is not a defence to
say that the broker is a junior broker and not an experienced broker.

Furthermore, if a broker purports to exercise a specialist skill (for example, in relation to a

particular class of business) they must meet the standard of a reasonably competent
specialist in that field.
The duty to exercise reasonable care and skill includes a duty to act in a timely manner and
the intermediary will be liable for loss caused by their failure to act with appropriate speed –
for example, in the placing of cover or the notification of claims.
Where the insured suffers loss as a result of the broker’s negligence the general measure of
damages is that which will place the insured in the position that they would have been in
were it not for the negligence.

Example 4.8

Chapter 4
Where there is a negligent failure to renew and the insured suffers a loss that would have
been covered by the policy, the broker will be liable in damages for the amount which
would have been payable under the policy.
A broker is under the duty to exercise reasonable skill and care to obtain the cover that
the insured instructed the broker to obtain. For example, if the insured would like the
insurance cover to last for four years, but the broker obtains cover for two years and the
loss occurs in the third year, the insured will not have insurance to cover the loss.
Alternatively, if the insured would like insurance that covers all aspects of its business, but
the policy obtained by the broker covers only some types of business that the insured
deals with and excludes others, the broker will be in breach of its duty unless it obtains full
coverage as requested by the insured. If it is not possible to obtain full coverage in the
insurance market, the broker should inform the insured about it.

Similarly, if a broker fails to disclose material facts on behalf of their business insured, and
the insurers discover this when investigating a claim and then seeks remedy for breach of
the duty of fair presentation of the risk, the broker will be liable to the insured for the amount
that would have been payable had the breach not occurred.

C3 Personal performance
Generally, an agent may not delegate duties to a ‘sub-agent’.
Delegation may be allowed:
• where the principal expressly authorises the agent to delegate all or some of their duties;
• where the authority to delegate can be implied from the circumstances – such as the
delegation of routine clerical and administrative tasks to employees;
• where the delegation is in accordance with trade custom; and
• in cases of necessity.
When delegation does take place, the sub-agent acts on behalf of the agent, not the
principal. The agent is, therefore, liable to the principal for any fault on the part of the
sub-agent and will be responsible for paying the sub-agent.
Where an insurance broker from overseas delegates their duties to another broker in the
London insurance market, the broker overseas is named as the ‘producing broker’ and the
London broker is named as the ‘placing broker’. The insured has an agency agreement with
the producing broker and the producing broker has a sub-agency agreement with the
placing broker.
The placing broker, in principle, does not owe a duty of care (in tort) to the insured and does
not have a contract with the insured. Therefore, if there is liability for broker’s negligence,
the producing broker is liable to the insured (although it is the placing broker’s negligence)
and the placing broker is liable to the producing broker.
 4/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Case example
In Involnert Management Inc v. Aprilgrange Ltd (The Galetea) (2015)(2015), the claimant
pursued legal action against the insurer for refusing to meet a claim for abandonment of
their yacht after it caught fire. The claimant also brought in the producing broker and the
placing broker, on the basis that the placing broker’s negligence led to the insurer’s
refusal, and that one or both parties were responsible for this. It was held that the
producing broker was liable to the claimant, because their duties were of a ‘non-
delegable’ kind, and liability extends from what has been contractually agreed (vicarious
liability was also considered, and ruled out on the basis this does not ordinarily extend to
independent contractors).
Where the producing broker does not agree to arrange insurance for its client but agrees
to get another broker to do so, the duty of the producing broker, both in contract and in
tort, is limited to taking care to choose a competent sub-broker and giving it appropriate
instructions.
Chapter 4

A duty of care between the placing broker and the insured may be established if the placing
broker (sub-agent) assumes responsibility towards the insured as was established in
BP Plc v. AON Ltd (No.2) (2006)
(2006).

C4 Good faith
An agent’s relationship with their principal is a fiduciary one, which means that it is based on
duties of good faith
faith.
The agent must, therefore, not allow personal interests to conflict with those of the principal.
If such a conflict arises it must be disclosed to the principal. This means, for instance, that an
agent is not entitled to personally buy from or sell personal property to the principal unless
the agent fully discloses to the principal what is being done.

Example 4.9
A principal engaged an agent to buy a yacht for him. The agent found a suitable yacht,
bought it himself and then tried to sell it to the principal for a higher price. The court held
that the principal was required to pay no more than the amount which the agent himself
had paid for the boat.

The agent’s duty of good faith to the principal requires full disclosure, not just of matters
that relate to a possible conflict of interest, but of any information acquired in the course of
the agent’s duties that might affect the principal’s position.

Be aware
Generally speaking, an agent may not act for both parties to a transaction. However, as
we saw in section B, insurance provides an unusual example of a business where it is
customary for the agent, at different times, to act on behalf of both the buyer and seller of
insurance.

Agents must not make any form of secret profit from their agency duties. Based on the same
principle, an agent must not accept commission from both parties without full disclosure.
Sometimes a third party offers a person who is known to be acting as an agent a payment or
gift to persuade the latter to act favourably towards them. If the agent accepts the gift or
payment, the secret profit is in this case called a bribe. The taking of a bribe allows the
principal to dismiss the agent, recover the bribe from the agent or the third party (or the
amount of the actual loss, if this is greater), refuse all commission and repudiate any contract
in respect of which the bribe was paid. Both agent and donor may also commit a criminal
offence in such a case.
It is a custom of the business that insurance intermediaries are paid commission by insurers.
This is a well-known fact but if for any reason the insured should be unaware of it, or appear
to be unaware of it, it must be disclosed to them.

Be aware
In some fields, such as life insurance, specific disclosure of commission may be required
by law.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/11

Activity
There has been considerable debate about disclosure of commissions by insurance
intermediaries. Look at the insurance trade press to read more about the regulatory
investigation into this issue and the present position.

Finally, we should note that although the agent owes duties of disclosure to the principal,
the agent must maintain secrecy towards others and not disclose any confidential
information connected with the agent’s work.

C5 Accounting for monies received

An agent has the duty to account to the principal for all money received in the course of
agency duties. The principal’s money and property must be kept separate from the agent’s
own money.
For insurance brokers, there is a requirement in their professional code of practice to keep

Chapter 4
clients’ money separate from their own, in separate insurance broking accounts.
Note: In marine insurance, a broker is personally liable for the payment of a premium under
s.53(1) of the Marine Insurance Act 1906 (MIA 1906)
1906). The insurer may, therefore, claim a
premium that has not been paid from the broker. The parties to an insurance contract may,
however, contract out of this liability as section 53(1) says ‘unless otherwise agreed’.

C6 Remedies for breach of duty

A number of remedies may be available to the principal if an agent fails in their duties. For
example, the principal may:
• sue the agent for damages for breach of contract;
• in certain cases, sue the agent in tort (for example, where the agent has refused to return
the principal’s property);
• for a serious breach (such as the taking of a bribe, as described above), dismiss the agent
without notice or compensation;
• sue the agent (or the donor) to recover a bribe paid to the agent;
• if the breach is fraudulent, rescind any contract made through the agent and refuse
commission; and
• sue for an account if the agent fails to disclose full financial details of his agency dealings.

D Imputed knowledge
Consider this
this…
…
If there is an agency agreement in place, what does this mean in terms of the principal’s
liability for the agent’s actions?

We have already seen that an action that is carried out by an agent is treated in law as the
principal’s own action. Therefore, the principal becomes generally liable for their agent’s
deeds and can be bound in contract by the agent.
Under the law of agency, any knowledge which an agent possesses is imputed to the
principal. In other words, the law assumes that the principal is aware of information which
has been given to the agent. To put it another way, what is known by an agent is deemed to
be known to the principal too. This is of particular importance in relation to the duty of
disclosure in non-consumer (business) insurance.
The Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015) introduced a detailed section clarifying ‘knowledge of
insured’. Accordingly, with regards to the insured’s duty of disclosure, if the insured is an
individual, the insured knows or ought to know what is known to their agents who are
responsible for arranging their insurance (s.4(2)(b)). An insured is not taken to know
confidential information known to the agent and information acquired by the agent through
a business relationship with a person who is not connected with the contract of insurance
(s.4(4)).
 4/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

E Rights of an agent
Agents have two main rights in respect of their employment by a principal. These are:
• the right to remuneration; and
• the right to indemnity.
In some cases the agent may protect these rights through a lien on the principal’s property.

E1 Remuneration
An agency may be gratuitous, without payment, but if there is an express or implied
agreement to do so the principal must reward the agent for any work done, normally by
paying commission. A right to payment will usually be implied where the agent is in business
and does work which would not usually be done for nothing.
The amount to be paid or the scale on which commission is payable may be an express term
Chapter 4

of the contract. If no amount is set down but commission is clearly payable, the principal
must pay normal non-consumer (business) or professional rates or, if there is no such guide,
a reasonable sum, which can be fixed by a court if necessary.
In any case, the agent must have earned the commission. This means that the event on which
the payment of commission depends must actually happen, and it must happen as a result of
what the agent has done.

Example 4.10
An estate agent who is engaged to sell a house will not usually be entitled to commission
until a sale is completed and may lose the right to commission if the house is sold
privately, to a person who was not introduced by the agent.

This is subject to the terms of the agency agreement, which may vary the usual rules.
When an agency is ended, the agent is generally entitled to payment for transactions which
were brought about before termination but, unless it is agreed otherwise, not for
transactions which take place afterwards, even though the agent may have originally
introduced the customers concerned.
The expenses of running an insurance agency or broking firm are normally funded by the
agent or broker through the commission they receive. The level of commission for various
lines of business will normally be set out in the agency agreement. Quite often, however, the
agent or broker will ‘return’ this commission to the insurer and, instead, charge the insurer a
fee (which is likely to be less than the commission they would otherwise receive). In either
case, it is the insured who ultimately pays the agent.

E2 Indemnity
If agents reasonably incur expenses in the performance of their duties, they have a right to
be indemnified (i.e. paid back) by the principal, unless the agency agreement provides
otherwise. However, they lose the right to indemnity if:
• their act was not authorised (or ratified) by the principal;
• they are in breach of their duties as the agent (for example, by failing to obey
instructions); and
• the act for which they claim indemnity is illegal or void by statute.
If an insurance broker pays premiums on behalf of their clients (which is common), they of
course have the right to be repaid.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/13

E3 Lien
A lien is the right to retain the goods of another as security for payment of a debt.
A lien may be a particular lien, which is a right to retain the particular goods in respect of
which payment is due or a general lien, which is a right to retain any property as security. A
general lien arises only by agreement between the parties or by trade usage. At various
times, bankers, solicitors and stockbrokers have been held by the courts to have a general
lien based on trade usage.

Be aware
In the context of agency, an agent may, therefore, have the right to retain property
belonging to the principal as security for commission or other moneys owed to them.

It should be emphasised that a lienor (person with a lien) has the right to retain goods but,
generally, not the right to sell them. If they wish to sell they must usually apply for a court

Chapter 4
order permitting them to do so. Finally, a lien comes to an end when the principal pays or
offers to pay the sum due.

Example 4.11
In marine insurance, for example, an insurance broker has a lien over the policy and can
retain it as security for payment of the premium by their principal, the insured.

F Authority of an agent
We have seen that the relationship of principal and agent can be created in various ways.
Similarly, agents may have different types of authority.
The main distinction is between actual authority and apparent (or ostensible) authority:

Actual authority The authority of the agent is real, in the sense that they have been given the right
to act on behalf of the principal, either expressly or by implication.

Apparent authority The agent has no real authority to do the act in question.

However, it appears, in the eyes of the third party, that they have such authority
and are, therefore, able to bind their principal.

A summary of the various types of authority which an agent may have given is shown in
figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2: Authority of the agent – summary

Authority of the agent

Actual Apparent
authority (or ostensible)
authority

Express actual Implied actual

authority authority

Incidental Usual
authority authority
 4/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

F1 Actual authority
Actual authority can itself take two forms:
• express actual authority; and
• implied actual authority.

F1A Express actual authority

Express authority arises from the instructions which have been given to the agent, stating
what is required and what is allowed.
These instructions form part of the agency agreement and may be oral or in writing. If the
instructions are ambiguous, the agent should seek clarification from the principal. However,
if the principal cannot be contacted, no liability will fall on the agent provided that the agent
acted in good faith and interpreted the instructions in a reasonable way, even if it was not
the way the principal intended.
Chapter 4

F1B Implied actual authority

First, agents have implied authority to do anything which is incidental to, or necessary for
the carrying out of their express instructions.

Example 4.12
An agent may have implied authority to incur travel expenses or post and telephone
charges.

Refer to chapter 3 The principles which apply here are the same as those which govern implied terms of
for the law of
contract contracts generally.
An agent may have implied authority to perform those acts which are usually performed by
persons in the agent’s position or usual in a particular trade or profession. This is known as
usual authority (or customary authority).

Consider this
this…
…
What sort of acts would be covered by ‘usual authority’ in the case of an insurance agent?
What are the acts usually performed in the insurance broking profession?

Be aware
A problem may arise, however, if the usual authority of the agent has been restricted by
the principal, or if the agent abuses their position in some way. In this case the agent will
be acting outside their actual authority, even though what they are doing is customary.

Refer to As we shall see, in such cases the principal may still be bound by the apparent authority of
section F2 for
apparent the agent.
authority
You will appreciate that there is a link between the authority of the agent and the way in
which the agency is created, even though the two are not the same thing.
So, where the agency has been created by express agreement the agent will have both:
• express actual authority; and
• implied actual authority.
However, where the agency agreement is implied, the agent will have no express actual
authority, and all authority will be implied.
Finally, you should be aware that agents who go beyond their actual authority, express or
implied, will generally be in breach of their agency duties and become liable to the principal
for their actions.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/15

F2 Apparent (or ostensible) authority

When a third party deals with an agent, often they will not know the exact limit of the
agent’s authority.

Example 4.13
A person cannot be expected to know the extent, if any, to which an insurance broker is
entitled to give temporary cover.

They are, therefore, bound to rely on what appears to be the authority of the agent. The law
recognises this by what is termed apparent authority.
A principal is bound, not only by acts which are within the actual authority of the agent, but
also by acts which are within the authority they appear to have. As we have suggested, this
means that agents may have power to do things which they have no right to do and may be
able to bind the principal even when failing to obey the principal’s instructions.

Chapter 4
Apparent authority arises only when the principal gives the agent the appearance of
authority. The principal must make some representation, by words or conduct, to the third
party that the ‘agent’ is entitled to act on their behalf and the third party must rely upon the
representation. In other words, the principal must in some way ‘hold out’ another as being
their agent.
Apparent authority can arise in cases where:
• the principal has restricted the authority of a validly appointed agent;
• the apparent agent has never been appointed at all; and
• unknown to the third party, the authority of the agent has been terminated.

F2A Validly appointed agent with restricted authority

Case example
In Watteau v. Fenwick (1893)
(1893), the defendant appointed a manager of his public house.
The licence was taken out in the name of the manager (a Mr Humble) whose name
appeared over the door. The manager bought cigars on credit from Watteau. This
transaction was within the usual authority of a public house manager, although Fenwick
had, in fact, forbidden him to buy cigars. Watteau was successful in his claim against the
defendant for the cost of the cigars because he had no knowledge that the usual authority
of the agent had been restricted.

F2B Apparent agent who has never been appointed

Sometimes a person may ‘hold out’ another person as being their agent when the latter has
no authority at all, with the result that the third party is deceived. This is sometimes known
as an agency ‘by estoppel’.

F2C Termination of authority

When an agency is terminated, the actual authority of the agent will also end. However, third
parties who deal with the ‘agent’ may be unaware that their authority has ceased and
continue to deal with them.
Although the agent will have no actual authority, the principal may still be bound by their
apparent authority.

Be aware
For this reason, a principal who terminates an agency should inform third parties who
have dealt with the agent in the past. In this way, both the agent’s actual authority and
their apparent authority will come to an end.
 4/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

G Contract made by an agent

When agents are engaged to bring about contracts with third parties, the effect of their
actions will depend on whether or not the existence of the principal is disclosed or
undisclosed.

G1 Disclosed principal
A disclosed principal is one whose existence is known to the third party at the time the
contract is made.
In some cases, the third party will know that the agent is contracting on behalf of someone
else but not know the principal’s name. In other cases, they will be aware of both the
existence and the name of the principal. Whether the principal is named or not makes little
difference, because in either case the third party will be aware that the person they are
dealing with is an agent.
Chapter 4

When an authorised agent contracts on behalf of a disclosed principal, as described above,

the general rule is that the agent simply ‘drops out’ once the contract is made.
The principal and third party can enforce the contract against each other but the agent can
neither sue nor be sued on it. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. For example:
• agents who sign a deed may be liable on it, even though they are known to be contracting
as an agent;
• trade custom sometimes makes an agent personally liable on a contract; and
• agents who sign their name on a negotiable instrument (such as a cheque or bill of
exchange) may be liable on it unless they indicate that they are signing on behalf of a
principal.

G2 Undisclosed principal
The position is different if the existence of the principal is undisclosed – i.e. the third party is
unaware that they are dealing with an agent.
Two questions then arise:
• Can the undisclosed principal enforce the contract?
• Can the third party enforce the contract and, if so, against whom?

G2A Enforcement by the undisclosed principal

The general rule is that the undisclosed principal can enforce the contract against the
third party.
It may seem strange that the third party can be sued by somebody with whom the third
party did not know they were contracting. However, to protect the third party, some
limitations are placed upon this right.

Example 4.14
An undisclosed principal cannot:
• sue if they did not exist or lacked capacity when the contract was made;
• ratify a contract;
• sue if the contract expressly provides that the person making it is the sole principal; and
• sue if the third party can prove that they had some good reason for dealing with the
agent personally (e.g. because of their reputation or special skills).

G2B Enforcement by the third party

Where the principal is wholly undisclosed, the third party can enforce the contract and has
the option of doing so either against the agent or against the principal: this is known as a
right of election. However, the third party cannot sue both and, having elected to sue one
(e.g. by commencing legal proceedings or demanding payment), they cannot then sue
the other.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/17

G3 Other actions against the agent by the third party

We have seen above that in certain exceptional cases an agent can be sued by the third
party on the contract made. In addition to this, the third party may be able to sue the agent
for breach of warranty of authority or in tort.

G3A Breach of warranty of authority

When a person acts as an agent, there is an implied promise on their part that they have the
authority to act and to bind the principal.
If the agent has no authority, or exceeds their authority so that the principal is not bound,
the third party may be able to sue the agent for damages for breach of warranty of
authority.
In some cases, the agent may be liable even where they genuinely believed that their actions
were authorised.

Chapter 4
G3B Actions in tort
If an agent commits a tort when acting in the course of their authority, the principal will be
liable.

Example 4.15
The principal will be liable if the agent makes fraudulent statements to a third party so as
to commit the tort of deceit. However, if the agent knows the statement to be false or acts
recklessly they will be liable as well.

The agent will not be liable if they innocently pass on false information given to them by the
principal.

G4 Payments made through an agent

In this section we will consider payments made through an agent, either by the principal or
by the third party.

G4A Payment by the principal

If an agent commits a tort when acting in the course of their authority, the principal will be
liable.
When the principal owes money to a third party, the debt cannot be discharged simply by
paying money to the agent. If the agent fails to pass it on, the principal will still be liable to
the third party.
The principal may not be liable, however, if the third party has induced the principal to pay
the agent by suggesting, for example, that the agent has already paid over the money
to them.

G4B Payment by the third party

If the third party owes a debt to the principal, this will not generally be discharged by
payment to the agent. However, if the agent has authority to receive payment on their
principal’s behalf (which is often the case), the debt of the third party is discharged and the
principal must sue the agent if the agent fails to hand over the money.
 4/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

H Termination of agency
There are a number of ways in which an agency may come to an end:

Agreement Just as an agency can be formed by agreement so it can be dissolved by

between the agreement, if both parties wish to terminate the relationship.
parties

Performance If an agent is employed to carry out a particular task, such as to secure a buyer for
a house, the agent will have no further authority once the task has been
completed and the agency will end.

Lapse of time Where an agency has been created for a specified period of time (for example
one year) it will end once the time has passed.

Withdrawal of In general, a principal may revoke the agent’s authority at any time. However, this
authority may amount to a breach of contract in some cases, particularly when the agent is
entitled under the agency agreement to a period of notice and is wrongfully
Chapter 4

dismissed without notice. The agent cannot force the principal to abide by the
contract in such a case, because contracts for personal services cannot generally
be enforced. However, the agent may be able to claim damages from the
principal. In some cases the authority of the agent cannot be revoked.

Renunciation by Just as the principal may generally withdraw the agent’s authority so may an
the agent agent renounce their duties. Once again, however, this may amount to a breach of
contract in some cases and make the agent liable to the principal in damages.

Death of either The death of the principal or the agent terminates the agency.
principal or agent

Bankruptcy The bankruptcy of the principal will end the agency relationship automatically.
However, bankruptcy of the agent terminates the agency only where it prevents
the agent from carrying out their duties.

Insanity Insanity on the part of the principal will end the agency if it renders them
incapable of entering into the contract or other transaction for which the agency
was established. If the agent becomes insane the agency will end if, as is likely, the
agent is unfit to carry out their duties.

Frustration Frustration of contracts generally is discussed in chapter 3, section E3.

Consider this
this…
…
How might a contract of agency be frustrated? Think about the example of an estate
agent selling a house.

Frustration of a contract of agency might occur in a number of ways:

Example 4.16
• The subject matter of the agency (such as a house which is to be sold) might be
destroyed.
• The task of the agent might become impossible to fulfil, illegal or futile.
• The agent becomes an enemy alien.
• Illness of either party might make the agency useless in non-consumer (business)
terms.

H1 Effects of termination
Finally, we must consider how the relationship between the parties is affected when an
agency is brought to an end. We will examine, first, the effect of termination on the
relationship of principal and agent and, second, its effect on the position of the third party.

H1A Termination as regards principal and agent

Not all the consequences flowing from the principal/agent relationship will cease
immediately when the agency is terminated.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/19

Example 4.17
• If, at the time of termination, the agent has a right to commission already earned or to
indemnity in respect of expenses previously incurred, these vested rights will remain.
• If an agent has been guilty of a breach of duty and has been dismissed for the breach,
bringing the agency to an end, the principal’s right to sue the agent in respect of the
breach (perhaps for damages) will still remain.

H1B Termination as regards the third party

We have suggested already that revocation by the principal may divest an agent of actual
authority, but not necessarily deprive them of their apparent or ostensible authority. If the
principal has held out the agent as having authority, they remain liable so far as the third
party is concerned until the third party has had notice that the agency is at an end or
becomes aware of circumstances which make them suspect this.
On the other hand, where termination happens involuntarily, such as by death or insanity of

Chapter 4
the principal, the agent’s authority may end automatically, regardless of whether the third
party is aware of this or ought to be aware of it. In this case, the third party will have no
remedy against the principal and can only sue the agent for breach of warranty of authority.
 4/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Law of agency

• An agent is a person who has the authority or power to act on behalf of another person, known as
the principal.
• Questions of agency law often arise when an insurance intermediary makes a mistake or is generally
careless in carrying out their duties.
• Agency may be created by agreement or consent, by ratification and by necessity.

The principal of an insurance agent

• An insurance intermediary may, at different times, act on behalf of both the proposer/insured and
the insurer.

Duties of an agent
Chapter 4

• The duties of an agent are to obey the principal’s instructions; to exercise proper care and skill; to
perform duties personally; to act in good faith towards the principal and to account for monies
received on behalf of the principal.
• An insurance intermediary must exercise a level of care and skill that is appropriate for the class of
agent they represent.

Imputed knowledge

• Under the law of agency, any knowledge which an agent possesses is imputed to the principal. This
is of particular importance in relation to the duty of disclosure in non-consumer (business)
insurance.
• The Insurance Act 2015 introduced a detailed section clarifying ‘knowledge of insured’.

Rights of an agent

• The rights of an agent are the right to remuneration and the right to indemnity.

Authority of an agent

• Agents can have different types of authority:

– actual authority (express or implied); or
– apparent or ostensible authority.

Contract made by an agent

• Contracts made by the agent with third parties can be for a disclosed or undisclosed principal.
• Agencies can be terminated by agreement, performance, lapse of time, withdrawal of authority,
renunciation by the agent, death of principal or agent, bankruptcy, insanity or frustration.
Chapter 4 Law of agency 4/21

Self-test questions
1. The concept of agency is tripartite. What are the three relationships?
2. What types of authority might an agent have?
3. State three ways in which an agency may be created.
4. What conditions need to be fulfilled to achieve a valid ratification?
5. What is meant by an agent by necessity?
6. What is meant by ‘imputed knowledge’ in the context of the law of agency?
7. When may the agent delegate their duties?
8. For whom does an insurance intermediary act as an agent?
(a) The insured.
(b) The insurer.

Chapter 4
(c) Both the insured and the insurer from time to time.
9. What are the duties of the agent?
10. Against whom may the third party enforce the contract when the principal is wholly
undisclosed?
11. How may an agency be terminated?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

 4/22 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 4.1: Question

Apply the principles of agency law to practical situations (LO4.6)
Carlos asks his neighbour, Priya, to help him sell his car. He tells her that he will give her
10% of the sale price following a completed sale. Priya finds him a buyer and the car is sold
to that buyer. She gives Carlos the full purchase price. Carlos, however, now refuses to
pay Priya the 10% he promised. The buyer has also contacted Priya to say that the car is
not fit for purpose and that he wants his purchase money back.
1. Do you think Priya is entitled to payment from Carlos?
2. Do you think Priya is at risk of being sued by the buyer of the car?
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
Chapter 4

• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and

• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.
 Insurance contract
5
formation and
insurable interest
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives

Chapter 5
Introduction
Key terms
A Formation of an insurance contract – general principles 5.1, 5.8
B Insurable interest 5.2, 5.8
C The law on insurable interest 5.3, 5.8
D Application of insurable interest 5.3, 5.8
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• understand how the general principles of contract law apply to insurance;
• understand the concept of insurable interest;
• distinguish between insurance and gambling agreements
• explain the common features of insurable interest; and
• apply the principle of insurable interest to the major types of insurance and reinsurance.
 5/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
Refer to We will now turn to the law which governs insurance contracts in particular. Some of the
chapter 6 for the
duty of fair principles involved are unique to insurance. A good example is insurable interest which is
presentation dealt with in this chapter. Another key principle is the pre-contractual information duty,
known as the duty of fair presentation in business insurance. The duty of fair presentation
applies to some contracts outside the field of insurance but nowhere else is it so important.
Refer to chapter 3 In the first section of this chapter, however, we are concerned not with any ‘special’
for the law of
contract principles of insurance but with the way in which the general principles of the law of contract
affect insurance policies.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Acceptance Contractual intention Current interest Insurable interest

Legal interest Offer Reinsurance Renewal

Statute Unlicensed insurers

A Formation of an insurance contract –

Chapter 5

general principles
A1 Offer and acceptance in insurance
The rules of offer and acceptance which we examined earlier apply to insurance policies in
the same way as they do to other contracts.

Consider this
this…
…
When will an insurance contract come into existence?

An insurance contract will, therefore, come into existence once the offer made by one party
is unconditionally accepted by the other.

A1A Invitations to treat

You will remember, however, that we need to distinguish between true offers and invitations
to treat which are merely invitations to the other party to enter into negotiations.

Consider this
this…
…
Can you think of an example of an invitation to treat in an insurance context?

Example 5.1
A prospectus published by an insurance company which contains details of cover and
standard rates of premium is likely to be regarded as merely an invitation to treat.

A1B Who makes the offer

Consider this
this…
…
In a typical insurance transaction, when is the offer made? Who is the offeror and who
accepts?

There is no definite rule as to which party (the proposer or insurer) makes the offer and
which party accepts.
Sometimes the proposal form which is submitted to the insurer will be the offer and the
insurer will accept it by confirming cover or issuing the policy. In other cases, the insurer may
quote a premium based on information supplied in the proposal form and, in doing so, make
an offer which the proposer may then accept or decline.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/3

Frequently, an insurance contract is finalised only after lengthy negotiations between the
proposer and insurer, often involving a broker or other intermediary. In such cases, there
may be a long series of offers, rejections and counter-offers before a firm acceptance is
made by one party or the other.
Special case – the Lloyd
Lloyd’’s market
Until 2007, insurance contracts used to be formed by a slip which was presented by a broker
to a managing agent at Lloyd’s and the contract of insurance used to be formed at the
moment that the slip was scratched (signed and stamped) by the underwriter. The policy
was issued after the contract was formed by virtue of a slip. This process was to be called
‘deal now, detail later’. The problems then arose when there was a conflict between the
terms of the slip and the policy. The market then initiated to provide contractual certainty.
First, the Contract Certainty Code of Practice was adopted and then the Market Reform
Contract (standard form of contract which requires details of the terms of the contract
included) was introduced to the market. Now the only document that brokers use to
represent the risk is the Market Reform Contract (MRC). The MRC is also called the MRC slip.
With regards to insurances placed at Lloyd’s, the usual view is that the ‘MRC slip’ presented
to an underwriter by a broker is an offer which is accepted when the underwriter scratches
the slip, so concluding a binding contract. Since a contract has been concluded, it is not
open to the underwriter to withdraw later on the basis that the MRC is not fully subscribed.
Thus, if the underwriter does not intend to be bound they must make this absolutely clear
when they sign the MRC.

Chapter 5
A1C Is communication of acceptance necessary?
We have seen in chapter 3 that, in principle, an offer cannot be accepted by doing nothing
and that acceptance must generally be communicated to the other party.
It seems, however, that if the proposer acts in reliance on an offer made by the insurers, this
will be equivalent to an act of acceptance and a valid contract will be formed.

Consider this
this…
…
When a motor policy is renewed (see section A1E below for general points on renewal
renewal), a
renewal notice containing a temporary certificate and cover note granting 15 days’ limited
cover will usually be sent to the insured. In what circumstances does the policy come
into force?

If the insured does not receive the renewal notice, they cannot accept the offer of temporary
cover which it contains. If they do receive it, however, it will be deemed that they have
accepted the offer if they simply continue to use the car on the road.

A1D What must be agreed

An acceptance will be effective only if the parties agree on the essential terms of the
contract.
In insurance, the parties must have reached agreement on:
• the nature of the risk and the subject matter of insurance (what is to be insured and what
perils are to be covered);
• the duration of the contract; and
• the amount of the premium (or at least the method by which the premium is to be
calculated).
Insurers need not, however, spell out to the proposer all the other detailed terms of the
policy in advance, as long as it is clear that the insurance is to be on the basis of the insurer’s
usual form of policy for the sort of risk in question (such as private car or household
contents). There is, in fact, a presumption in law that the proposer is applying for a policy in
accordance with the insurer’s usual terms and conditions. In practice, insurers will usually
make this clear by means of a suitable statement on the proposal form.

Be aware
If there is no ‘consensus ad idem’ (‘meeting of minds’) on some essential term of the
agreement, a valid contract will not be formed.
 5/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

We earlier referred to the general rule in contract law that it is not open to one party to
unilaterally alter the terms of a concluded contract. Despite this, the Court of Appeal has
accepted as legitimate the practice of ‘signing down’ each insurer’s participation on a slip
where the total subscription exceeds 100%. The effect of signing down is to alter both the
premium received by a particular underwriter and the extent of their risk; but the Court of
Appeal decided that even though the slip is a concluded agreement signing down was so
common within Lloyd’s and much of the companies’ market the broker’s right to do it was an
implied term of the contract.
Signing down is now an express contractual provision under the MRC.

A1E Renewal
Consider this
this…
…
What happens when an insurance contract is renewed?

When an insurance contract is renewed, a fresh contract is formed, normally on the same
basis as the old one.
Fresh offer and acceptance are therefore required. The renewal notice which the insurer
issues can be regarded as an offer which the insured can accept by payment of the premium,
provided there are no changes in the risk. If the risk has changed in any material way, the
insured must notify the insurers of such changes (see chapter 6 on the pre-contractual
Chapter 5

information duties). In this case, the insured is making a counter-offer which the insurers
may or may not accept.

Be aware
An alternative view is that the renewal notice is merely an invitation to treat, requesting
the insured to make an offer to the insurers.

Insurers are normally under no obligation to invite renewal of an annual policy. If renewal is
not invited, there is, of course, no offer which the insured can accept.

A1F When does the risk begin to run?

Be aware
You should understand that although an insurance contract will normally come into
existence once an offer is accepted, the cover may not operate immediately. The parties
may well agree that the risk will begin to run at some date in the future, such as when an
existing policy with another insurer expires. In this case, there is a binding contract to
insure but the risk has not yet attached. Sometimes insurers stipulate that the risk will run
on actual payment of the premium. This point is considered below.

Activity
Obtain a copy of a typical policy used by an insurer. Does it specify when the contract
becomes operative?

A2 Contractual intention and insurance

No legally binding contract will be formed unless the parties intended to be legally bound. In
the case of non-consumer (business) agreements, contractual intention is usually presumed
to exist unless there is strong evidence to the contrary.
Insurance contracts, as commercial transactions, are almost invariably intended by the
parties to be legally binding. Only under the most unusual circumstances would the case be
otherwise.

A2A Consideration and payment of the premium

Consider this
this…
…
What is consideration? How would consideration apply in an insurance contract?
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/5

You will recall that under English law, a promise is not legally binding unless it is supported
by consideration, i.e. unless something of value is given in exchange for it.
The rules of consideration apply to insurance in the ordinary way. The consideration
furnished by the insured in an insurance contract is, of course, the premium payable and that
given by the insurer is the promise to pay claims, in other words, the cover which is provided.
Unless the parties have agreed otherwise, the risk attaches although the premium has not
been paid. We have stated earlier that, while a valid contract of insurance will come into
force once an offer has been accepted, the risk may not attach immediately. Equally, it is
important to understand that under English law, a valid insurance contract may exist before
the insured has actually paid the premium, provided they have agreed to pay.

Be aware
A promise to pay is as good consideration as payment itself.

However, we have also suggested earlier that insurers may stipulate that the risk will not run
until the premium is paid. In this case, actual payment is required before insurers can incur
any liability under the contract.
We have seen that an insurance policy will be invalid if the essential terms have not been
agreed and, for obvious reasons, the parties to an insurance contract will generally fix the
amount of the premium before the contract is concluded.

Chapter 5
Be aware
It is well established, however, that an insurance contract can be made at ‘a premium to
be agreed’. In this case, the exact amount of the premium is to be fixed after the contract
has come into force.

Example 5.2
In marine insurance, insurers often agree in advance to extend the policy to cover some
risks excluded from the original contract if the need arises, with the additional premium to
be fixed afterwards.

A2B Return of premium under insurance contracts

Although this part of the study text is concerned mainly with the formation of insurance
contracts, it is convenient to look at the general rules regarding return of premium at this
stage. The basic principle is quite simple.
Once the risk has started to run, the insured is not entitled to any return of premium if the
contract is subsequently ended prematurely. However, if the insurers have never been on
risk at all, the insured is entitled to recover their premium. In the latter case, there has been a
‘total failure of consideration’, which means that the insured has never had anything of value
in return for their own payment.

Consider this
this…
…
In what situations might a risk fail to run?

The risk may fail to run, resulting in a total failure of consideration, for a number of reasons:
• the proposal may be withdrawn after the premium has been paid;
• the policy may be void for mistake or because there was no consensus ad idem;
• the policy may be void because there is no insurable interest
interest; and
• the policy may be avoided ab initio.

Be aware
The pre-contractual information duty and remedy for breach of the duty are analysed
under different principles in business and consumer insurance. We will look at this topic in
chapter 6.

The insurer must allow a full return of premium in all these cases, unless there has been fraud
by the insured. However, we will see in chapter 6 that there are special provisions regarding
return of premium for breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk.
 5/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

There are also special rules concerning life insurance policies where there is no insurable
interest, which we will consider in section C6.
Refer to A policy may also be void for illegality and, in this case, the insured will usually have no legal
chapter 3,
section D3 for right to recover the premium.
illegality
Cancellation clauses
We should bear in mind that the rules mentioned earlier can be modified by the terms of the
contract. In particular, insurers will often allow a partial return of premium when a policy is
cancelled mid-term, even though the risk has obviously started to run in this case.
• Cancellation by the insurer
Insurers often include a clause allowing them to cancel the policy mid-term, having given
the required period of notice to the insured. In such cases a pro rata return of premium is
always granted.
• Cancellation by the insured
The insured may also be given the right to cancel the policy although something less than
a full pro rata return is usually then allowed.

Be aware
Some insurers give no specific rights of cancellation to the insured in the contract but, in
practice, allow a return of premium where, for instance, the property insured by the policy
is sold.
Chapter 5

Activity
Look at one of your own personal insurance policies, for household contents or motor
cover. In what circumstances can you as the insured cancel the contract? What does it say
about return of premium in that situation? Can the insurer cancel? What notice do they
need to provide?

A3 Formal requirements of insurance contracts

Insurance cover may be given orally (often by telephone) and, although a written policy is
eventually issued in almost every case, a claim may well happen before the policy is
prepared.
A few exceptional cases of insurance contracts where some formality is required by law are
given below.

A3A Contracts by deed

There is no legal requirement for any type of insurance contract to be in the form of a deed.

A3B Insurance contracts which must be in writing

The only type of insurance contract which must be in writing is a marine insurance policy
(Marine 1906, s.22). To comply with the Act, however, the policy need only
Marine Insurance Act 1906
specify the name of the insured or their agent, be signed by or on behalf of the insurer and
specify the subject matter of the insurance with reasonable certainty.
Note that a contract of marine insurance may be formed without the existence of the policy
but, in order to be able to make a claim against the insurer, the insured must hold a policy. In
other words, a policy document is required to make a claim but not for a valid contract
which may exist before a policy is issued.

A3C Insurance contracts which must be evidenced in writing

Contracts of guarantee must be evidenced in writing, under the Statute of Frauds 1677, s.4.
This provision may apply to some fidelity guarantee insurances but not to all of them, since
modern fidelity policies are often contracts of insurance only and not contracts of
guarantee.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/7

A3D Other insurance contracts where written documentation is

required
In motor vehicle insurance, s.143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 1988) requires a ‘policy’
of insurance to be in force before a motor vehicle is used on a public road. Section 147(1) of
the RTA 1988 used to provide that the policy is of no effect unless and until a certificate of
insurance is delivered to the policyholder. However, this was amended by s.9 of the
Deregulation Act 2015 so that the failure of an insurer to deliver a certificate no longer
affects the validity of the insurance.

Activity
Look at your personal motor policy. Identify the policy and the certificate. What do you
need to provide as evidence of insurance if requested for an official purpose such as
taxing the vehicle?

Life insurance contracts are also subject to some formal rules. Section 2 of the Life Refer to
section C2A
Assurance Act 1774 requires that the policy shall contain the name of the person interested for the Life
in it (which suggests the need for a formal policy). Other legislation may require insurers to Assurance
Act 1774
send to the insured a statutory notice advising them of their right to cancel the policy within
a ‘cooling-off’ period.

A4 Capacity to contract

Chapter 5
We noted in chapter 3, section B7 that the validity of a contract depends on the parties
having full legal capacity to contract and that special rules apply to some people and
organisations. We will now consider how this affects insurance.

A4A Insurance contracts made by minors

An insurer who grants cover to a minor is fully liable to meet all valid claims under the policy.
We have seen, however, that the minors themselves are only fully bound by contracts for
necessaries and beneficial contracts (such as employment): other contracts either do not
bind them or are voidable by them.
It follows that an insurer cannot enforce an insurance contract against a minor by suing them
for the premiums which are owing, unless the contract is for necessaries or is beneficial as
defined earlier. Few insurance contracts are likely to fall in these categories.

Consider this
this…
…
Can you think of any insurance policy that could be held to be for necessaries?

Motor policies may well be necessaries, since they are compulsory for motorists of any age.
In theory, other insurances could be ‘necessaries’ if they are particularly suited to a minor’s
station in life but there are few legal decisions on this point.
In practice, the fact that most insurance policies are either unenforceable against the minor
or voidable by them does not create major difficulties. A minor will not be able to recover
premiums which they have paid unless there has been a ‘total failure of consideration’, that
is, the other party has given nothing of value in return. This means that once the risk has
started to run and the minor has had the benefit of some cover, they cannot reclaim their
money simply by repudiating the contract. Equally, if a minor refuses to pay the premium,
their insurers are under no liability to pay a claim.

A4B Patients with a mental disability and drunken persons

You will recall that the rules affecting drunken persons are similar to those governing
patients with a mental disability. The drunken person or patient can avoid the contract only
if, at the time of making it, they did not understand what they were doing, and the other
party knew of this.
Disputed cases of insurance being sold to mental patients or drunken persons are,
thankfully, few.
 5/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

A4C The contractual capacity of insurers

Refer to chapter 1, Insurers (other than individual Lloyd’s underwriters) are, of course, corporations. Most UK
section J for
corporations and insurance companies are now created by registration under the Companies Acts Acts, although
their formation in the past some were formed directly by statute or Royal Charter. The general rules outlined
earlier, thus, apply.
Rather more important for the purpose of this subject, however, is the legislation which has
been enacted specifically to regulate the activities of insurers. Policyholders are likely to
suffer if an insurer becomes insolvent and, to reduce the risk of this happening, insurers in
the UK have been subject to Government supervision in one form or another for over
100 years.

Be aware
The main statutes covering insurance companies are now the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000 and the Financial Services Act 2012
2012.

Industrial insurance companies, friendly societies, trade unions and the like are governed by
their own legislation, and Lloyd’s is largely self-regulating.
Unlicensed insurers
Before they can write insurance business, companies must obtain authorisation (i.e. a
licence) from the UK regulator for the class or classes of business which they wish to
Chapter 5

transact.
This rule was, however, effectively reversed by the Financial Services Act 1986
1986. In general
terms, this Act allowed the insured to choose whether to enforce the contract and, if they
chose not to do so, they could reclaim their premium. The insurer could enforce the contract
only at the discretion of the court. As in the case of the Insurance Companies Act 1982
1982, the
Financial Services Act 1986 has been superseded by the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000.
Increasingly, European insurance companies are operating in a number of Member States.
Provided an insurer is authorised in one Member State, it will be allowed to sell most forms of
insurance elsewhere within the European Economic Area, under the supervision of the
regulator in the ‘home’ state. Those insurers operating in this way are said to be exercising
their ‘EEA passport rights’. Insurers based outside the EEA and wishing to operate within the
UK must be licensed in the usual way.
Under the Financial Services Act 2012, the financial services sector in the UK is regulated by
two bodies: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation
Authority (PRA).
The PRA authorises financially important firms such as banks, building societies and insurers
(both general and life insurers). It also regulates them for prudential issues (capital/solvency
etc.). The FCA authorises smaller firms such as financial and insurance intermediaries and
also regulates them for prudential issues. The FCA regulates all authorised firms for conduct
of business issues.
You should keep up to date on the progress of this regulatory regime in the trade and
financial press.

Useful websites
See also the regulators’ websites:
www.fca.org.uk.
www.bankofengland.co.uk/pra.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/9

B Insurable interest
An agreement to insure must satisfy all the requirements as to offer and acceptance,
consideration, capacity and form which were discussed in the first part of this chapter.
However, even if these requirements are fulfilled, the contract may still fail if the policyholder
has no valid interest which they can insure. This is ‘insurable interest’.

Be aware
Insurable interest, in the simplest terms, means that the policyholder must be in a position
where they will suffer loss if the event which they have insured against occurs.

B1 Definition
There is no single definition of insurable interest but the following covers its essential
elements:
The legal right to insure arising out of a financial relationship recognised at law,
between the insured and the subject matter of insurance.

B2 Key elements
The key elements of insurable interest are as follows:

Chapter 5
• a subject matter of insurance;
• the policyholder must have an economic or financial interest in the subject matter of
insurance;
• the interest must be a current interest
interest, not merely an ‘expectancy’; and
• the interest must be a legal interest
interest.
Each of these is considered in turn.

B2A Subject matter

The term ‘subject matter’ can refer to two things.

Be aware
It is important to understand that when a person arranges insurance on, say, their house,
they are insuring not the property as such but their interest in that property. Although the
property is the subject matter of insurance, it is this interest which is the subject matter of
the contract.

Case example
This concept was expressed neatly by Brett LJ in the case of Castellain v. Preston (1883)
(1883):
…what is it that is insured in a fire policy? Not the bricks and materials used in
building the house but the interest of the insured in the subject matter of
insurance.

In fact, the most straightforward example of insurable interest is the interest which a person
has in property which they own, such as a house (as in the quotation earlier) or a car or other
goods. The owner has an interest because destruction of, or damage to, the property will
obviously cause the owner loss. Furthermore, ownership is an interest which is recognised
and protected by law. This point is discussed below.
In many cases, the subject matter of the insurance will be something other than material
property; it may be human life (in the case of a life insurance policy) or something intangible,
such as a debt. Equally, the interest which is the subject matter of the contract may not be
that of a property owner – it may be that of a mortgage lender, or a lessee (tenant). In the
case of life insurance, the interest protected by the policy may be that of the husband or
wife of the life insured or that of creditor to whom the life insured owes money.
 5/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B2B Economic or financial interest

As we have suggested earlier, the doctrine of insurable interest requires there to be a
relationship between the insured and the subject matter of insurance whereby the insured
will suffer a financial loss if the insured event occurs.

Case example
The words of Lawrence, J. in the case of Lucena v. Craufurd (1806) express this point well:
A man is interested in a thing to whom advantage may arise or prejudice happen
from the circumstances which may attend it…To be interested in the preservation
of a thing is to be so circumstanced with respect to it as to have benefit from its
existence, prejudice from its destruction.

Although the insurance policy must specify the subject matter of insurance, the insured need
not specify the exact nature of their interest in it, or the amount of their interest, at the time
of the contract. However, the interest must be one that is reasonably capable of valuation
in money.
In some cases, this is straightforward as in the case of tangible things such as material
property or the liability to pay damages to another. In the case of life insurance, it may be
more difficult to assess the value of the interest.

Consider this
this…
…
Chapter 5

What is the value of someone’s interest in their own life?

Example 5.3
It is impossible to place a value on one’s own life or on the life of one’s spouse and the law,
therefore, presumes the interest to be unlimited.

In other cases, such as the interest of a creditor in the life of a debtor, the interest is easier to
measure.

B2C Current interest

interest,, not merely an ‘expectancy
expectancy’’
English law requires that a person has a current (or present) interest in the subject matter of
insurance. A mere hope or expectation of acquiring an interest in the future is not enough.

Case example
The leading case is Lucena v. Craufurd (1806). Here, the Crown Commissioners insured a
number of enemy ships which had been captured in the Napoleonic wars when they were
still on the high seas.
The authority of the Commissioners to take charge of the ships began only when the
vessels reached port and so the court held that the Commissioners had no interest in ships
which were lost before they did so. Up until that point, they had merely an expectancy of
taking charge of the vessels.
One of the judges in the case put forward the following example to illustrate the point:
…suppose the case of the heir at law of a man who has an estate worth £20,000
who is ninety years of age, upon his death bed intestate, and incapable from
incurable lunacy of making a will, there is no man who will deny that such an heir
at law has a moral certainty of succeeding to the estate, yet the law will not allow
that he has any interest, or anything more than a mere expectation.

In other words, it might appear absolutely certain that the heir will inherit the property but
until they actually do so, they have nothing more than an expectancy.
The precise time at which the interest must be present varies according to the class of
insurance. The insured need not necessarily have an insurable interest throughout the
duration of the contract in every case. The rules vary according to the class of insurance, and
we will look at these in more depth in section C.

B2D Legal interest

In England, the interest must also be a legal (or equitable) interest, that is, one that the law
recognises and will support.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/11

Case example
In the case of Macaura v. Northern Assurance Co. Ltd (1925)
(1925), Macaura had insured a
quantity of timber on his estate under a fire policy in his own name. He had already sold
the timber to a company of which he was the only shareholder. When the timber was
destroyed in a fire, the insurers refused to meet the claim on the grounds that Macaura
had no insurable interest in the assets of the company. The House of Lords supported the
insurers, holding that the insured had an interest in his shares but none in the timber which
was owned by the company, a separate legal entity. The fact that the insured would
clearly suffer an economic loss as result of the fire, because the value of his shares would
go down, was regarded as insufficient to give him an insurable interest.

Be aware
It is worth noting that in a number of countries where the legal system is based on English
law the Macaura principle has been rejected, abandoned, or never adopted. They include
the USA, Australia and Canada. Generally, in these countries an economic or financial
interest in the subject matter is required, but a legal or equitable interest is not.

Although there are some cases in which insurable interest has been narrowly interpreted,
they are rare and, generally, insurable interest is defined broadly. There are many examples
that demonstrate this – one of the most recent being the case of Comlex Ltd v. Allianz
Insurance Plc (2016)
(2016).

Chapter 5
Case example
Comlex v. Allianz concerned a pub which was owned by a company that went into
liquidation due to financial difficulties. The liquidators agreed to sell the pub to B, who had
been a manager at the pub, and insisted that B obtain buildings insurance for the pub. The
pub was destroyed in a fire prior to the completion of the sale. B’s insurer asserted that B
had no insurable interest and therefore did not have to meet the claim. The Court of
Session, however, ruled that B did have an insurable interest as the evidence indicated
that B and the liquidator had entered into a binding agreement under which B was
granted a licence to use the property pending the purchase (on the condition she
obtained insurance).

B3 Why does the law require insurable interest?

There are two main reasons why the law requires insurable interest:
• to reduce moral hazard; and
• to discourage wagering.

B3A To reduce moral hazard

Moral hazard arises when the granting of insurance actually increases the likelihood of a loss
occurring, because it changes the incentives and behaviour of the insured.

Example 5.4
The insured may become less careful than they would be if they had no insurance or even
cause a loss deliberately in order to collect the insurance money.

On the face of it, the right to insure property in which one has no interest (such as a house or
car belonging to a neighbour) could have exactly this effect. At worst, it might tempt the
policyholder to commit arson or other destructive acts in order to get the insurance money.
The same is true in the case of life insurance, because an unlimited right to insure the lives of
other people might provide a motive for murder.

Be aware
Of course, the risk of this happening now is much lower than it might have been in the
early years of insurance, when techniques for the detection of crime were far less
sophisticated than those of today.
 5/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B3B To discourage wagering

Society has often tried to suppress, or at least control wagering (or gambling). Although
gambling may provide a useful source of government revenue (!) its effects can be
economically damaging and socially harmful.
In the past, insurance policies were often used as a ‘cloak’ for gambling. As we shall see, it
was this irresponsible use of insurance as a means of betting on the lives and property of
others that led Parliament to discourage the practice by imposing a need for insurable
interest.
In fact, the presence of insurable interest is the key difference between an insurance policy
and a wager, but there are other differences, which are summarised below.

Insurance and wagers

Insurance contract Wagering contract

The insured is required to have a financial interest The interests are limited to the stake to be won or
in the subject matter of the contract. lost.

The object is to protect the insured against loss Either party may win or lose and the loser cannot
and their identity is known before the event. be identified until after the event.

The insured is under the pre-contractual Full disclosure is not required of either party.
information duty.
Chapter 5

In most cases, payment is made only by way of The stakes are not paid by way of indemnity.
indemnity – i.e. for a loss which has been incurred. Payment is made without suffering loss
beforehand.

The contract is enforceable at law. Neither party can enforce the contract in court.

B4 Creation of insurable interest

There are a number of ways in which insurable interest may arise.

B4A Common law

In some cases, insurable interest is automatically presumed to exist.

Example 5.5
• Every person is presumed to have an unlimited interest in their own life. Where an
interest is automatically assumed we can describe it as having arisen at common law.
• Ownership: ownership of a car carries with it the right to insure.

B4B Contract
In some cases, a person will agree to accept responsibility for something for which they
would not ordinarily be liable.

Example 5.6
The landlord, rather than the tenant, is normally liable for the maintenance of the property
which they own. The lease, however, will often contain a condition which makes the
tenant responsible for the maintenance or repair of the building. Clearly, a term of this sort
in the lease will give the tenant a financial interest in the property which is insurable.
Moreover, the lease may make the tenant liable to pay rent even if the building is
uninhabitable which further supports their interest.

Be aware
It is worth mentioning that the insurable interest which supports reinsurance (discussed
later) is contractual because the liability of reinsurers to make payments to the original
insurers arises out of the agreement contained in the reinsurance contract.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/13

C The law on insurable interest

A description of how the law on insurable interest developed will help us to understand how
its rules apply to different classes of insurance.
As we have seen, an insurance policy may be little more than a bet or wager if there is no
insurable interest. In the early days of insurance, life and marine policies were enforceable at
common law even if there was no insurable interest, largely because wagers in general were
legally enforceable. Fire insurance was the only other common class before the nineteenth
century and, although the legal position regarding fire policies is less clear, insurable interest
may in this case have been a common law requirement.
This general freedom to insure was often abused and, in particular, the practice of insuring
the lives of famous persons (including that of the reigning monarch) in the end became a
scandal. In some cases, the activity may have been encouraged by newspapers which
published odds on the chance of survival of famous people who were known to be ill. The
result was legislation, which was first applied to marine insurance and then to other classes.

C1 Marine insurance
The statute currently governing marine insurance is the Marine Insurance Act 1906, s.4 of
which makes marine policies void in the absence of insurable interest.

Chapter 5
The Act also provides a useful definition of insurable interest:
In particular a person is interested in a marine adventure where he stands in a legal or
equitable relation to the adventure or to any insurable property at risk therein, in
consequence of which he may benefit by the safety or due arrival of insurable
property, or may be prejudiced by its loss, or by damage thereto, or by the detention
thereof, or may incur liability in respect thereof.
Time when interest is required
The Marine Insurance Act 1906, s.6 provides that the insured must be interested in the
subject matter insured at the time of the loss. There is no requirement of insurable interest
when the contract is made, and it does not matter that since the time of the loss the interest
has ceased.
Section 6 also allows the subject matter of a marine policy to be insured ‘lost or not lost’,
which means that it is possible for the insured to recover under a marine policy even if they
acquired their interest after the loss has occurred, unless they were aware of the loss and the
insurer was not.
These rules reflect the practices of marine trade where cargo frequently changes ownership
in the course of transit. When this happens, the marine insurance policy is assigned to the
new owner along with other documents that are part of the transfer of title (ownership) of
the goods. The buyer is, therefore, protected by the policy even though they acquired their
interest in the goods some time after the policy was originally effected and even if, unknown
to them, the cargo has already been lost.

C2 Life and other classes of insurance

The following section outlines those statutes which relate to classes of insurance other than
marine.

C2A Life Assurance Act 1774

In its preamble, the Life Assurance Act 1774 condemns the practice of a ‘mischievous form of
gaming’ on lives; it is often referred to as the Gambling Act. Section 1 prohibits the making of
any policy:
…on the life or lives of any person or persons, or on any other event or events
whatsoever, wherein the person or persons for whose use, benefit, or on whose
account such policy or policies shall be made, shall have no interest, or by way of
gaming or wagering.
 5/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

There are four major provisions in the Act:

• The person benefiting from the insurance must have an insurable interest in the life or
event insured. If there is no insurable interest the contract is void (s.1, earlier).
• The name of the person for whose benefit the policy has been effected must appear in the
policy (s.2).
• The insured can recover no more than the amount of the value of their interest (s.3).
• The Act does not apply to insurances on ships, goods or merchandises (s.4).
Life policies are governed by the Life Assurance Act and policies on ‘goods and
merchandises’ are specifically excluded.

Be aware
There is some doubt, and there has been much debate, as to whether the 1774 Act applies
to other non-marine insurances and, in particular, whether it applies to the insurance of
real property (land and buildings) (see section C5).

Time when interest is required

In life insurance, insurable interest is required at the time when the contract is made – i.e. at
inception. However, there is no requirement to prove an interest when a claim arises on
death or maturity of the policy.

Case example
Chapter 5

This was established in the case of Dalby v. The India and London Life Insurance
(1854). In fact, Dalby involved the reinsurance of a life policy rather than life
Company (1854)
insurance itself. The claimant’s company had insured the life of the Duke of Cambridge
and reinsured the risk with the defendant reinsurer. Although the original insurance was
cancelled, the reinsurance contract was kept in force until the Duke died. The defendant
reinsurer then denied liability on the grounds that the claimant no longer had an interest
because, the original insurance having been cancelled, they themselves did not have to
pay out. The court ruled that the requirements of the Life Assurance Act 1774 were
satisfied because it did not require that the interest, necessary at inception, should still
exist at the time of the loss.

Consider this
this…
…
What is the basis for this decision? Why should this be the case for life insurance?

These principles are sound because life insurance premiums are fixed at the beginning of the
contract on actuarial principles according to the probable life expectancy of the person
whose life is insured. In any event, modern life insurance policies are often really savings
plans in which the insurance element is small in relation to the investment content. The
absence of any need for an insurable interest at the time of the loss makes for flexibility in
transactions involving life policies of this sort, allowing them to be sold or auctioned to
persons who have no interest in the life insured.
Finally, you should note that the same principles apply to insurance against death in a
personal accident policy.

C2B Policies on goods

Policies on goods are not subject to any statutory requirement of insurable interest (other
than on goods involved in a marine adventure which are governed by the Marine Insurance
Act 1906).
This class includes insurances on home contents and personal possessions, non-consumer
(business) property insurances (other than those on buildings), and goods in transit
insurances. Motor policies have also been classed by the courts as insurances on goods, at
least where some cover for damage to the insured vehicle is provided by the policy.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/15

C2C Legislation on gambling – the Gaming Act 1845 and the

Gambling Act 2005
Although there is no statutory requirement for insurable interest for policies on goods, until
recently these insurances (and, indeed, all insurances) were subject to the Gaming Act 1845
1845.
Section 18 made all contracts by way of gaming or wagering void. The Act probably had the
effect of invalidating any insurance policy where the insured had no connection with the
subject matter and, possibly, where the amount of insurance was out of all proportion to the
value of the subject matter.
In 2007, the law of gambling changed significantly when the Gambling Act 2005 came into
force. The Act provides that ‘the
the fact that a contract relates to gambling shall not prevent
enforcement’. The effect of this, apparently, is to bypass the need to prove an insurable
its enforcement
interest in policies on goods and, possibly, bypass the need to prove an insurable interest in
relation to any policy which is neither life nor marine (including policies on real property).

C3 Effect of the principle of indemnity

Although the Gambling Act 2005, at first sight, appears to undermine the principle of Refer to
chapter 9 for
insurable interest, we should also bear in mind that property insurances are contracts of property
indemnity. This means that the insured cannot in any case recover more than the amount of insurance and
indemnity
their actual loss unless the insurers have agreed to provide insurance on a more
generous basis.

Chapter 5
C4 Effect of a policy without interest
Where there is no insurable interest, the contract is generally void.

Consider this
this…
…
What is the effect of a void insurance contract? If the insurer later determines that there
was no insurable interest, what will this mean for the policyholder? Think about this in the
context of events that take place after inception, and the policyholder’s obligation to pay
insurance premiums.

You will recall that money paid under a void contract is usually recoverable, which means Refer to
chapter 3,
that a policyholder who has paid the premium for a void insurance policy should be able to section D2 for in
recover it and payments made by an insurer under such a policy should also be recoverable. pari delicto

However, policies governed by the Life Assurance Act 1774 are, technically at least, illegal as
well as void. You may now also recall that money paid under an illegal contract cannot be
recovered in court provided the parties are ‘in pari delicto’ (‘equal in wrongdoing’). In this
case, the insured may not, as a matter of law, be able to recover the premium that it has paid.

Case example
In the case of Harse v. Pearl Life Insurance Co. (1904)
(1904), an insurance on the life of the
policyholder’s mother was held to be illegal for lack of insurable interest. The mother lived
with her son and kept house for him, and he insured her life for the express purpose of
funeral expenses. However, the insurance was held void for lack of insurable interest
because the mother had no legal obligation to keep house for her son and he, in turn, had
no legal obligation to bury her when she died. The result was that he could not recover his
premiums.

Be aware
In reality, insurers will rarely risk their good name by refusing to return premiums in cases
like this, and the Financial Ombudsman has made it clear that they should not do so.

Of course, the same principles apply to cases where the insurer has made a payment to the
insured under a contract that is void and illegal for lack of insurable interest.
 5/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

C5 Other insurances
Under the Marine Insurance (Gambling Policies) Act 19091909, it is a criminal offence to take out
or effect a marine insurance policy without insurable interest. However, the passing of the
Gambling Act 2005 has complicated the issue of whether or not insurable interest is still
required under any type of insurance contract. As we discussed in section C2C, the Gaming
Act 1845 had previously disallowed insurance policies that were taken out for the purposes
of gaming or wagering. The Gambling Act 2005, however, introduced a new rule that ‘the
fact that a contract relates to gambling shall not prevent its enforcement’ (s.335(1)). This
brought about the question of whether it was permissible to have insurance policies without
insurable interest.
Section 335(2) of the Gambling Act 2005 states that this rule is ‘without
without prejudice to any
rule of law preventing the enforcement of a contract on the grounds of unlawfulness
gambling)’. Therefore, if a statute renders an
(other than a rule relating specifically to gambling)
insurance policy without insurable interest unlawful, the statute still survives after the
Gambling Act 2005. The exception to this is: ‘other than a rule relating specifically to
gambling.’ In other words, if the statute is specially related to gambling, the new rule under
the Gambling Act 2005 applies and the contract will be enforceable.
The question of whether or not insurable interest is still required after the Gambling Act
2005 is confusing due to the way the Act is drafted. It would be safer to assume that since
the Act did not expressly repeal the legislation that requires insurable interest, in those
Chapter 5

areas, insurable interest is still required. But there is no certain view on this.
Section 4 of the Life Assurance Act 1774, which excludes insurances on ‘ships, goods and
merchandises’, does not refer to insurance on land and buildings. It may be inferred that the
Act extends to non-life insurance other than that of ships, goods and merchandises.
However, a policy may insure more than one interest though all the interested parties’ names
may not appear in the policy. For example, in the case of insurance of a property by a
landlord for the benefit of themselves or their tenant, or the insurance of a property by the
trustee. It would therefore seem that policies on land and buildings are governed by the
same rules as those relating to policies on goods.
In theory, insurable interest may be waived in other types of policies where lack of insurable
interest does not render the policy either null or void or unlawful. However, this should not
matter much in practice as the insured nevertheless remains under an obligation to prove
their loss following the occurrence of the insured peril. If the insured cannot prove their loss,
the common law principle of indemnity prevents recovery.

C6 Waiver of insurable interest

Consider this
this…
…
We have seen that the law imposes a requirement of insurable interest; but can insurers
simply waive this requirement – i.e. agree to do without it?

In the case of marine insurance, which is governed by the Marine Insurance Act 1906, and life
insurance, governed by the Life Assurance Act 1774, the requirement cannot legally be
waived. However, this does not mean that insurers may not issue policies where there is
doubt about the existence of an interest, but simply that such policies cannot be enforced
in court.
In fact, there is often a business need for insurance cover in circumstances where it would be
difficult to prove an insurable interest.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/17

Example 5.7
• ‘PPI’ policies, where the insurers expressly agree to dispense with the need to prove
any interest are common in the marine market, even though the Marine Insurance Act
1906 specifically declares them void.
• Life insurance policies are often issued in cases where, strictly, there may be no
insurable interest in law.

These arrangements work because the insurers can be relied upon to honour the policy. Only
in unusual circumstances (such as when the insurer has become insolvent and its affairs are
in the hands of a liquidator) is payment likely to be refused. As noted in section C5, it will
also be necessary for the insured (or beneficiary) to be able to demonstrate their loss in the
event of a claim – the insurers in these cases are therefore waiving the need to prove the
insurable interest at the point of inception, rather than dispensing entirely with the need for
such an interest.

C7 Reform of insurable interest (life and life-related

insurance)
The English and Scottish Law Commissions consulted on insurable interest both by an Issues
Paper in 2008 and as part of their consultation paper, ‘Insurance Contract Law: Post
Contract Duties and other Issues’ in 2011. The Law Commissions sought views on updated

Chapter 5
proposals in March 2015 and published a draft Bill designed to give effect to their proposals
in 2016. Following feedback on the Bill, another version was published in June 2018. As of
February 2019, the Law Commissions are continuing their work on the draft Bill.
The key points to be aware of are as follows:
• The Insurable Interest Bill only applies to life and life-related insurances (where the
insured event is ‘death, injury, ill health or incapacity of an individual’). The previous 2016
draft did address non-life insurance contracts but, following feedback, the Commissions
accepted that there was little need for legislative reform in this area.
• The Bill confirms that life-related insurance is void unless at the time the insured enters
into the contract, the insured has an insurable interest in the individual who is the subject
of the contract (cl.2(1)).
• Under cl.6 of the Bill, s.1 of the Life Assurance Act 1774 will be repealed to the extent that
it applies to life-related insurance contracts, and s.2 and s.3 are repealed entirely.
Clause 2 provides a non-exhaustive list of cases in which insurable interest may be proved in
life-related insurance.
Clause 3 regulates return of the premium if the insured makes an untrue or misleading
statement about their insurable interest in entering into the contract. If the insured is not a
consumer, the insurer does not have to return the premium as a result of the contract being
void. However, in consumer insurance, the return or non-return of premium will be subject to
a fairness assessment.

Be aware
The 2018 draft Bill does not apply to general (non-life) insurance.

Useful website
To keep up to date with changes, visit:
www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/insurance-contract-law-insurable-interest.

The Law Commission wishes for the draft Bill to be enacted by the special parliamentary
procedure for uncontroversial Law Commission bills.
 5/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

D Application of insurable interest

The application of the doctrine of insurable interest in various classes of insurance is
considered next.

D1 Life insurance
The following are the main examples of insurable interest in the field of life insurance. They
fall in two broad categories.
1. The first category covers relationships where a precise financial interest might be
difficult to establish, but an insurable interest is, nevertheless, presumed to exist
because there is a natural tie of love and affection between the parties. These are
described as ‘family relationships’.
2. The other broad category is ‘business relationships’ where a financial interest in the life
of another arises from a non-consumer (business) contract or from other
non-consumer (business) dealings.

D1A Family relationships

Own life Every person is presumed to have an unlimited insurable interest in his or her
own life.
Chapter 5

Spouses Husband and wife have an unlimited insurable interest in the life of each other. This
common law rule is supplemented by the Married Women Women’’s Property Act 1882
1882.
Section 11 allows a married woman to insure her own life or the life of her husband
for her own benefit. It also provides that a policy taken out by a man for the benefit
of his wife or children, or by a woman for the benefit of her husband or children
creates a statutory trust of the policy. The effect is that the policy money will pass
to the beneficiaries free of any debts of the insured.

Other family Under English law, no other family relationship automatically gives rise to an
relationships insurable interest. So, for example, a parent cannot legally insure their child and a
child cannot insure their parents.

Be aware
We should note at this point that English law presumes the existence of an insurable
interest only in the small number of family ties mentioned above.

It may be possible to insure members of one’s family if a business relationship or some other
form of financial reliance exists. However, in this case, it is the business relationship that
creates the interest, not the family tie. Business relationships are discussed next.

D1B Business relationships

There are many business relationships that could give rise to an insurable interest. The main
examples are discussed below.
• Partners
Partners have an insurable interest in each other’s lives up to the amount of any loss or
expense that might arise from the death of a partner.

Example 5.8
Partners may be legally obliged to buy each other out on the death of one of them, giving
them an insurable interest in each other’s lives.

• Employer and employee

An employee can insure the life of their employer. However, strictly speaking, their
interest is limited to a sum representing their wage or salary for the minimum period of
notice under their contract of employment, or the remaining portion of a fixed term
contract. The point is that if an employee can be dismissed on being given, say, four
weeks’ notice, their legal right against the employer is equivalent in value to four weeks’
earnings only. Anything beyond this is only an expectancy.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/19

Of course, these principles apply only to personal contracts of employment; nowadays,

most people are employed by companies which, of course, cannot die and cannot be
insured under a life policy.
An employer has an insurable interest in the life of their employees. Again, the interest is,
theoretically, limited to a sum representing the value of the work to which the employer is
entitled. If, like the employer, the employee can terminate the contract of employment at
any time by giving a month’s notice, or less, the value of this interest may not amount to
very much.
In practice, however, ‘keyman’ or ‘keywoman’ policies for large amounts are often issued
on the lives of senior employees. These reflect the cost of training a new employee to fill
the role of the old one.
• Creditor and debtor
– A creditor has an insurable interest in the life of their debtor because they may lose
financially if the debtor dies before the money is repaid. They may, therefore, insure for
the amount of the debt plus interest payable on it.
– A debtor has no corresponding insurable interest in the life of their creditor.

D2 Property insurance
There are many examples of persons who may have an insurable interest in property,
including the following:

Chapter 5
• Outright owners of property.
• Part or joint owners.
• Mortgagees and mortgagors
mortgagors..
Mortgages are commonly arranged in connection with the purchase of houses or
commercial property. A mortgage involves a lender (normally a bank or other financial
institution), known as the mortgagee, and a purchaser who is known as the mortgagor.
Both parties have an insurable interest.

Consider this
this…
…
What is the insurable interest for each party?

The purchaser’s interest arises from the ownership of the property and the financial
institution (mortgagee) acquires an interest because the property is the security for
the loan.
• Executors and trustees.
Executors and trustees are legally responsible for the property in their charge, and this
gives rise to insurable interest.
• Landlord and tenant.
A landlord (lessor) has an insurable interest in the property that they own. Their tenant
(lessee) also has an interest because they may be legally liable to pay for repairs if the
property is damaged or destroyed, and may have to pay the rent even when the premises
are uninhabitable.
• Bailees
Bailees..
A bailee is a person who has legal possession of goods belonging to another. They hold
them for a particular purpose and, normally, for a limited time only. They may be paid for
doing so or act gratuitously. Motor vehicle workshops, launderers and watch repairers are
examples of bailees. In each case, they have a responsibility to take reasonable care of the
goods that are left with them and to look after them as if their own.
• People living together.
One spouse (or person living with another) will have an insurable interest in property
belonging to the other if its use and possession is shared. In any case, each may arrange
insurance as agent of the other.
• Finders and people in possession.
A person who finds property will have a right to insure it, since possession gives the finder
a right to the property that is better than that of any person other than the true owner. In
any event, possession of property, in itself, gives the right to insure it, even though
someone else may have a better right to the property. Under English law, there may even
be a right to insure when the possession is wrongful.
 5/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

D2A Limited interests in property

In many cases, a person will have only a limited interest in the property concerned.

Example 5.9
The interest of a part-owner will be limited to the value of their share in the property and
the interest of a mortgagee (such as a bank or building society) will be limited to the
amount of the loan that has been granted.

It is important to understand that a person with a limited interest may, nevertheless, insure
the property for its full value.
This does not mean, however, that they can keep all the insurance money in such a case; on
the contrary, the maximum amount that they will be able to retain is the amount of their own
interest. Any surplus will generally be held on trust for the other person or persons with an
interest in the property.

Example 5.10
A mortgagee will have the right to insure mortgaged property for its full value but will be
able to keep no more than the amount of the outstanding debt if the property is
destroyed and the insurers pay for the loss in full. The balance must be paid over to the
mortgagor (i.e. the purchaser of the house or goods).
Chapter 5

Example 5.11
Similarly, it is clear that a bailee can insure goods for their full value and claim on behalf of
the owner (bailor) in respect of a loss for which the bailee was not legally responsible.
However, the policy in question must be clearly intended to cover the interest of the
owner and not just the limited interest of the bailee. Provided this is the case, the bailee
can recover in full but, again, can keep no more than the amount of their own loss (if any).
The balance is held on behalf of the owners of the goods and must be paid over to them.

D2B Overlapping interests in property

It will be clear from what has been said that different people (such as mortgagor and
mortgagee, landlord and tenant and bailor and bailee) can have an insurable interest in the
same property. To avoid confusion, and possible double insurance, it is obviously sensible
for the parties to agree about who should arrange the insurance. For this reason, a mortgage
deed or tenancy agreement (lease) will normally state which of the parties shall have the
duty to insure and bailees, such as warehouse keepers and carriers or goods, will agree with
the owner about how insurance is to be arranged. The same is true of hire-purchase
agreements for the purchase of motor cars or other property. These usually state that the
borrower must arrange insurance on the vehicle or property concerned.

Activity
What interests in property do you think exist under a leasehold arrangement in which
there is a leaseholder who lives in (or potentially rents out) the property, and a freeholder
who owns the property and grants the lease to the leaseholder? How do you think the
parties should agree on their responsibilities for taking out insurance?

D3 Insurance of profits
A common example of the insurance of profits is business interruption (BI) insurance, which
covers ‘profit’ which is lost following damage to the insured’s property, such as their factory
buildings, machinery or other goods. One might argue that the insured under such a policy
has no legal right to make profit from the use of these assets but merely an expectancy of
doing so. However, because this is not a mere expectancy, but one that is founded on a legal
right (the right of ownership of the property), it gives an insurable interest.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/21

D4 Liability insurance
Everybody (except, perhaps, the reigning monarch!) faces the risk of being sued for
damages if they cause harm to another person through their negligence or other unlawful
act. They also face the risk of having to pay legal costs (such as lawyers’ fees) in defending
themselves. Liability can arise in connection with a business enterprise or through private
activities, such as the ownership of a home or the driving of a car. Furthermore, liability of
this sort is often unlimited, at least in theory. It follows that everybody has an interest that is
insurable, and is potentially unlimited.
It is sometimes stated that the subject matter of liability insurance is the potential liability
itself. However, it is more practical to say that the subject matter of a liability policy is the
insured’s wealth or their assets, which will be reduced if they have to pay damages. The
liability is merely the cause of the loss, just as fire is the potential cause of damage to the
subject matter of fire insurance.
Pervasive interest may be found in commercial contracts as a matter of commercial
convenience. In a construction contract, usually more than one party is involved, e.g.
employers, contractors and sub-contractors. One of these parties may be contractually
obliged to insure the work for all the parties involved. In such a case, the question may arise
if a sub-contractor has insurable interest in the whole of the insured work. The courts held
that due to the nature of the business relationship between the parties, all the parties
involved have insurable interest in the whole work insured.

Chapter 5
D5 Reinsurance
When insurers grant cover, they agree to pay the insured money if a particular loss or event
occurs. Having assumed a liability to pay claims under the policies that they issue, insurers
then have an insurable interest arising from that liability.
In other words, they can themselves insure against the risk of having to pay claims, or pay
claims that exceed a certain level. This is done by means of a reinsurance contract. The
subject matter of reinsurance is usually the same as that of the underlying insurance (e.g.
property of some sort), but the subject matter of the reinsurance contract is the original
insurer’s liability to indemnify their policyholders, as mentioned above.
The Marine Insurance Act 1906 (s.9) recognises that an insurer has an insurable interest in
their risk and may insure in respect of it. The Act also provides that the original insured has
no right or interest in the reinsurance, unless the policy provides otherwise.
Finally, you will recall that the leading case of Dalby v. The India and London Life Insurance
Company (1854) concerned a question of insurable interest in the reinsurance of a life policy.
 5/22 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Formation of an insurance contract – general principles

• Like any other contract, an insurance contract comes into existence once the offer made by one
party is unconditionally accepted by the other.
• The rules of consideration apply to insurance in the ordinary way – the consideration given by the
insured an insurance contract is the premium (or the promise to pay the premium) and that by the
insurer is the promise to pay claims.

Insurable interest

• Insurable interest is required for an insurance contract to be valid.

• Insurable interest means that the policyholder must have the legal right to insure, arising out of a
financial relationship recognised at law between the insured and the subject matter of insurance.
• The key elements of insurable interest are:
– a subject matter of insurance;
– the policyholder must have an economic or financial interest in that subject matter;
– the interest must be a current interest, not an expectancy; and
– the interest must be a legal interest.
• The law requires insurable interest to reduce moral hazard and to discourage wagering.
Chapter 5

• Insurable interest may arise:

– at common law – in which an interest is automatically assumed (e.g. every person is presumed to
have an unlimited interest in their own life); or
– through a contract – a person may agree to accept responsibility for something for which they
would not ordinarily be liable (e.g. a landlord, rather than the tenant, is normally liable for the
maintenance of the property which they own).

The law on insurable interest

Marine insurance
• Insurable interest is required by the Marine Insurance Act 1906, s.4.
• The Marine Insurance Act 1906, s.6 provides that the insured must be interested in the subject
matter insured at the time of the loss.
• There is no requirement of insurable interest when the contract is made, and it does not matter that
since the time of the loss the interest has ceased.
Life insurance
• Insurable interest is required by the Life Assurance Act 1774, s.1.
• In life insurance, insurable interest is required at the time when the contract is made, i.e. at
inception. However, there is no requirement to prove an interest when a claim arises on death or
maturity of the policy.
Policies on goods
• There is no statutory requirement for insurable interest and, as a consequence of the Gambling Act
2005, a policy on goods without insurable interest is enforceable in theory, even if it amounts to a
wager. However, in practice, the principle of indemnity would prevent recovery by a person who
had suffered no loss and would generally restrict any recovery to the amount of the loss.
Effect of a policy without interest
• Where there is no insurable interest, the contract is generally void.
Other insurances
• Other policies (such as policies covering land or buildings and liability insurances) may possibly be
covered by the Life Assurance Act 1774, s.1. In the case of policies on land and buildings, insurable
interest may also be required under common law. However, the position is not very clear and the
safest way to deal with it is through the principle of indemnity which requires proof of loss before
making a claim under an insurance contract.

Application of insurable interest

• The main examples of insurable interest in life insurance are for family relationships and non-
consumer (business) relationships.
Chapter 5 Insurance contract formation and insurable interest 5/23

Self-test questions
1. What essential terms of the contract must be agreed upon for an insurance policy
to be valid?
2. What type of insurance contract must be in writing?
3. Give a simple definition of insurable interest.
4. What are the key elements of insurable interest?
5. Why does the law require insurable interest?
6. At what time is insurable interest required in the case of a life insurance policy?
7. In what class of insurance is there no statutory requirement of insurable interest?
8. What is the legal effect on a policy when insurable interest is lacking?
9. Give three examples of persons who may have an insurable interest in property.

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 5
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 Pre-contractual
6
information duty
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Misrepresentation 5.4, 5.6, 5.8
B Duty of disclosure 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8
C Breach of the pre-contractual information duty 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8
Key points

Chapter 6
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• distinguish between misrepresentation and non-disclosure;
• explain the duty of disclosure;
• describe the nature of material facts;
• describe the forms which breach of the insured’s pre-contractual information duty may
take and explain the remedies available;
• explain the effects of legislation and voluntary codes of practice on the insured’s pre-
contractual information duty; and
• distinguish between the pre-contractual information duties in consumer insurance and
non-consumer (business) insurance.
 6/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
Insurance contracts are contracts of utmost good faith (Marine
Marine Insurance Act 1906 (MIA
1906), s.17). This means, in simple terms, that the insurer and the insured have a duty to deal
1906)
honestly and openly during their contractual relationship.
Under the MIA 1906, the duty of utmost good faith used to extend to the insured’s
pre-contractual information duty too. The remedy for breach of the pre-contractual
information duty (pre-contractual duty of good faith) was avoidance of the contract only.
However, the pre-contractual information duty has changed as a result of the Consumer
Act’’) in consumer insurance
Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 (‘2012 Act
and the Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015) in non-consumer insurance.
The 2012 Act came into force on 6 April 2013 and applies to all ‘consumer insurance
contracts’ made on or after that date.
A ‘consumer insurance contract’ is a contract of insurance between:
a. an individual who enters into the contract wholly or mainly for purposes unrelated to
the individual’s trade, business or profession; and
b. an individual who carries on the business of insurance and who becomes a party to the
contract by way of that business (whether or not they are in accordance with the rules
of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
2000).
Refer to The 2012 Act abolished the pre-contractual duty of disclosure for consumers and replaces
chapter 3,
section D for this with the duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation.
defective
contracts The IA 2015, which came into force in August 2016, replaces the insured’s pre-contractual
information duty which applied to non-consumers with the duty of fair presentation of the
risk – a less significant change than for consumers but one which was designed to modernise
the law for commercial insurance contracts. This new duty effectively imposes two duties on
Chapter 6

the parties to the contract:

• a duty not to misrepresent any matter relating to the insurance – i.e. a duty to tell the
truth; and
• a duty to disclose all material facts relating to the contract – i.e. a duty not to conceal
anything that is relevant.
The IA 2015 also reformed the remedy for breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk
and separated it from the duty of utmost good faith.

Be aware
The IA 2015 abolished sections 18,19 and 20 of the MIA 1906. While the IA 2015 retained
some of the principles as they applied under the MIA 1906 and the common law, it also
introduced some new provisions which were not seen in the law as it stood before.

We will consider both the old duty and the new principles of the IA 2015, and look further at
the 2012 Act in the rest of this chapter.
The legal rules on misrepresentation apply to all contracts. However, the duty of disclosure,
although not unique to insurance, applies to few other contracts, and nowhere else is it so
important.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Continuing duty of Fraudulent Innocent Material facts

disclosure misrepresentation misrepresentation

Moral hazard Non-disclosure Physical hazard Positive duty of

disclosure

Qualifying breach of the Qualifying

duty of fair presentation misrepresentation
of the risk
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/3

A Misrepresentation
You will recall that a misrepresentation is a false statement of fact that induces the other
party to enter into the contract.
To affect the validity of the agreement, the false statement must:
• be one of fact (rather than a statement of law, or of opinion or belief);
• be made by a party to the contract;
• be material (i.e. something which would influence a reasonable person in deciding
whether to enter into the agreement);
• induce the contract (i.e. be something that the other party relied upon in deciding to enter
into the agreement); and
• cause some loss or disadvantage to the person who relied upon it.
These rules apply to insurance in much the same way as they do to other types of contract.

Be aware
However, the test of ‘materiality’ is different in insurance.

A material fact in insurance is defined according to what a ‘prudent underwriter’ would Refer to
section B2 for
deem material rather than the opinion of a reasonable person. material facts

A1 Innocent and fraudulent misrepresentation

You will remember that when a person makes a false statement with the deliberate intention
of misleading another and putting them at a disadvantage there is a fraudulent
misrepresentation
misrepresentation.

Chapter 6
If the statement is false but there is no intention to mislead the other party, it can be
described as an innocent misrepresentation
misrepresentation.
The law also recognises the concept of negligent misrepresentation – where the statement is
false because the person making it did not take sufficient care to check that it was correct.
In non-consumer (business) insurance, as a matter of strict law, an insurer may seek remedy
on the grounds of misrepresentation regardless of whether the misrepresentation is
fraudulent, negligent or completely innocent.
In consumer insurance, the insurer may only seek remedy for a misrepresentation which is
negligent or fraudulent. This is because the 2012 Act imposes the duty to take reasonable
care not to misrepresent material facts.
Where the misrepresentation is fraudulent, the innocent party may have the right to claim
damages (in the tort of deceit) and an insurer which has been misled may keep any premium
that has been paid.
The question of remedies for breach of the pre-contractual information duties is discussed in
more detail later.

A2 Examples of misrepresentation in insurance

Example 6.1
The following are examples of misrepresentation in insurance:
• A proposer for theft insurance says that the premises are protected by a burglar alarm
when they are not.
• A proposer for motor insurance declares that their car has not been modified in any
way when it has.
• A proposer for life insurance gives their age as 25 when, in fact, they are aged 35.
• A proposer for property insurance states that the property is in a good state of repair
when, in fact, it is in a poor condition (e.g. it had a leaking roof or broken windows).
• A proposer for property insurance implies, in respect of a previous fire at his home, that
the fire had occurred at other premises and had been the fault of contractors. The fire
had been at his house and the contractors were the insured’s alter ego.
 6/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Consider this
this…
…
What effect would these misrepresentations have upon the application for insurance and
the terms offered by the underwriter?

B Duty of disclosure
It is useful to compare insurance contracts with contracts for the sale of goods.

Consider this
this…
…
We considered earlier in this text the general rules affecting contracts for the sale of
goods. Remind yourself about caveat emptor.

Contracts for the sale of goods are subject to the doctrine of ‘caveat emptor’ (‘let the buyer
beware’).
Although the buyer of goods is given considerable protection by statutes such as Sale of
Goods Act 1979 and the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (which applies to commercial
contracts generally but not to insurance), the basic responsibility of each party is still to
make sure that they make a good bargain. This is largely because the buyer is able to
examine the goods, assess their quality, and judge for themselves whether the price is fair.
Therefore, so long as neither party positively misleads the other, and any questions which
are asked are answered truthfully, the contract cannot be avoided simply because one party
finds that they have made a poor bargain. In particular, neither party is required to disclose
information that is not asked for.

Example 6.2
This means, for example, that if you are selling a car, you are under no positive duty to
Chapter 6

disclose anything about it to the buyer (although, of course, if you do give information it
must be correct).

B1 Positive duty of disclosure in non-consumer

(business) insurance
Consider this
this…
…
A contract for the sale of goods will involve tangible property, such as the car in our
example above. However, the parties to an insurance contract are dealing with a product
that is intangible. How will this affect the position of both parties?

First, it affects the proposer:

• Unlike a car, the insurance policy cannot be tested by the proposer before it is bought.
• The proposer will have to trust that the insurers will pay their claims properly when the
time comes.
• Equally, the proposer will not know the details of the cover that they are to receive unless
the insurers make the information available to them.
Second, it affects the insurers:
• On the face of it, the proposer is the only one who has full knowledge about the subject
matter of insurance – the thing to be insured.

Example 6.3
If a person wishes to insure a car (rather than buy or sell one) the insurance company will
only know what they tell them about it. If the car has been modified, or it is not
roadworthy, the insurers will have no practical means of knowing unless the proposer
discloses the information.

For these reasons, in business insurance there is a positive duty of disclosure going beyond
a mere duty not to misrepresent matters which are, in fact, disclosed.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/5

Case example
Scrutton, LJ, summed up the duty in Rozanes v. Bowen (1928)
(1928):
As the underwriter knows nothing and the man who comes to him to ask him to
insure knows everything, it is the duty of the assured…to make a full disclosure to
the underwriter without being asked of all the material circumstances. This is
expressed by saying it is a contract of the utmost good faith.

In this case, the existence of the duty is explained by the fact that the insured is likely to
know more about the subject matter than the insurer. The judgment assumes that an insurer
will not be able to discover the full facts about a risk unless the proposer volunteers the
necessary information.
This was certainly true in the early days of marine insurance. Communications were poor and
a typical underwriter, sitting in a coffee house in London, would otherwise find it very
difficult to get information about the ships and others risks that were offered for insurance,
many of which were in distant parts of the globe. It is less true today, because travel is easy
and information is both abundant and easily transferred by electronic means. On the other
hand, it still takes time and money to collect information, and both can be saved by getting
details of the risk directly from the person who applies for insurance.

Be aware
All this has led to some debate as to what the extent of a proposer’s duty should be, and
some pressure for reform of the law. The question of reform, and the alternative approach
in some other legal systems is discussed below.

The IA 2015 does not substantively change the position; s.3(4)(a) of the Act provides that
the insured is required to disclose every material circumstance which the insured knows or
ought to know (the same requirement as that which previously applied under MIA 1906) s.18.

Chapter 6
Section 4 of the IA 2015 defines what the insured ‘knows’ and ‘ought to know’ for the
purposes of the duty of disclosure in s.3. Insureds have a positive duty to seek out
information about their business by undertaking a reasonable search and by making
enquiries of their staff and agents (such as their insurance broker).
The IA 2015, as a new provision, sets out that the duty of disclosure is complied with if the
insured gives the insurer sufficient information to put a prudent underwriter on notice that it
needs to make further enquiries for the purpose of revealing those material circumstances
(s.3(4)(b).
Moreover, the IA 2015 brings a detailed provision on determining ‘knowledge of the insured’
(s.4). If the insured is an individual (such as in the case of a sole trader or practitioner), it will
be taken to know anything which is known by the person or people who are ‘responsible for
the insured’s insurance’, in addition to its own knowledge.
Section 4(3) sets out the individuals whose knowledge will be directly attributed to the
insured where the insured is not an individual. For example, in the case of a company, they
are the insured’s senior management and the person or people responsible for the insured’s
insurance. The definition of a person ‘responsible for the insured’s insurance’ is expected to
cover, for example, the insured’s risk manager if they have one, and any employee who
assists in the collection of data or negotiates the terms of the insurance. It may also include
an individual acting as the insured’s broker. Section 4(6)(b) defines ‘senior management’,
this is intended to include (and be more or less limited to) board members or their
equivalent in a non-corporate organisation.

B1A Agent
Agent’’s duty
In non-consumer (business) insurance, the insurer can seek remedy for the breach of the fair
presentation duty if the insured’s agent breaches the duty. Section 4 of the IA 2015 regulates
this principle in its provision that what is known to the person who is responsible for the
insured’s insurance is attributed to the insured.
In common law, a person is responsible for the acts of their agent and so a careless or
reckless misrepresentation by an agent is treated as if it had been made by the principal.
This principle is maintained in consumer insurance by s.12(5) of the 2012 Act, which states
‘Nothing in this Act affects the circumstances in which a person is bound by the acts or
omissions of the person’s agent’.
 6/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Under the 2012 Act, an intermediary is considered to be the insurer’s agent if the
intermediary:
• is the appointed representative of the insurer;
• collects information from the consumer with express authority from the insurer to do so;
or
• has authority to bind the insurer to cover and does so.
In all other cases, it is presumed that the agent is the consumer’s agent unless, in light of the
relevant circumstances, the consumer proves otherwise.

B2 Material facts
We turn now to the question of what, exactly, the parties must disclose for non-consumer
(business) insurance.
The essential duty is to disclose all facts or circumstances that are material to the risk.
This leads, in turn, to the crucial question of how a material fact is defined.
The standard definition for non-consumer (business) is provided by s.7 of the IA 2015. This
states that every circumstance is material…
if it would influence the judgment of a prudent insurer in determining whether to
take the risk and, if so, on what terms.
This definition is regarded as a codification of the common law which applies to all insurance
contracts.
Because the duty as set out under the IA 2015 is a pre-contractual duty, the materiality of a
fact is judged by reference to the position as it existed at the date of placing the risk.
We will consider some aspects of the definition in s.7(3) of non-consumer (business)
Chapter 6

insurance.

B2A Prudent insurer

First, it should be noted that material facts are again defined only in terms of what an insurer,
rather than an insured, would wish to know.
Second, although the term ‘prudent insurer’ suggests a rather cautious individual, the courts
have held that this term has the same meaning as ‘reasonable insurer’; thus, the test is an
objective one.

B2B What does ‘influence the judgment

judgment’’ mean?
This is an important question.
If there is non-disclosure
non-disclosure, and the insurers wish to avoid the policy, do they have to prove
that a hypothetical ‘reasonable insurer’ would have declined the risk or asked for a higher
premium if the full facts had been known?

Case example
In Container Transport International Inc. v. Oceanus Mutual Underwriting Association
(1984), the Court of Appeal held that insurers do not have to prove that
(Bermuda) Ltd (1984)
knowledge of that fact in question would have changed the decision of a reasonable
insurer. They held that the words ‘influence the judgment’ simply mean that the fact must
be one which a typical, reasonable underwriter would have wanted to know about when
forming their opinion of the risk.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/7

Case example
The decision in the CTI case was affirmed by the House of Lords in Pan Atlantic Insurance
Co v. Pine Top Insurance Co. (1994)
(1994).
However, their Lordships considered a second question in the Pine Top case and
introduced a second element.
• What if the fact in question was material, in that a typical, reasonable underwriter
would have wanted to know about it, but it would have made no difference to the
decision of the actual underwriter who took the risk – perhaps because the actual
underwriter was not especially ‘prudent’?
• In answer to this question their Lordships held that, in order to avoid the contract, it
was not enough to show that a material fact was not disclosed.
• It was also necessary to show that the underwriter in question was induced by the
non-disclosure into entering the contract on the relevant terms.

This test, known as the ‘actual inducement test’, introduces a subjective element and brings
the law on non-disclosure into line with the law on misrepresentation.
With regards to the proof of inducement, the courts also discussed the following questions:
• Where materiality is proved by the insurer, should it be presumed that the insurer was
induced to enter into the contract by a material non-disclosure or misrepresentation?
• Would such a presumption shift the burden of proof from the insurer to the insured,
requiring the insured to prove that the insurer was not induced to enter the contract?
The courts rejected that the general presumption of inducement would appear as soon as
materiality is proved. However, they also recognised that proof of inducement is a matter of
fact and decided that inducement may be presumed in some rare cases, depending on the
facts involved.

Chapter 6
For example, in St Paul Fire v. McConnell Dowell Construction (1995) three of the four
different underwriters who had subscribed to the risk proved inducement, but the fourth
was unable to produce evidence to this effect. The court accepted presumption of
inducement in this case. Another situation in which the presumption may arise is where the
leading underwriter and the following underwriters have to prove inducement.
The IA 2015 provides that an insurer may seek remedy for breach of the duty of fair
presentation of the risk only if the insured’s breach is qualifying. In other words, only if the
insurer either:
• would not have entered into the contract at all; or
• would have entered into the contract on different terms.
Therefore, inducement is now a statutory test for a remedy for breach of the duty of fair
presentation of the risk (s.8(1)).
Cases of non-disclosure and misrepresentation
The question to be asked in order to prove inducement differs in cases of non-disclosure and
misrepresentation:
• With regards to non-disclosure, it is ‘what would the insurer have done if the true position
had been disclosed to him prior to the conclusion of the contract?’
• With regards to misrepresentation, in Involnert Management Inc v. Aprilgrange Ltd (The
Galetea (2015), Leggatt J held that it is ‘what would the insurer have done if there had
Galetea)) (2015)
been no misrepresentation?’, but not ‘what would the insurer have done if the insured had
told the truth?’
 6/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Case example
In The Galetea, the subject matter insured was a yacht which was purchased in 2007 for
€13m. It was insured for the same amount from year to year, without any thought being
given to whether this was still the appropriate insurance value.
When the yacht was insured in 2011 for the same amount, the actual value was
approximately €7m. Leggatt J decided that if the insurer had been told the actual value of
the yacht, it would not have insured the yacht for €13m.
However, if misrepresentation had not been made and, for example, the value on the
proposal form had been left blank, this would not have made any difference to the insurer
as it regularly insured yachts without being given such information.

B2C Need there be a connection between the ‘missing facts

facts’’ and
the loss? (The ‘nexus
nexus’’ question)
The issue of non-disclosure usually arises when there is a dispute about a claim under the
policy.

Consider this
this…
…
What is the position if the proposer fails to disclose several previous burglaries when they
arrange their household insurance and the insurers discover this fact when investigating a
subsequent fire claim?
In fact, even if there were no connection at all between the fire claim and the previous
burglaries (which is likely) the insurers would have the right to seek remedy for
non-disclosure.

This is because it is the relevance of a particular fact to the risk as a whole that is the issue,
not its relevance to the circumstances of any particular claim.
Chapter 6

Therefore, the right to avoid the contract does not depend upon there being any connection
(‘nexus’) between the non-disclosure (or misrepresentation) and the circumstances of
the loss.
In fact, if insurers discover an actionable breach of the pre-contractual information duty at
any time, they can seek remedy for the breach. They do not have to wait for a claim to
happen before doing so.
Refer to You should be aware of the restrictions imposed by ICOBS in relation to taking coverage
section C3
for ICOBS points against consumer policyholders.

B2D Consumer insurance

As will be explained in section C1C, the insurer, under the 2012 Act, can seek remedy for
breach of the duty only if the misrepresentation was caused by the consumer’s failure to
exercise reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation, and if the insurer proves
inducement. The ‘reasonable care’ test replaces the materiality test with one which focuses
not on the objective views of the insurer, but rather on whether the insured has acted with
reasonable care. Therefore, no objective test of materiality arises under consumer insurance.
Instead of materiality, the 2012 Act gives examples of things which may need to be taken
into account to determine whether or not a consumer has taken reasonable care not to make
a misrepresentation, such as:
• the type of consumer insurance contract in question, and its target market;
• any relevant explanatory material which is publicity produced or authorised by the
insurer;
• how clear and how specific the insurer’s questions were;
• in the case of a failure to respond to the insurer’s questions regarding the renewal or
variation of a consumer insurance contract, how clearly the insurer communicated the
importance of answering those questions (or the possible consequences of failing to do
so); and
• whether or not an agent was acting for the consumer.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/9

B3 Matters which must be disclosed

In the majority of cases, the person who applies for insurance will complete a proposal form.
This will contain specific questions designed to obtain information about the risk that the
insurers need. Furthermore, large or abnormal risks are likely to be inspected by the insurers,
whose surveyor will be able to identify hazardous features for themselves. Nevertheless, if
the proposer is aware of something that is material, they must declare it, whether or not they
are asked to do so.
Whether any particular thing is material or not is a question of fact, to be decided by the trial
judge if there is a dispute: we have also seen that there is an ‘actual inducement’ test.
The insured is under the duty to disclose every material circumstance which the insured
knows or ought to know. Under the IA 2015, the duty is complied with where a material
circumstance is not itself disclosed, but the proposer has given the insurer sufficient
‘signposts’ which would lead a prudent insurer to make further inquiries which, when
answered, would reveal material circumstances. This is intended to ensure that insurers are
engaged in the disclosure and fair presentation process.
In line with the common law rule, the Act requires disclosure of information which the
insured knows or ought to know. The word ‘knowledge’ of an individual for this purpose is
defined by the Act as including:
not only actual knowledge, but also matters which the individual suspected, and of
which the individual would have had knowledge but for deliberately refraining from
confirming them or enquiring about them.
This is a codification of the ‘blind-eye’ test which has been adopted by the common law. If a
fraud has been perpetrated on the insured by one or more of the individuals who are
responsible for the insured’s insurance or, in the case of a legal person, an individual who is
part of the insured’s senior management, knowledge of that fraud is not imputed to the

Chapter 6
insured.
While the MIA 1906 did not provide a list as such, the IA 2015 has brought some guidance as
to determine whether a fact is material or not. Under s.7(4), examples of things which may
be material circumstances are:
• special or unusual facts relating to the risk;
• any particular concerns which led the insured to seek insurance cover for the risk; or
• anything which those concerned with the class of insurance and field of activity in
question would generally understand as being something that should be dealt with in a
fair presentation of risks of the type in question.

Be aware
However, the materiality of some types of fact is so well established that the need to
disclose them is unlikely to be disputed. Equally, it is well established that some matters
need not be disclosed, including a number of categories laid down in the IA 2015,
section 3(5).

At common law, matters requiring disclosure can be divided into:

• those that relate to the physical characteristics of the risk, which we can call physical
hazard; and
• those which relate to the character and behaviour of the insured, which we can call moral
hazard
hazard.
However, as we shall see, the dividing line between the two is not always absolutely clear.
 6/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B3A Physical hazard

Facts in this category include the following:
• An adequate description of the subject matter of insurance. Of course, the insurers will
generally ask questions about this in the proposal form or, if no proposal form is used,
carry out a survey of the risk.
• Details of any unusual features of the subject matter (such as non-standard construction
in the case of buildings) which make the risk worse than a normal risk of its class.
It may be helpful to look at different classes of insurance and give examples of facts
concerning physical hazard which require disclosure:

Example 6.4
insurance: The construction of the building, the nature of its use, fire detection and
Fire insurance
fire fighting equipment.
insurance: The nature of stock, its value and the nature of security precautions.
Theft insurance
insurance: The type of car, whether it has been specially adapted, details of regular
Motor insurance
drivers.
cargo: The type of cargo, the terms of sale, how the cargo is carried, its
Marine cargo
destination, whether containerised.
assurance: Age, previous medical history.
Life assurance

It should be emphasised that these are only examples of material facts – it is not by any
means a complete list.

B3B Moral hazard

Chapter 6

Moral hazard refers to aspects of the risk that depend on the character and behaviour of the
insured himself.

Be aware
As we have said, the dividing line between moral and physical hazard is not always
precise, and some of the examples mentioned below may relate to physical hazard as well
as moral hazard.

Identity of the insured

The Equality Act 2010 repealed and replaced various pieces of legislation that outlawed
discrimination, including the Race Relations Act 1976
1976, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and
the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
1995. The 2010 Act replaced these with a united measure
that outlaws discrimination on the grounds of ‘protected characteristics’. These are listed
under s.2 as:
• age;
• disability;
• gender reassignment;
• marriage and civil partnership;
• pregnancy and maternity;
• race;
• religion or belief;
• sex; and
• sexual orientation.
After 21 December 2012, as a result of an implementation into UK law of a European Court
ruling (the Test Achats (2011) decision), insurers are no longer able to consider gender when
pricing insurance policies. The main policies to be affected are those which use gender as a
factor in pricing for risk: motor insurance, annuities and life insurance.
Insurers have long taken the view that a person’s occupation may indicate moral hazard and
have applied special terms to some occupational groups, for various classes of insurance.
There is no law to prohibit this.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/11

Criminal acts
A proposer with a history of criminal activity presents the strongest indication of potential
moral hazard. Previous criminal offences are, therefore, always likely to be regarded as
material by the courts unless the offence(s) in question are very minor or very old.
There need not necessarily be a connection between the type of criminal offence and the
type of insurance proposed for.

Case example
Thus, in Woolcott v. Sun Alliance and London Insurance (1978)
(1978), a twelve-year-old
conviction for armed robbery was held material to a proposal for household buildings
insurance.

Although decisions of this sort have been criticised, they are clearly justifiable, because any
criminal offence of dishonesty is relevant to a contract which requires honest dealing by the
parties.
Previous losses and claims under other policies
These may be evidence of extra physical hazard or moral hazard. In either case they are
material.
Any other adverse insurance history
Examples include a refusal to insure by a previous insurer or the imposition of a loaded
premium or special terms. Again, extra moral or physical hazard may be involved.

Be aware
In the case of marine insurance, there is no duty to disclose that a risk has been previously
refused by other underwriters. The explanation of the marine rule is that it would be
unreasonable to require a broker in the (Lloyd’s) marine market to remember and disclose
details of each individual underwriter who had declined the risk.

Chapter 6
Details of other policies currently in force
If the insured already has a fire policy covering their factory, this will reduce the liability of Refer to
chapter 10 for
the insurers under a second policy because the policies would share any loss between contribution
them – this principle is referred to as contribution. However, in the case of non-indemnity
insurances such as life and personal accident (where a person can buy as much cover as they
can afford), most insurers would want to know if the proposer was already heavily insured,
and the failure to disclose this may be a breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk.
As mentioned previously, the pre-contractual duty of disclosure does not apply to consumer
insurance. Therefore, in consumer insurance, the insurer is expected to ask questions about
other policies currently in force.

B4 Matters which need not be disclosed

Some things need not be disclosed, even if they are material. They include the following.
Matters of law
Everyone is deemed to know the law.
Factors which lessen the risk
There is no requirement to disclose factors that reduce the risk – i.e. make it better than a
normal risk of its type. For example, the subject matter insured, a yacht, is laid up in a secure
area which is guarded by security personnel.

Example 6.5
• The installation of an alarm system for a theft risk; or
• automatic sprinklers for a fire risk.

Facts known by the insurers

Rather obviously, there is no duty to tell insurers things that they already know. The
information does not have to come from the proposer. In fact, it does not seem to matter
where the information comes from, provided the source is reliable. The IA 2015 sets out the
standards used to determine what the insurer knows in this respect (s.5).
 6/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Facts which the insurers ought to know

In some cases, the courts take the view that, while the insurers might not have actual
knowledge of the circumstances, they have ‘constructive knowledge’, that is, they ought to
know of them. This category covers a number of situations, including the following:
• Facts which are notorious (i.e. matters of common knowledge).
• An insurer is deemed to know about things that are in the public domain, such as the fact
that a state of war exists in some countries.
• Facts about the trade which the underwriters insure.
Insurers are deemed to be aware of the normal trade practices in the businesses they insure
and the usual risks associated with them. However, this does not necessarily extend to
events that have affected the trade in question, even if they are quite recent.
Information that is waived by the insurers
Waiver may be expressed or implied. Express waiver may occur if the insurer agrees, by an
express clause in the insurance contract, to waive the duty of good faith or its right to seek
remedy for the breach of the duty.
In some cases, a court may rule that it was unnecessary for the proposer to disclose certain
material facts, because the actions of the insurers suggested that they were prepared to
waive (i.e. do without) disclosure of them (implied waiver). This covers a number of
situations, including the following:
• Facts about which the insurers have been ‘put on enquiry’.
• Where insurers have been ‘put on enquiry’ about things that are material, they may not be
able to plead non-disclosure if they then fail to follow the matter up.

Example 6.6
The most common example is the proposer who writes a phrase such as ‘see your records’
Chapter 6

on the proposal form in answer to a question about their previous claims history. Insurers
will be regarded as having waived their right to the full information if they do not pursue
the matter further.

Be aware
If a proposer gives no answer at all to a question on a proposal form – i.e. leaves that part
of the form blank – the position is less clear, but if the insurer goes on to issue the policy,
this could also be taken as a waiver.

This principle is now codified by s.3(4)(b) of the IA 2015. Accordingly, the insured satisfies
the duty of disclosure if it discloses sufficient information to put a prudent insurer on notice
that it needs to make further enquiries for the purpose of revealing those material
circumstances. If the insurer elects not to ask for further information about this matter, it is
assumed to have waived the duty of disclosure for the further information which could have
been revealed by it asking additional questions.
Facts that are outside the scope of specific questions
If an insurer asks a question of limited scope, by implication there is a waiver of related
information that goes beyond the scope of the question.

Example 6.7
If an insurer asks for details of all accidents or losses that have occurred in the last five
years, there is no need to disclose accidents that occurred more than five years ago, even
if they are material.

Facts which an inspection of the risk should have revealed

If the insurer carries out a survey or inspection of the risk, there is no duty to disclose facts
that should have been obvious to the surveyor or which any reasonable surveyor would have
enquired about. However, this principle does not extend to unusual features of a risk that a
conventional inspection would not reveal.
It goes without saying that the proposer must not actively conceal hazardous features of
the risk.
Facts which the proposer does not know
As a general rule, there is no duty to disclose facts which the proposer does not know.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/13

In marine insurance there is a duty to disclose ‘constructive knowledge’, a term mentioned

above which, in this context, refers to facts that the proposer ought to know in the ordinary
course of their business.
An insured ought to know what should reasonably have been revealed by a reasonable
search of information available to the insured (whether the search is conducted by making
enquiries or by any other means) (IA 2015 s.4(6)).
An insured is not taken to know confidential information known to the insured’s agent if the
information was acquired by the insured’s agent (or by an employee of that agent) through
a business relationship with a person who is not connected with the insurance contract (IA
2015 s.4(4)).
Convictions that are ‘spent
spent’’
Convictions that are ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
1974, as amended by
the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO)
(LASPO), need not be
disclosed. The LASPO changes have applied in England and Wales since 10 March 2014 and
rehabilitation periods for both community orders and custodial sentences now comprise the
period of the sentence plus an additional specified period.

Example 6.8
Under LASPO, an adult offender sentenced to two-and-a-half years custody must disclose
their conviction for the period of the sentence plus a further four years (giving a total
rehabilitation period of six-and-a-half years). A fine must be disclosed for one year from
the date of conviction.

Be aware
Under the LASPO changes, a conviction resulting in a custodial sentence of more than
four years imprisonment is never ‘spent’. This applies to both adults and minors under the
age of 18.

Chapter 6
B5 Duration of the duty
This section looks at the rules that govern the time when the duty of disclosure applies.

B5A Common law rule

At common law, the duty of disclosure begins at the commencement of negotiations for an
insurance contract and ends when the contract is formed.
It is formed at the point where there is an offer and unqualified acceptance. There is no
general duty to disclose new material facts that arise during the currency of the contract.

Consider this
this…
…
Why is this a logical rule?

This is a sensible rule because the insurers calculate the premium on the basis of the risk as it
appears at inception and agree to run the risk, for better or worse, for an agreed period of
time. The insured has, in turn, no right to a reduction in premium if the risk should improve in
the course of the policy term.
The duty of fair presentation of the risk under the IA 2015 also applies at the pre-contractual
period (s.3(1)). The sections of the IA 2015 on the duty of fair presentation of the risk apply in
relation to variations to non-consumer insurance contracts (schedule 1, part 2, paragraph 7).

B5B Position at renewal

If the insurers invite renewal of the contract the duty of disclosure is revived.
The insured will, therefore, have the duty to declare any changes in the risk or new material
circumstances that have arisen during the current period of insurance. If the insured makes
no such declaration, they will be taken to have affirmed that the facts relating to the risk
stand unchanged.
Note that representations made in negotiations for one contract will not automatically apply
to the new contract made upon renewal.
 6/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Long-term insurances
Assuming that the product is a non-consumer (business) insurance policy, in the case of life
insurance and certain associated classes, the position is different. In this case, the insurer is
obliged to accept the renewal premium if the insured wishes to continue the contract. There
is no fresh duty of disclosure. In fact, the term ‘renewal’ is misleading, because these are
long-term contracts that do not cease at the end of the year. Annual payment is merely a
convenient alternative to a single lump-sum premium payable at the beginning.

Example 6.9
If a person who had been insured under a life insurance policy for ten years was told by a
doctor that they were suffering from a terminal illness, there would be no legal
requirement to inform the insurers of this fact. However, this fact would have to be
disclosed in the case of an annual personal accident and sickness policy.

B5C Continuing duty of disclosure

Both the IA 2015 and the 2012 Act now regulate the pre-contractual information duties.
Previously, under the MIA 1906, the duty of good faith covered both the pre-contractual
duty of disclosure and the post-contractual duties. Controversies arose as the only remedy
for breach of the duty of good faith was avoidance of the policy. When applied to a post-
contractual breach, this remedy created unjust results as the claims which were paid by the
insurer before the breach had to be returned to the insurer.
The continuing duty of disclosure is a duty to disclose new material facts affecting the risk
during the currency of the contract. It occurs in two cases only.

Be aware
Although the 2012 Act abolishes the pre-contractual duty of disclosure in consumer
insurance, consumers, as well as non-consumers, must still abide by the continuing duty of
Chapter 6

disclosure as it applies after the contract has been formed.

Changes in the contract

The first case is where there is an agreed change in the contract during the period of
insurance. In these circumstances, the insured has a duty to notify material facts which relate
to the change.

Example 6.10
Where the insured changes their car or wishes to add new drivers to their motor policy,
they clearly have a duty to disclose to their insurers all material facts relating to the
vehicle or drivers concerned when making the change.

Similarly, if a policyholder wished to increase the sum insured under their fire policy, they
would have to disclose details of any new property that they had acquired or any other
relevant circumstances connected with the change.
Increase of risk clauses
The second case in which a continuing duty of disclosure exists is where it is imposed on the
insured contractually – in other words, where the policy requires continuing disclosure. This
is usually achieved through a ‘change in risk’ or ‘increase in risk’ clause incorporated in the
policy wording.

Example 6.11
Clauses of this sort have been included in UK fire policies for many years and appear also
in contracts providing ‘all risks’ cover on business or industrial property, which are now
sometimes used in place of the conventional fire policy.

The usual form of wording provides, among other things, that if there is any ‘alteration’ in the
property insured which increases the risk of damage, cover on such property will cease
unless the alteration is admitted (i.e. notified to and accepted) by the insurers. It appears
that the insured will be in breach of a condition of this sort only when the change or
alteration is permanent.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/15

These clauses are usual in commercial property and business interruption policies but less
common elsewhere. However, some insurers have sought to introduce them in household
policies and, somewhat controversially, in motor policies also.

Activity
In terms of increase of risk clauses, what types of obligation due you think an insurer may
look to include in personal motor, travel or pet insurance policies ?

The IA 2015 separates the duty of fair presentation of the risk from the duty of good faith in
non-consumer insurance. The remedy for breach of the duty of fair presentation has been
amended and, in certain cases, alternative remedies to avoidance of the contract have been
introduced. The Act expressly states that the duty is on the insured and is pre-contractual.
Section 17 of the MIA 1906 retains the duty of utmost good faith which may materialise in the
form of the duty to act openly, honestly and in fair dealing throughout the contractual
relationship. However, s.17 of the MIA 1906 does not set out a remedy for breach of the duty
of utmost good faith. Instead, the insurer should include a contractual remedy for the
matters that it wishes the insured to disclose at the post-contractual stage. If no express
contractual remedy is set out by the parties, the court will decide them as the justice
requires one in each case.

B5D Good faith in the claims process

Section 17 of the MIA 1906 provides that a general duty of good faith exists throughout the
currency of the policy.
This is most significant if there is a breach of good faith, and particularly fraud, during the
claims process. The law relating to claims generally is dealt with in chapter 10, but it is
convenient to discuss the duty of good faith in the context of claims at this point.

Chapter 6
Case example
The leading case on this subject is the decision of the House of Lords in Manifest Shipping
Co. v. Uni-Polaris Shipping Co. (2001) (The Star Sea)
Sea).
In The Star Sea, the insured vessel of that name put to sea in what was held to be an
unseaworthy condition because of defects in its fire-fighting equipment and the master’s
ignorance regarding the operation of the equipment. Failure to extinguish a fire on board
caused the loss that was the subject of the claim.
In fact, two other vessels owned by the insured had previously been lost as a result of
engine-room fires and two experts’ reports had drawn the attention of the insured to the
defects involved. However, these reports were not disclosed to the insurers at the time of
the claim in respect of The Star Sea, which would not have been valid if the insured had
known of the ship’s unseaworthiness when it put to sea. The insurers argued that failure to
disclose the reports was a breach of the insured’s continuing duty of good faith.
In fact, the insurers failed to prove that the insured knew of the unseaworthiness, but the
case is important because it clarified the extent of the duty of good faith in the context of
claims.

The general effect of the decision in The Star Sea is to confirm the existence of a general
duty, on both parties to an insurance contract, to act in good faith throughout the currency
of the insurance. There is no dispute as to the existence of the post-contractual duty of good
faith but in terms of the period of time that it applies, The Star Sea held that it is superseded,
once the parties become engaged in litigation, by the rules contained in the Civil
Procedure Rules.
 6/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

It is important to note that:

• making a fraudulent claim may be in breach of the duty to act in good faith, but the
remedy for making a fraudulent claim is expressly stated by the IA 2015 as forfeiture of
the entire claim;
• the right to repudiate the contract may arise in the case of actual fraud in the claims
process, as set out by the IA 2015; that is, a deliberate attempt to deceive the insurers and
gain an advantage from doing so;
• the falsehood in question must be substantial (not trivial), wilful (e.g. not merely
negligent) and material in the sense that it had a decisive effect on the insurer’s
willingness to pay; and
• the burden of proving fraud rests on the insurer and the standard of proof required is
likely to be rather higher than the usual standard of the civil law.
Refer to Claiming for a loss that one knows has not occurred, or for property that has not been lost, is
chapter 8,
section D for clearly fraud. The position with regard to an exaggerated claim is not quite so clear because
fraudulent claims some allowance must be made for negotiation between the insurer and the insured, who
may well think that they will get less than they are entitled to unless they ask for more.
However, if the court believes that the insured has attempted to gain a dishonest advantage,
they may well say it is fraud, even if the amounts involved are not very large.

Case example
In Galloway v. Guardian Royal Exchange (UK) Ltd (1999) a case in which a burglary claim
for £16,000 was genuine up to £14,000 but fraudulent for the balance of £2,000, the
court held that the whole claim was forfeited.

If fraud is proven, the whole claim is forfeited and the insurer may also terminate the
contract, should it wish to do so.
Chapter 6

Remedy for fraudulent claims

The IA 2015 codifies the remedy for fraudulent claims in both consumer and non-consumer
insurance. Section 12 of the Act states that the insurer is not liable to pay the claim if the
insured makes a fraudulent claim. Moreover, the Act clarifies that the insurer may recover
from the insured any sums paid by the insurer to the insured in respect of the claim.
The insurer may, by notice to the insured, treat the contract as having been terminated with
effect from the time of the fraudulent act. Termination does not affect the rights and
obligations of the parties to the contract with respect to a relevant event occurring before
the time of the fraudulent act (s.12(3)).
The IA 2015 aims to enact remedies for fraudulent claims in group insurance. It applies to, for
example, a group life policy. That is, a policy whereby an employer takes out a policy in their
own name but every employee is a beneficiary under the policy. An employee who is injured
at work will be paid by the insurer. However, if, for example, an employee fakes an injury and
makes a claim, they will lose their rights, but the policy itself will be unaffected and other
employees will still be able to make claims (s.13).

Be aware
You should note that some insurance policies (including most commercial property
insurances) have an express ‘forfeiture’ or ‘fraud clause’. This typically states that in the
event of a fraudulent claim ‘all benefit under the contract shall be forfeited’ or that the
‘entire policy shall be void’.

The effect of this might be to invalidate even previous ‘honest’ claims, which would then
have to be repaid to the insurer.
The validity of such clauses is subject to s.16 and s,17 of the IA 2015. Accordingly, parties may
not contract out of the provisions of the IA 2015 on fraudulent claims in consumer insurance
to the detriment of the insured. It is permitted to contract out of such provisions in business
insurance to the detriment of the insured, but only if the insurer satisfies the transparency
requirement under s.17.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/17

Activity
Find a business property wording used by your employer or on the internet. Does it
contain a fraud clause? If so, do you think the insured will be treated more harshly under
the fraud clause than they would under IA 2015 if fraud was established?

Recently, the Supreme Court held that an insurer who discovers fraud after a settlement has
been reached with the claimant may set aside the settlement if the requirements of
misrepresentation are proved.

Case example
In Hayward v. Zurich Insurance Company plc (2016)(2016), Mr Haywood made a claim against
his employers, asserting that he had suffered a serious back injury at work. The employer’s
liability insurers, Zurich, argued that the claim of £419,316.59 was excessive. However, on
trial Mr H succeeded on liability and later settled for £134,973.11.
In 2005, Mr H’s neighbours approached his employer and stated their belief that his claim
of having suffered a serious back injury was not consistent with his conduct and activities,
and that he had recovered fully from the injury about a year before the settlement. Zurich
commenced proceedings for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation and, in the
alternative, avoidance of the settlement agreement.
On trial, the judge found that Mr H had deliberately exaggerated the extent of his injuries
at the original trial. The judge, therefore, set aside the settlement money and instead
awarded Mr H damages in the sum of £14,720. Mr H was required to repay the balance.
The Supreme Court later supported this decision in its ruling that it was enough that
Zurich was able to show that the misrepresentation was a material cause of it entering
into the settlement.

It is important to be aware that if the facts above were to arise now, it is likely that the entire

Chapter 6
claim would be struck out due to the application of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act
2015 s.57 (under which a claim for personal injury will fail where the claimant is found to
have been fundamentally dishonest in relation to part of the claim, even if part of the claim is
genuine).

B6 Compulsory insurances
The pre-contractual information duties apply to compulsory insurances in exactly the same
way as they do to other classes.

Consider this
this…
…
What are the major classes of compulsory insurance in the UK?

In the case of employers’ liability insurance, there are no special rules at all. If the proposer is
guilty of misrepresentation or non-disclosure, the insurers may avoid the policy in its
entirety.
The other main compulsory class in the UK is motor insurance. Again, there is a basic right to
avoid for breach of the pre-contractual information duties. Under s.151 of the Road Traffic
Act 1988 there is a special procedure which allows the victim of a road accident who has
obtained a judgment (order for damages) against a guilty motorist to claim directly from the
latter’s insurers. However, s.152(2) specifically allows insurers to refuse payment if the policy
was ‘obtained’ by non-disclosure or misrepresentation, although in this case the insurers
must obtain a declaration from the court confirming the right to avoid.
Since the 2012 Act came into force, it should be noted that the remedy of avoidance under
s.152(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 can be sought only for situations which entitle the
insurer to avoid the contract within the 2012 Act, i.e. only where the insurer proves a
misrepresentation. The IA 2015 also provides a proportionate remedy, similar to
qualifying misrepresentation
the 2012 Act, and the insurer can avoid the contract only if the requirements of schedule 2,
part 1 of the Act are met.
 6/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

C Breach of the pre-contractual

information duty
A breach of the pre-contractual information duty may occur on the part of the insured only.
If the insurer breaches the pre-contractual information duty, it will be considered under s.17
of the MIA 1906.
We will now look at each of these situations.

Be aware
You should note that, here, we are considering breach of the pre-contractual information
duty in relation to the negotiation, alteration or renewal of a policy and not in the context
of claims (which we have discussed already).

C1 Breach by the insured

C1A Non-consumer (business) insurance
In non-consumer (business) insurance, a breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk
may take the form of:
• misrepresentation, which may be either innocent or fraudulent; or
• non-disclosure, which may be innocent or fraudulent.
The IA 2015 introduces a proportionate remedy for breach of the duty of fair presentation of
the risk. The first point to note is that the insurer has a remedy against the insured for a
breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk, only if the breach is ‘qualifying’. A
qualifying breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk is where the insurer shows that,
but for the breach, it:
Chapter 6

• would not have entered into the contract of insurance at all; or

• would have done so only on different terms (s.8(1)).
The insurer may avoid the contract if a qualifying breach was deliberate or reckless
(schedule 1). In such a case, the insurer need not return any of the premiums paid
(schedule 1).
If a qualifying breach is neither deliberate nor reckless, the insurer may avoid the contract if
the insurer would not have entered into the contract on any terms in the absence of the
breach. In this case, however, the insurer must return the premiums paid (schedule 1).
Since the IA 2015 provides a proportionate remedy, the insurer may not avoid the contract
but seek an alternative remedy if the insurer cannot show that it would not have entered into
the contract on any terms but for the breach (in cases where the breach is neither deliberate
nor reckless).
If the insurer would have entered into the contract, but on different terms (other than in
relation to the premium), the contract is to be treated as if it had been entered into on those
different terms if the insurer so requires. For example, if there had been full disclosure, the
insurer would have included an exclusion clause in the policy and so the clause is treated as
part of the contract.
If the insurer would have entered into the contract, but would have charged a higher
premium, the insurer may reduce proportionally the amount to be paid on a claim. The
formula to calculate the percentage to ‘reduce proportionately’ the amount to be paid on a
claim is:
Premium actually charged
x= × 100
Higher premium
In other words, if the insurer would have charged a premium of £1,350 but in fact charged
£1,000, the consumer would receive 74% of their claim (i.e. 1000/1350 × 100).
Finally, in the case of misrepresentation (but not non-disclosure, unless it is fraudulent),
insurers may have a right to claim damages as an alternative (or, in the case of fraud, in
addition) to avoiding the policy. However, there is no reported English case of an insurer
recovering damages from the insured (or vice-versa) for breach of good faith, so the right is
one that exists in theory rather than practice.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/19

Remedies for breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk by the insured

Innocent breach by the insured Fraudulent breach by the

insured

Right to avoid the policy as YES (if the insurer meets the
YES
a whole? burden of proof stated above)

Right to keep the premium

NO YES
as well?

Right to ignore the breach and YES (although it is unlikely that,

allow the policy to stand? after discovering the fraud, the
YES insurer would exercise the
option of keeping the policy in
force)

Right to refuse a particular claim YES (although it is unlikely that,

but allow the policy to stand? after discovering the fraud, the
YES insurer would exercise the
option of keeping the policy in
force)

If the insurer wishes, it may waive (give up) its right to avoid the contract and allow the
policy to stand. In most cases, waiver takes place by ‘affirming’ the breach. In other words,
while the insurer may treat the contract as if it never existed, it treats the contract as still
enforceable between the parties – e.g. it pays the claim under the contract by electing not to
avoid it. Additionally, after discovering the breach, a long-term silence on the part of the
insurer may also be interpreted as waiver (as opposed to avoiding the policy within a
reasonable time). There is a danger that if the insurer stays inactive for some time after
discovering the breach, its silence may be interpreted as ‘wavier’ of the breach. For instance,
if the insurer purports to avoid the contract seven years after the insurer had discovered the

Chapter 6
breach, the court would question why the insurer waited for so long. On the other hand, a
three-month silence is likely to be interpreted as the insurer needing time to investigate the
claim before purporting to avoid the insurance contract.
Variations
The provisions of the IA 2015 regarding the duty of fair presentation of the risk applies also
to variations of the contract (s.2(2)). Part 2 of schedule 1 of the Act sets out remedies for
breach of the duty of variations to the contract. Accordingly, if a qualifying breach was
deliberate or reckless, the insurer may terminate the contract from the time when the
variation was made. To terminate the contract, the insurer must give the insured notice of
termination. The insurer will not need to return any of the premiums paid upon termination
under these circumstances.
If the breach of the duty of fair presentation was not deliberate or reckless, the remedy is
based on what the insurer would have done had the insured made a fair presentation of the
additional or changed risk on variation. The IA 2015 makes a distinction between variations
involving a reduction in premium and all other variations (that is, where the premium was
increased, or not changed, as a result of the variation). In either case, if the insurer would not
have agreed to the variation on any terms, the insurer may treat the contract as if the
variation was never made.
If the premium was increased, the insurer must return the additional premium paid for the
variation. If the premium was reduced, the insurer may reduce proportionately the amount
to be paid on claims arising out of events after the variation.
If the insurer would have included additional terms relating to the variation (for example, a
warranty relating to the new risk), the insurer may treat the variation as if it contained
those terms.
If the insurer would have charged a different premium for the variation, or would not have
changed the premium when in fact it increased or reduced it, the amount to be paid on
claims arising out of events occurring after the variation may be reduced in proportion to the
premium that the insurer would have charged. Paragraph 11(3) of schedule 1 makes further
provision about the formula, depending on whether the insurer increased or reduced the
premium or did not change it.
 6/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

C1B Contracting out

The parties to a non-consumer insurance contract may contract out of the IA 2015 to the
detriment of the insured by what the Act refers to as a ‘disadvantageous term’. However, the
Act provides that the parties may only do so if the transparency requirement is met; this
means that the disadvantageous term must be clear and unambiguous as to its effect and
the insurer must take sufficient steps to draw the disadvantageous term to the insured’s
attention before the contract is entered into or the variation agreed.
Group insurance
As per the IA 2015, we will use the following definitions:
• ‘Cs’ refers to one or more persons who are covered by the contract; and
• ‘Consumer C is a person who is one of the aforementioned ‘Cs’ whose cover could have
been a consumer insurance contract if they had entered into the contract themselves.
Refer to Under s.18(2) of the Act, and with reference to matters dealt with in s.13 of the Act, if a term
section B5D for
s.13 of the IA 15 of the contract puts one of the consumer C in a worse position than the individual would
otherwise be in, it is of no effect. The policyholder in this situation will usually be a
non-consumer such as an employer, and therefore, the contract will usually be a
non-consumer insurance contract. However, though the contract is a non-consumer
contract, the real beneficiaries are consumers who are protected from the effects of
contracting out.
With reference to non-consumer C (any of the Cs who are not consumers), and with
reference to matters dealt with in s.13 of the Act, if a term of the contract puts non-consumer
C in a worse position than they would be in by virtue of that section, it is of no effect, unless
the requirements of s.17 have been met.
It is possible that a consumer may take out a policy for the benefit of other consumers who
become group members. In this situation the contract would be a consumer contract. This is
Chapter 6

dealt with by s.15 of the Act.

C1C Consumer Insurance

Under the 2012 Act, the insurer can only seek remedy if misrepresentation is qualifying.
That is if:
• the misrepresentation was caused by the consumer’s failure to exercise reasonable care;
and
• the insurer shows that without the misrepresentation, it would not have entered into the
contract (or agreed to the variation) at all, or would have done so only on different terms.
The 2012 Act classifies qualifying misrepresentation as either:
• deliberate or reckless if:
– the consumer knew that it was untrue or misleading, or did not care whether or not it
was untrue or misleading; or
– knew that the matter to which the misrepresentation related was relevant to the
insurer, or did not care whether or not it was relevant to the insurer.
• or, careless; i.e. if it is not deliberate or reckless.
The burden of proof that a qualifying misrepresentation was deliberate or reckless is on the
insurer. In this respect, the 2012 Act also states that unless the contrary is shown, it is
presumed that:
• the consumer had the knowledge of a reasonable consumer, and
• the consumer knew that a matter about which the insurer asked a clear and specific
question was relevant to the insurer.
Insurers
Insurers’’ remedies for qualifying misrepresentations
Qualifying misrepresentations were deliberate or reckless:
The insurer may avoid the contract if a qualifying misrepresentation was deliberate or
reckless. In such a case, the insurer need not return any of the premiums paid, except to the
extent (if any) that it would be unfair to the consumer to retain them.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/21

Qualifying misrepresentation was careless:

In such a case, the insurer’s remedies are based on what it would have done if the consumer
had exercised reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation.
• If the insurer would not have entered into the consumer insurance contract on any terms,
the insurer may avoid the contract and refuse all claims, but must return the
premiums paid.
• If the insurer would have entered into the consumer insurance contract, but on different
terms (excluding terms relating to the premium), the contract is to be treated as if it had
been entered into on those different terms if the insurer so requires.
• If the insurer would have entered into the consumer insurance contract (whether the
terms relating to matters other than the premium would have been the same or different),
but would have charged a higher premium, the insurer may proportionately reduce the
amount to be paid on a claim. The formula is again as follows:
Premium actually charged
x= × 100
Higher premium
The formula to calculate how much the insurer may deduct from the insured amount to be
paid, is the same formula which applies in business insurance under the IA 2015 as stated
above.
Insurance on the life of another
The 2012 Act also states that where a life policy is taken out by the insured on the life of
another person (L), where L is not himself a party to the policy, any information provided to
the insurer by L is to be treated as having been provided by the insured themselves. For
example, if a wife takes out a policy on the life of her husband, and the husband deliberately
misstates facts about his health, the insurers will have the appropriate remedy against the
wife as the insured. The insurer also retains its rights under the Act against the wife in
respect of any false statements made by her.

Chapter 6
C2 Breach by the insurer
Neither the IA 2015 nor the 2012 Act contain any provisions about the insurer’s breach of the
duty of fair presentation of the risk. If the insurer is in breach of the pre-contractual
information duty, it will be analysed under s.17 of the MIA 1906.
Section 17 of the MIA 1906 states:
A contract of marine insurance is a contract based upon the utmost good faith, and,
if the utmost good faith be not observed by either party, the contract may be
avoided by the other party.
However, s.14(3) of the IA 2015 omits the words ‘and, if the utmost good faith be not
observed by either party, the contract may be avoided by the other party’. Therefore, a
contract of marine insurance under the IA 2015 is still a contract based upon utmost
good faith.
Furthermore, the IA 2015 does not overrule any common law rule which imposes a general
duty to act in good faith. As a result of this duty, the insurer may be required to act in good
faith at the pre- and post-contractual stage in the form of disclosing material information to
the insured and to act in a fair and business-like manner in claims handling. It seems,
therefore, that the insurers’ duty of good faith will be decided by the common law and the
MIA 1906.
An insurer may be deprived of the right to avoid a policy because of its own lack of
good faith.
 6/22 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Pre-contractual breach by the insurer

Case example
Banque Financiere de la Cite S.A. v. Westgate Insurance Co. Ltd (1991) concerned
non-disclosure on the part of the insurers. The insurers were aware that insurance brokers
had fraudulently issued cover notes for credit insurance to their clients when the cover
had not been completed and were sued by the insured for failing to disclose this fact to
them. The case confirmed the previous position under the MIA 1906 that the only remedy
for the insured in such a case was to avoid the contract and recover the premium. It was
held that there was no right to claim damages in addition.

If this case had come before the courts after the IA 2015, the court would have been able to
decide on an alternative remedy to avoiding the contract by the insured by applying s.17 of
the MIA 1906 and the common law.
It should be noted that the Financial Services Act 2012
2012, s.89 – replacing s.397 of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 with effect from 1 April 2013 – makes it a criminal
offence for a person to make a statement which they know to be false or misleading in a
material respect, and to make such a statement recklessly or dishonestly to conceal any
material facts, in each case with the intention of inducing another person to enter into a
contract of insurance. Further, s.90 of the 2012 Act creates the offence of engaging in a
course of conduct which creates a false or misleading impression of the market in or the
price of a specified relevant investment. The provisions apply to all financial products, and if
it relates to an insured or insurer or a consumer or non-consumer, there may be a criminal
remedy for misrepresentation.

C3 The Insurance: Conduct of Business (ICOBS) rules

Alongside the ongoing project of reform of insurance law generally, there have also been
Chapter 6

some regulatory changes which affect, mainly, personal lines of insurance. To a large extent
it is the requirements of these regulatory changes which have now been enacted in the
Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 discussed above. It is useful
to understand a little about the background of these regulatory changes when considering
the impact and intent of the Act.
In February 2005, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) took over the regulation of general
insurance business in the UK and, as part of the process, the previous voluntary Statements
of Insurance Practice used by the industry were withdrawn and replaced by a set of rules
contained in the FSA Insurance Conduct of Business (ICOB) Sourcebook, which was part of
the FSA ‘Handbook’ of regulations governing the financial services industry as a whole.
However, the FSA was replaced by two new regulators, the FCA and PRA, in April 2013.
The rules were revised in January 2008 as the FSA Insurance: Conduct of Business
Sourcebook (ICOBS) and have been adopted by the FCA from April 2013 as the FCA now
regulates insurers and intermediaries for conduct of business issues.

Be aware
The provisions relating to the duty to take reasonable care not to make a
misrepresentation are mainly contained in chapter 8 of ICOBS, which deals in general
terms with claims handling by insurers.

In relation to breach of the duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation,
rule 8.1.1 states:
An insurer must:
…not unreasonably reject a claim (including by termination or avoiding a policy).
Rule 8.1.2 then goes on to address what is meant by ‘not unreasonably reject a claim’.

Other than where there is evidence Non-disclosure, where the policyholder could not reasonably
of fraud, a rejection of a consumer
consumer’’s be expected to have disclosed the material fact.
claim will be unreasonable if it is for:
Non negligent misrepresentation of a material fact.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/23

This rule is similar to the provision in the Statements of Insurance Practice, mentioned above,
whereby insurers undertook not to repudiate claims where the breach of good faith was
innocent. Similarly, the rule applies, in effect, only to ‘private’ insurances, except that the rule
now uses the term ‘retail customer’ to describe those to whom it applies.
‘Consumer’ is defined as ‘any natural person who is acting outside their business, trade or
profession’ (buyers of insurance who are not ‘consumers’ are described as ‘commercial
customers’).

Consider this
this…
…
Why would the regulators make such a distinction between consumers and commercial
customers?

The reason for confining the rule to ‘consumers’ is that ‘commercial customers’ – business
people who buy insurance – are assumed to be better informed than private buyers and
more likely to have the benefit of expert advice (including that of an insurance broker) when
arranging their insurance. Therefore, they are less in need of protection.
The ICOBS rules apply to all insurers regulated by the FCA and PRA. They also have the
force of law, so that the FCA could bring enforcement action against an insurer that acted in
breach of them.
The ICOBS rules also restrict an insurer’s rights to seek remedy for breach of warranty or
condition and lay down a number of general requirements in connection with claims
handling by insurers. These issues are discussed in more detail in the chapters that follow.

Activity
Look again at the Law Commission’s reform of consumer insurance law as discussed
above. Compare the 2012 Act to the requirements under ICOBS.

Chapter 6
 6/24 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Introduction

• Contracts of insurance are contracts based upon utmost good faith.

• In consumer insurance, there is no duty of disclosure. Instead, there is a duty to take reasonable
care not to make a misrepresentation.
• In non-consumer (business) insurance, the duty to make a fair presentation of the risk imposes the
following on the parties to the insurance contract:
– a duty not to misrepresent any matter relating to the insurance; and
– a duty to disclose all material facts relating to the contract.
• The test for material misrepresentation in insurance contracts is modified from that in general
contracts.

Misrepresentation

• A material fact in insurance is defined according to what a ‘prudent underwriter’ would deem
material rather than a reasonable person.
• In non-consumer (business) insurance, as a matter of strict law, an insurer may seek remedy on the
grounds of misrepresentation regardless of whether the misrepresentation is fraudulent, negligent
or completely innocent.
• In consumer insurance, the insurer may only seek remedy for a misrepresentation which is negligent
or fraudulent. This is because the 2012 Act imposes the duty to take reasonable care not to
misrepresent material facts.

Duty of disclosure

• In non-consumer (business) insurance only, there is a positive duty of disclosure going beyond a
mere duty not to misrepresent what is in fact disclosed.
Chapter 6

• In both consumer and business insurance, the insurer has to prove inducement before seeking
remedy for breach of the pre-contractual information duties.
• Unlike the MIA 1906, the IA 2015 provides some guidance to determine materiality of a fact.
• In non-consumer (business) insurance, material facts that should be disclosed include facts relating
to physical hazard and moral hazard.
• In non-consumer (business) insurance, some things need not be disclosed even if they are material.
These include:
– matters of law;
– factors which lessen the risk;
– facts known by the insurers and those which the insurers ought to know;
– information that is waived by the insurers;
– facts which the proposer does not know; and
– convictions that are ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, as amended by the
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, 2012.
• The pre-contractual information duties begin at the commencement of negotiations and come to
an end once the contract is concluded. A fresh duty arises when the contract is renewed.
• As contracts of insurance are contracts based upon utmost good faith, the parties must act in good
faith throughout their contractual relationship. Remedy for breach of the duty to act in good faith
(i.e. acting in bad faith) will be determined by common law.
• The pre-contractual information duties apply to compulsory insurances in exactly the same way as
they do to other classes.

Breach of the pre-contractual information duties

• In business insurance, the insurer’s remedy for breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk
depends on whether the breach is deliberate or reckless or whether it is neither deliberate nor
reckless.
• In consumer insurance, the insurer’s remedy for breach of the duty to take reasonable care not to
make a misrepresentation depends on whether the misrepresentation is deliberate, reckless or
careless.
• If insurers are in breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk, the remedy will be determined by
common law in reference to s.17 of the MIA 1906.
Chapter 6 Pre-contractual information duty 6/25

Self-test questions
1. What two duties does the duty of fair presentation of the risk in non-consumer
(business) insurance impose on the insured?
2. Distinguish between innocent and fraudulent misrepresentation.
3. What is meant when it is said ‘a contract of insurance is a contract based upon
utmost good faith’?
4. How does the law define a material fact in non-consumer (business) insurance?
5. In non-consumer (business) insurance, if the insured fails to disclose a material fact
and, subsequently, a loss occurs, do the insurers have to prove that there is a
connection between the non-disclosure and the particular loss in order to seek
remedy for the non-disclosure?
6. In non-consumer (business) insurance, what two cases might there be a continuing
duty of disclosure under a general insurance policy?
7. In non-consumer (business) insurance, can insurers avoid the policy for breach of
the duty of fair presentation of the risk in the case of (compulsory) employers’
liability insurance?
8. In non-consumer (business) insurance, can insurers reject a particular claim but
allow the policy to stand when there is a breach of the duty of fair presentation of
the risk?
9. In non-consumer (business) insurance, how do the remedies for breach of the duty
of fair presentation of the risk vary according to whether the breach is fraudulent or
innocent?
10. Explain the circumstances under which an insurer can avoid the policy taken out by
a consumer insured.

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 6
 6/26 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 6.1: Question

Apply the main principles governing the formation of insurance contracts to practical
situations (LO5.8)
You work for an insurance company. Mary books an appointment with you to arrange
motor insurance for herself. She tells you she is 30 years old and has no previous driving
convictions. Mary takes out insurance with your company based on the information she
has provided. A colleague sees Mary in the office and later tells you that he knows her. He
says she is 21 years old and has been previously disqualified from driving.
Identify, with justification, what remedies are available to you, the insurer.
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.
Chapter 6
 Insurance contracts
7
and key terms
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Terms of a contract 6.1, 6.5
B Warranties, conditions and other terms 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5
C Joint and composite insurance 6.3, 6.4, 6.5
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the main rules governing the interpretation of insurance contracts;

Chapter 7
• explain the rules that apply to the construction of contracts;
• understand warranties and other terms of insurance contracts;
• explain how warranties are made and describe the effect of a breach of warranty or other
term; and
• distinguish between joint and composite insurance contracts and explain the rights
under them.
 7/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
We have seen that a breach of the pre-contractual information duty by one party to the
insurance contract may allow the other to avoid the contract. Furthermore, the breach may
take the form of misrepresentation or, in business insurance only, non-disclosure.
Termination of the contract or some other remedy, such as damages, may also arise if there
is a breach of a term of the contract. Either party can breach the terms of an insurance
contract.

Consider this
this…
…
How could an insured breach an insurance contract? And how could an insurer breach an
insurance contract?

For example, an insurer might refuse to pay a valid claim, which would be a breach.
However, in most cases we are concerned with a breach by the insured rather than the
insurer.
It is important to understand the difference between a breach of the pre-contractual
information duties and breach of contract.
• Breach of pre-contractual information duties: the breach normally arises from a failure to
supply full and accurate information in the negotiations that lead up to the formation of
the contract, in other words, before the contract has come into existence.
• Breach of contract: the breach arises from a failure to comply with a term of the contract
itself, so that the breach occurs after the contract has been made and as a result of one
party not keeping to the agreement that has now come into force.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following terms and concepts:

Ambiguity Collateral conditions Composite insurance Compulsory insurances

Conditions Construction Exact compliance Exception clauses

Implied warranties Joint insurance Statutory rules Warranties

Chapter 7

A Terms of a contract
You will recall that when we speak of the terms of a contract, we simply mean the details of
the agreement. The terms are usually contained in a written document but in some cases
they may be oral or implied by law.

A1 Terms in non-insurance contracts

In chapter 3, section C4, we saw that in the general law of contract, terms are traditionally
classified into conditions and warranties and that this classification is based on the
importance of the terms in question and the consequences if they are not observed.

Consider this
this…
…
In the general law of contract, which has more serious consequences, breach of a
warranty or breach of a condition?

You will recall that a warranty in the general law of contract is a term concerning a minor
part of the agreement only. If it is broken, the injured party has a right to claim damages but
not, in general, to treat the contract as repudiated.
A condition, on the other hand, is a term that relates to an important aspect of the
agreement: it ‘goes to the root’ of the contract. If such a term is broken, the victim has a right
not only to claim damages but also to terminate the contract.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/3

A2 Terms in insurance contracts

Be aware
You should note from the beginning that the words ‘condition’ and ‘warranty’, though
they are used in insurance, do not have the same meaning as in the general law of
contract.

The classification of the terms of an insurance contract is in some ways more complex than
the classification that applies in the general law.

Be aware
Insurance policies themselves can be misleading in their terminology because, for
example, the words ‘warranty’ or ‘warranted’ are sometimes used in connection with
terms that are not warranties at all. Furthermore, the use of the words ‘warranty’ and
‘condition’ by the courts has not always been consistent.

Of course, the terms of an insurance contract cover all sorts of things including, for example,
rights of cancellation and the application of arbitration in the event of a dispute. These
provisions may be described as ‘conditions’ or even ‘warranties’ in the contract. However,
we are concerned mainly with terms that impose obligations on the insured, i.e. those that
require the insured to do something (or not do something) as their part of the bargain.
If the insured fails to comply with a term of this sort, a question then arises as to what is the
effect of the breach:
• Does the cover end automatically, or do the insurers have the choice of ending it?
• Or do the insurers simply have the right to refuse payment of a particular claim or,
perhaps, only claim damages?
• Or does the cover stop when the term is not being complied with and then start again
when the insured does comply?
Judges and lawyers have developed a variety of words and expressions to describe the
terms that bring about these various different effects, including ‘warranty’, ‘condition
precedent’, ‘suspensive condition’ and so forth, but these are simply convenient labels.

Chapter 7
A3 Interpretation of insurance contracts
An insurance underwriter must, of course, decide which risks are acceptable and which must
be rejected. However, the underwriter must also decide how much cover they are prepared
to grant for a given price.
Some perils (such as war perils) may not be insurable at all and others may be insurable only
for an extra premium.
The cover provided under an insurance contract must be precisely defined. It will be
necessary to state clearly the perils against which cover is being provided, and define clearly
the perils that are to be excluded. To achieve this, the insurance policy must be drafted
carefully. Its meaning must be clear and there must be no ambiguities or inconsistencies
between different parts of the document.

Example 7.1
• What exactly is meant by words such as ‘storm’ or ‘flood’ when they are used in
insurance policies?
• Is damage to the roof of my house caused by strong wind or a heavy snowfall, damage
by ‘storm’?
• I forget to turn off the taps when I run a bath and the overflowing water ruins my
carpets, is this a ‘flood’?

Unfortunately, even with careful policy drafting, disputes about the meaning of the words
used in insurance contracts occur from time to time. They nearly always concern claims
claims,
and whether the words of the policy cover the loss in question or exclude it.
 7/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

In this section we are concerned with the rules which have been developed to resolve these
disputes, i.e. the rules which govern the meaning and scope of words used in insurance
policies. These are sometimes called rules of construction which, in this context, simply
means rules of interpretation.
If a dispute involving the words in an insurance policy comes before an English court, the
role of the court is merely to decide the meaning of the words used by the parties. Unless,
perhaps, the term is covered by the EC Directive discussed below, the court has no general
power to overturn or question an exclusion clause or other term of the policy on the grounds
that it is unreasonable, or unfair to one of the parties.
The principles of interpretation used by the courts fall into two categories:
• statutory rules (i.e. rules laid down in legislation); and
• common law rules (i.e. rules developed by the courts).
We will consider each in turn.

A4 Statutory rules
In some countries the wording of insurance policies is tightly regulated. In some cases policy
wordings have to be specifically approved by a government regulator or even follow a
standard wording laid down at state level.
Refer to You should note, however, that under English Law there is very little statutory control over
chapter 3,
section C3B the wording of insurance policies generally, so that the parties are almost completely free to
for UCTA include whatever terms they wish. You will recall also that insurance policies are excluded
from the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA)
(UCTA), which allows the wordings of some
contracts to be challenged on the grounds that they are unreasonable. Nevertheless, some
statutory control has been imposed by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (which replaced the
Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UTCCR)
(UTCCR)).

A4A Consumer Rights Act 2015

In chapter 3, section C3C, we looked at how the Consumer Rights Act 2015 affects terms of a
contract. We will now look in more detail at how it affects the construction of insurance
contracts specifically.
Chapter 7

Before the enactment of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, UTCCR applied to certain contracts
entered into by consumers. Contracts concluded between a trader and a consumer have
now been removed from the scope of UTCCR so that it only applies to contracts concluded
between parties acting in the course of business.
The 2015 Act makes the following changes to consumer contracts:
• Removal of the requirement that ‘a term must not have been individually negotiated
before a term could be challenged on the grounds that it was unfair’. The consumer is now
entitled to claim the protection of part 2 even when the term has been individually
negotiated with the trader. Terms which define the main subject matter of the contract or
determine the price are excluded from review, as long as they are in ‘plain, intelligible
language’.
• Prohibition of traders from referring to either a term of a consumer contract or a
consumer notice to exclude or restrict liability for death or personal injury resulting from
negligence.
• Provision that neither an unfair term of a consumer contract nor an unfair consumer
notice is binding on the consumer (s.62).
Section 62 goes on to define an unfair term or notice as that which, contrary to the
requirement of good faith, causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and
obligations under the contract to the detriment of the consumer.
Where a term of a consumer contract is not binding on the consumer as a result of part 2 of
the Act, the contract continues, as far as is practicable, to have effect in every other
respect (s.67).
Unlike UCTA, this legislation does apply to insurance contracts, provided the policyholder is
a ‘consumer’. In chapter 3, section C3C, we saw that s.65 of the 2015 Act, which relates to
‘traders’, does not apply to insurance.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/5

Be aware
The Act is not concerned with the overall fairness of the agreement itself, but rather with
the ability of the consumer to enforce their rights under it.

The Act may not be used by an insured who wishes to challenge the validity of a particular
exclusion or warranty on its policy or to argue that the overall cover provided was too
narrow, given the premium paid. However, an insured might well be able to use the Act to
challenge the fairness of conditions relating to the claims process, if they appeared to
impose unreasonable demands.

Example 7.2
A claims condition allowing the policyholder only a very short period of time in which to
notify a claim is likely to infringe the regulations.
This may also apply to a condition which requires the insured to provide an excessive
amount of documentary proof in support of their claim.

A5 Common law rules for the interpretation of

insurance policies
Over the years the courts have developed many rules to help resolve doubts about the
meaning of words used in contracts. We will examine the main ones here. You should note
that these rules of interpretation apply to non-consumer (business) contracts and legal
documents generally, and not just to insurance policies.

A5A Ordinary meaning

In the case of a dispute, the court will assume that the parties intended the words in question Refer to chapter 1,
section D2B for
to bear their ordinary meaning. This is, essentially, the same ‘literal rule’ that applies to the the literal rule
interpretation of statutes.

Case example
In Thompson v. Equity Fire Insurance Co. (1910) a fire policy covering a shop excluded
liability for loss or damage occurring ‘while gasoline is stored or kept in the building
insured’. The policyholder did, in fact, have a small quantity of gasoline which he used for

Chapter 7
cooking but the court held that the exclusion did not apply because the words ‘stored or
kept’, in their ordinary meaning, implied storage in large quantities, for the purpose
of trade.

A5B Technical or legal meaning

The presumption that words are intended to bear their common meaning may not apply if
the word in question has a clearly established technical meaning. In this case, the technical
meaning may be taken to be the one intended. Of course, insurance has its own vocabulary
and some words (such as ‘average’) have acquired such a technical meaning.

Be aware
However, a court may not allow an insurer to rely upon the technical meaning of a word
unless they have made it very clear that a technical meaning is intended, particularly if the
insured is not likely to be familiar with the technical term in question.

You should bear in mind that the Consumer Rights Act 2015 effectively requires consumer
contracts to be in ‘plain, intelligible language’. This means that specialised terms cannot be
used in personal lines policies unless they are clearly defined in simple language.
Insurers have made good progress in recent years in introducing ‘plain English’ policies,
especially for personal lines business so that modern policies are usually quite easy to read
and understand. Nevertheless, insurers should take care when using technical terms and
avoid those that an ordinary consumer might not understand.
 7/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Activity
Visit the Plain English campaign website at: www.plainenglish.co.uk. Read more about
how public and corporate bodies including insurers are taking steps to ensure the use of
‘plain English’ in non-consumer (business) documents.

Insurance policies also often use words that have a distinct legal meaning, and it is then
presumed that the legal meaning is intended. Words like ‘theft’, ‘riot’ and ‘average’ all used in
property insurance, provide good examples.
The doctrine of precedent, covered in chapter 1, section E, applies to the interpretation of
words used in insurance.

Consider this
this…
…
What is the effect of the doctrine of precedent?

Once one court has considered the meaning of a word then its decision is likely to influence
future cases where the word is used in a similar context within the same sort of contract. So,
although words such as ‘fire’ and ‘storm’ have no legal or technical meaning, they have
acquired a particular (though not absolutely precise) meaning when used in insurance
policies, as a result of a series of court decisions.

A5C The importance of context

The meaning of a word always depends on its context. If the meaning is doubtful, a court will
first consider the immediate context of a word and then, if necessary, the wider context of
the paragraph or section, or even the policy as a whole.
There are a number of detailed rules concerning context. This general principle of
interpreting a word in the light of other words used with it is sometimes described as the
‘noscitur a sociis’ (‘a word may be known by the company which it keeps’) rule.

Case example
In Young v. Sun Alliance & London Insurance (1977) the court held that seepage of water
from a meadow into a downstairs lavatory to a depth of no more than a few centimetres
was not a ‘flood’ within the meaning of the insured’s household policy. The perils ‘storm,
tempest or flood’ were grouped together in the policy wording, suggesting that ‘flood’
Chapter 7

meant (as one of the judges put it) ‘something which has some element of violence,
suddenness or largeness about it’, like the other two perils.

Case example
The same words – ‘storm, tempest or flood’ – were considered in a more recent case:
Rohan Investments Ltd v. Cunningham (1999) (1999). Here damage was caused by the escape of
water from the roof, which had accumulated over a nine-day period when there was very
heavy rainfall. In this case, the court held that the rapid accumulation and subsequent
ingress of water was sufficiently abnormal to constitute a flood.

The ejusdem generis rule is a rather more specific principle of construction based on
context. It provides that general words which follow specific words are taken as referring to
‘things of the same kind’ (‘ejusdem generis’) as the specific words.
Another rule of context is ‘expressio unius est exclusio alterius’ (‘specifying one thing implies
the exclusion of other things’ – those which are not specified). So, where specific words are
used which are not followed by any general words, the provision in question applies only to
the things specified.

Ambiguity:: the contra proferentem rule

A5D Ambiguity
Words used in insurance contracts may be ambiguous
ambiguous, that is, they may carry two (or more)
possible meanings. A dispute may occur because the insured insists on one meaning and the
insurers insist on another. Where this is the case, the courts may apply the contra
proferentem rule, under which the clause is construed against the party who proposed it (i.e.
the drafter of the clause), so that the other party is given the benefit of the doubt.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/7

Since most insurance policies are drawn up by the insurers, an ambiguous wording will
generally be construed in favour of the insured. However, in some cases a broker acting for
the insured will put forward clauses that he wants to incorporate in the policy, and any
ambiguity in these will be interpreted in favour of the insurer. This is because the broker will
be acting as an agent of the insured when proposing the clauses. Ambiguous terms in
reinsurance contracts are most likely to be construed against the reinsured, because
reinsurance contracts are usually drawn up by the reinsured rather than the reinsurer.

Case example
The contra proferentem rule is illustrated by Houghton v. Trafalgar Insurance Co. Ltd
(1954). In this case an exception in a motor policy stated that cover would not apply when
(1954)
the vehicle was ‘conveying any load in excess of that for which it was constructed’. The
insurers argued that because the insured had carried six passengers in the insured vehicle
(which was designed for only five) the exception operated and the loss was not covered.
However, the court accepted the alternative interpretation put forward by the insured,
that the clause operated only where a weight load was exceeded, which had not
happened in this case.

For the contra proferentem rule to apply, there must be a genuine ambiguity. In other words,
there must be an alternative construction that is reasonable rather than one which is
grammatically possible but far-fetched in reality.
We can now appreciate that different rules of construction can bring about different results
when applied to the same case.

Example 7.3
The application of the contra proferentem rule rather than the noscitur a sociis rule to the
case of Young v. Sun Alliance & London Insurance, mentioned in section A5C, would have
produced a result in favour of the insured rather than the insurer. That is, the word ‘flood’
could have been viewed as ambiguous, in which case the insured would have been given
the benefit of the doubt. In fact, the judges in Young were almost persuaded to apply the
contra proferentem rule but in the end did not do so.

It has been suggested that the contra proferentem rule is a rule ‘of last resort’: in other
words, it should only be used when other aids to interpretation do not reveal the meaning
the disputed words.

Chapter 7
The construction of a contract is one unitary exercise in which the court has to consider the
language used and ascertain what a reasonable person, who had all the background
knowledge which would reasonably have been available to the parties in the situation in
which they were at the time of the contract, would have understood the parties to have
meant. In doing so, the court has regard to all the relevant surrounding circumstances.
Where the parties used unambiguous language, the court has to apply it. But if there are two
possible constructions the court is entitled to prefer the construction which is consistent
with business common sense and to reject the other.

A5E Inconsistencies
Insurance policies, like other written documents, sometimes contain inconsistencies or
contradictions, so that one part of the document appears to conflict with another. The
courts have developed a number of rules for dealing with this:
1. Where printed words conflict with words that are hand-written or typed, the latter take
precedence since it is assumed that the parties intended to adapt a standard form to
meet the needs of their particular case. On the same principle, an endorsement (i.e. a
document or note recording a change in the insurance contact) is likely to overrule
anything in the printed policy that appears to conflict with it.
2. In the case of a contradiction between a proposal which led to the formation of the
contract and the terms of the policy document which is issued later, the policy
document is likely to take precedence, being the final and formal expression of the
agreement.
3. An express term of the contract will overrule any implied term. For example, a marine
insurance policy may expressly override or modify the implied warranty of
seaworthiness which s.39 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906 (MIA 1906) carries into
every contract of marine insurance.
 7/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Be aware
Bear in mind that the rules discussed above are, perhaps, best understood as guides that
may assist the court rather than very strict principles of law. None are infallible and in
some cases alternative rules of construction may appear equally appropriate and yet lead
to different results, as we have seen already.

If there is a breach, it is for the courts to decide what the parties intended should happen,
regardless of what label (if any) the parties have applied to the term.

B Warranties, conditions and other terms

B1 Warranties
We begin by looking at terms that are described as warranties.

Be aware
Before the Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015)
2015), warranties were the most important terms in an
insurance contract and brought about the most drastic effects if they were broken.
However, we will see that the IA 2015 mitigated some of the drastic effects of breach of an
insurance warranty.

B1A Nature of warranties

A warranty in an insurance contract used to be described as a term which, if broken, allowed
the insurers to repudiate the contract as a whole. In this respect, it was regarded as being
similar in effect to what is described as a condition in the general law of contract.

Case example
However, in Bank of Nova Scotia v. Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Ltd
(The Good Luck) (1992) the House of Lords held that a breach of warranty terminated
cover automatically from the date of breach and, to all intents and purposes, except for
the obligation to pay the premium, terminated the insurance policy. Although the House
of Lords did not state that this rule applied to non-marine insurance, it was assumed that
Chapter 7

it did in subsequent cases.

The Good Luck was repealed by the IA 2015 which we will return to when we look at breach
of warranty.
A warranty is, essentially, a promise made by the insured relating to facts or to something
which they agree to do.
A warranty may relate to past or present facts (i.e. be a promise that something was so or is
so), or it may be a continuing warranty, in which the insured promises that a state of affairs
will continue to exist or they will continue to do something. Whether a warranty is present or
continuing is a matter of construction of the relevant promise.
For example, the seaworthiness warranty under section 39(1) of the MIA 1906 is a present
warranty as it refers to seaworthiness at the commencement of the voyage.

B1B Continuing warranties

Continuing warranties are often applied by insurers to ensure that some aspect of good
housekeeping or good management is observed by the insured.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/9

Example 7.4
The warranty may require:
• Rubbish to be cleared up each night.
• The burglar alarm to be put into full and proper operation whenever the premises
referred to in the policy are left unattended and that such alarm system shall have been
maintained in good order throughout the currency of the insurance.
• That the insured should take safe keys home with him when they leave business
premises at night.
• All outside doors to be locked and windows to be secured.
• (In the context of insurance of a pub) the kitchen ducting not to be in contact with
combustible materials and specialist inspection of the ducts to be carried out every six
months.
• An insured vessel not to sail out of sheltered port when there is a typhoon or storm
warning at that port, nor when the destination or intended route may be within the
possible path of the typhoon or storm announced at the port of sailing, port of
destination or any intervening port.

Alternatively, the function of the warranty may be to ensure that certain high risk practices
or activities are not introduced without the insurer’s knowledge.

Example 7.5
The warranty may provide:
• that no inflammable oils may be stored; or
• no work carried out at a greater height than 12 metres; or
• no woodworking should take place.

B1C Exact compliance

A warranty must be exactly complied with. If it is broken, cover is suspended from the
moment the warranty is breached until it is remedied, even if the breach did not cause or
have any connection with a loss.

Chapter 7
Before the IA 2015, cover for the risk used to terminate automatically from the date of
breach. However, this rule was repealed by the IA 2015; now, the remedy for breach of a
warranty is suspension of the insurance cover between the time that the insured breaches
the warranty and remedies the breach (assuming that the breach can be remedied).
Not all breaches can be remedied. For example, if an insured ship sinks after the insured
breaches the warranty, the warranty may not be remedied.
Where the breach can be remedied, the insurer is not liable for any loss that occurs from
when the warranty is breached until it is fixed. For example, this would apply from when a
burglar alarm system becomes inoperative until the insured fixes the breach.
Moreover, the insurer is not liable for losses attributable to something that happened during
the time that the insured breached the warranty. This covers situations in which the loss
occurred after the insured fixed the breach, but is attributable to something which
happened before the breach was remedied by the insured.
Once the breach is remedied, cover is provided again by the insurer. Therefore, while the
MIA 1906 and the common law provided that breach of a warranty could not be remedied,
the IA 2015 changes this position so that now such a breach can be remedied.
The IA 2015 does not require the chain of causation to be established between breach of
warranty and loss. As long as the loss occurs between the time that warranty is breached
and the breach is remedied, the insurer is not liable irrespective of the causal link between
the loss and the breach of warranty. However, section 10(2) uses the word ‘attributable’ for
losses which occur after the breach is remedied, but were attributable to an event which
occurred before the breach was remedied. In this case, causation will be discussed as
attributable, i.e. to mean ‘caused by’.
 7/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B1D How warranties are made

Warranties can arise expressly or impliedly. An express warranty may be created by the use
of ‘warranty’ in the clause in question. Alternatively, the court may interpret an express
clause in the contract to be a warranty, irrespective of the terminology that the parties used
(see below for the three questions to be asked in this interpretation). Warranties may also be
implied by the MIA 1906. Implied warranties are found in marine insurance only.
1. Express warranties
Warranties may be expressly stated in the policy itself. The word ‘warranty’ or
‘warranted’ may be used and although this is good evidence of the intention to create a
warranty it is not conclusive. Expressions such as ‘warranted free of capture and
seizure’ merely mean that the risks in question are not covered by the policy, and the
clause is really an exclusion, not a warranty.
The court may decide, as a matter of interpretation, that a term in a contract is a
warranty, even if the parties to the contract did not use the word warranty. This does
not occur very often, but there have been cases which have been decided in this way.
The standards that the courts apply to determine whether or not a term which is not
expressly stated is a warranty are as follows:
• whether the term goes to the root of the transaction;
• whether the term bears materially on the risk; and
• whether damages would be an adequate remedy for breach.
2. Implied warranties
Warranties may be implied in marine insurance only. Section 39 of the Marine Insurance
Act 1906 carries the implied warranty of seaworthiness automatically into every policy
of marine insurance.

Be aware
In non-marine insurance, warranties have to be expressly worded in the contract of
insurance.

3. ‘Basis of the contract’ clauses

These clauses are used to convert the statements made by the insured in the proposal
form into warranties. A reference in the insurance contract to the effect of ‘all the
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statements made by the insured in the proposal form are the basis of the contract’ was
sufficient to render the statements warranties.

Case example
In Dawsons Ltd v. Bonnin (1922)
(1922), the proposer stated incorrectly the address at which his
vehicle was garaged, in response to a question on the proposal form. In this case there
was no mention in the policy that an untrue answer would render it void, but merely a
statement that the proposal would be the ‘basis of the contract’. The court held that this in
itself was enough to turn the statements on the proposal into warranties.

Note: it is no longer possible to create an insurance warranty by ‘basis of the contract’

clauses as they were abolished in English insurance contract law. Initially, the Consumer
Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 (‘2012 Act Act’’) abolished them in
consumer insurance and then the IA 2015 abolished them in business insurance.
With the exception of abolishing the basis of the contract clauses, the IA 2015 did not
change the rules regarding the creation of warranties. The Act reforms the remedy for
breach of an insurance warranty.

B2 Conditions
Be aware
Rather confusingly, warranties themselves have sometimes been described as types of
conditions. However, here we use the word to describe terms, other than warranties, that
impose an obligation on the insured. Conditions can also be classified in various ways.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/11

B2A Conditions precedent to the contract

A condition precedent to the contract is one which states, in one form of words or another,
that the policy will not come into effect if the insured fails to comply with the term in
question.

Example 7.6
A life insurance policy may contain a condition that the policy will not come into effect
until the premium is paid.

B2B Conditions precedent to liability

The expression ‘condition precedent to liability (or recovery)’ is used to describe a term that
allows the insurers to discharge themselves from liability for a particular loss if the term is
broken.
If a further loss occurs the insurers must pay, provided the insured in this case complies with
the condition. Claims conditions, such as those requiring the insured to give prompt notice
of a loss, or not admit liability, provide examples of this category.

B2C Minor terms in insurance policies

Collateral conditions (or ‘mere
mere’’ conditions)
Collateral conditions (conditions that are not classified as ‘condition precedent’) are
regarded as minor terms, breach of which will still entitle the insured to make a claim under
the insurance contract. If the breach is so serious that it goes to the root of the contract, the
insurer may repudiate the contract. However, for minor terms, this is not the case. If the
breach is trivial, the insurer will have to pay for the insured’s loss but may claim damages (by
virtue of deduction from the claim in respect of the prejudice suffered for the breach). An
example of this is a clause in an employer’s liability policy which requires the insured to keep
a record of wages in a proper wages book. This is not a condition precedent but merely a
collateral provision for the purpose of adjusting the premium.
Whether a term is a condition or a condition precedent is a matter of construction of the
relevant term. Where the clause does not refer to the words ‘condition precedent’ or does
not contain strong words such as ‘the insurer will not be liable for the loss if the insured does
not comply with the condition’ it is likely that the relevant term will be a mere condition.

Chapter 7
Be aware
The use of ‘condition precedent’ is an indication but not conclusive to determining that
the true nature of the clause is a condition precedent. Stating the remedy expressly, for
example by saying ‘the insurer will not be liable if the condition is not complied with’, is a
safer option for creating a condition precedent.

B3 Exception clauses (or exclusions

exclusions))
Virtually all insurance policies carry a number of exceptions, which excuse insurers from
liability when the loss is caused by a particular peril, or affects a particular type of property,
or when some other circumstances apply.

Example 7.7
For example, a fire policy may exclude fire caused by earthquake and a theft policy may
exclude theft of money, or theft involving collusion by an employee of the insured.

Such exception clauses are usually easy enough to distinguish. Of course, these clauses do
not place any obligation on the insured and they cannot be ‘broken’ by the insured.

B3A ‘Suspensive conditions

conditions’’ or ‘clauses describing the risk
risk’’
The effect of breach of a warranty before the IA 2015 was viewed by many as draconian.
Therefore, in some cases, the courts determined that the relevant clause was not a warranty
but a suspensive condition which, when breached, resulted in suspension of the cover during
the period that the insured breached the clause and remedied the breach.
 7/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

A breach of a warranty does not terminate the risk automatically under the IA 2015 and so
the below cases may not apply any longer.

Case example
In Farr v. Motor Traders
Traders’’ Mutual Insurance Society (1920) the claimant insured two taxi
cabs, and in answer to a question on the proposal form as to whether the vehicles were
driven in one or more shifts each day answered: ‘Just one’. When the accident in question
happened, the vehicles were only being used for one shift per day, but some time earlier
one of the vehicles had been driven in two shifts for a short period. It was held that the
statement on the proposal form did not create a continuing warranty that the vehicles
would only be driven in one shift, but meant that cover would not apply when the vehicles
were being driven in more than one shift.

The general effect is somewhat like an exclusion, as discussed above, except that in this case
all cover is ‘suspended’ when the condition is not adhered to, whereas an exclusion does not
suspend cover, but simply narrows it.

B4 Breach of warranty or condition

It may be helpful to begin by summarising the effect of a breach in each case.
Breach of warranty
• Under the MIA 1906 and common law, cover terminated automatically and, in effect, the
contract ended.
• However, the IA 2015 repealed any rule of law in a contract of insurance which causes a
breach of a warranty to result in the discharge of the insurer’s liability. The insurer has no
liability under a contract of insurance in respect of any loss that occurs or is attributable to
something that happens after a warranty (express or implied) has been breached but
before the breach is remedied. In other words, the breach suspends the insurance cover
during this period (assuming that the breach can be remedied).
• The insurer does not have to prove a connection between the breach and any loss that
has occurred unless the warranty is intended to reduce the risk of loss of a particular kind,
location or time, due to the application of IA 2015 s.11 (see section B4B).
• The insured is permitted to remedy the breach; once it is remedied the suspension is
lifted.
Chapter 7

Breach of condition precedent to the contract

• If a condition precedent is never fulfilled, the contract never comes into existence.
Breach of condition precedent to liability
• The insurer is automatically discharged from liability for the claim which is tainted by the
breach. Prejudice is irrelevant.
• The policy remains in force.
Breach of collateral (or ‘mere
mere’’) condition
• Remedy depends on the seriousness of the breach. In most cases the insurer is not
entitled to reject the claim.
• If the breach is not serious enough to entitle the insurer to terminate the policy, the insurer
cannot reject the claim and has to pay for the loss. However, it may claim damages in the
form of reduction from the amount to be paid under the insurance contract. For example,
in Milton Keynes v. Nulty (2013) the insurer had to indemnify the insured despite the
breach of a (mere) condition, but was also entitled to deduct 15% from the indemnity to
reflect the prejudice suffered as a result of the breach.
Breach of a ‘suspensive condition
condition’’ or ‘clause describing the risk
risk’’
• Cover is suspended for as long as the insured fails to comply with the condition, but
resumes if and when they start to comply with it again.

B4A Waiver of breach of warranty

As stated, under the MIA 1906 and common law, breach of an insurance warranty used to
result in automatic termination of cover. The insurer discharged from liability automatically,
leaving no options for the insurer to elect. As a consequence, waiver by affirmation or waiver
by election did not apply in the case of breach of an insurance warranty. The only way to
prove waiver of breach of an insurance warranty was held to be promissory estoppel.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/13

A promissory estoppel means that an insured who has broken a warranty cannot enforce the
contract unless they can prove that the insurers clearly indicated, by their words or conduct,
that they do not intend to rely on the breach of warranty as a defence to further liability
under the policy. Additionally, it is necessary to prove that the insured relied on the insurer’s
representation to that effect and it is inequitable for the insurer to go back on their promise.

Example 7.8
The following are examples of insurer actions that would support an argument of waiver
by estoppel:
Knowing of the breach, the insurers:
• issued or renewed the policy;
• accepted further premiums;
• advised the insured about future loss prevention; and
• resisted the claim on grounds other than breach of warranty.

Under the IA 2015, the cover does not terminate automatically as a result of a breach of a
warranty. However, s.10 of the Act uses the following wording:

An insurer has no liability under a contract of insurance in respect of any loss occurring, or
attributable to something happening, after a warranty (express or implied) in the contract
has been breached but before the breach has been remedied.

The effect of IA 2015 s.10 on this position has not been tested by the courts yet. However, in
principle, it is possible for an insurer to waive a breach of warranty during the suspensive
period (i.e. before the insured has remedied the breach).

B4B Terms not relevant to the actual loss

Section 11 of the IA 2015 is titled ‘Terms not relevant to the actual loss’. This section does not
apply to a term which defines the risk as a whole but to one, which if complied with, would
reduce the risk of one or more of the following (s.11(1)):
a. loss of a particular kind;
b. loss at a particular location; or

Chapter 7
c. loss at a particular time.
Thereafter if a loss occurs and the term has not been complied with, the insurer cannot rely
on non-compliance to exclude, limit or remove liability if the insured can show that the non-
compliance ‘could not have increased the risk of the loss which actually occurred in the
circumstances in which it occurred’.
For example, assume that the insured is required to maintain a burglar alarm system within
the insured property. If the insured does not comply with this requirement and the property
is damaged by flood the insurer may not be able to rely on the breach to deny liability if the
insured satisfies s.11(3) of the IA 2015. The same applies if a term requires a ready-to-operate
sprinkler system and the insured suffered a loss as a result of a break in at the property.
Interaction between s.10 (breach of warranty) and s.11 (terms not relevant to loss)
As explained above, the general position under IA 2015 s.10 is that breach of a warranty will
mean that cover under an insurance policy is suspended, and the insurer will not be liable for
any claims until the breach is remedied by the insured. However, if the warranty applies to a
loss of a particular kind, or loss at a particular location or time, s.11 will apply. If the insured
can show that the breach did not increase the risk of the loss that occurred, they should be
able to claim under the policy (this is stated in s.11(4)) despite the non-compliance with the
warranty.
The objective of s.11 is to prevent the insurer from denying liability for breach of a
contractual term where the breach may not have any relevance to the actual loss. However,
the application of s.11 to insurance cases is yet to be tested by the English courts.
It should be noted that the IA 2015 did not change any rule of law regarding claims
conditions (e.g. claim notification or co-operation clauses). Thus, the rules stated above
regarding claims provisions are still applicable. Section 11 only applies to risk clauses as
stated under s.11(1).
 7/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Note: s.11 and the principles stated above apply only where the terms in the questions do not
define the risk as a whole. If the terms define the risk as a whole, the insurer may rely on s.10
of the IA 2015 if the term is a warranty or the available contractual or common law remedy
without being restricted by s.11 of the IA 2015. What type of terms ‘define the risk as a whole’
is yet to be determined by the courts.

B5 Insurance: Conduct of Business (ICOBS) rules

In chapter 6, section C3, we looked the rules contained in ICOBS regarding insurers’
remedies for breach of the duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation in
consumer insurance. These rules contain important provisions concerning the rejection of
claims for breach of condition or warranty. The background to these rules is similar to that of
the rules relating to good faith, that is, they derive from earlier voluntary codes of conduct –
the ‘Statements of Insurance Practice’, which the ICOBS rules have now replaced.

Consider this
this…
…
What is the effect on cover in the case of a breach of warranty and a breach of condition?

ICOBS 8.1.2 states that:

A rejection of a consumer’s policyholder’s claim is unreasonable, except where there
is evidence of fraud, if it is for: …
(3) breach of warranty or condition unless the circumstances of the claim are
connected to the breach…
Effectively then, insurers can avoid a claim by a ‘consumer’ under a general insurance
contract only when the breach in question did actually cause or contribute to the loss. This
rule applies, in a slightly modified way, to life insurance.
Sections 10 (Breach of warranty) and 11 (Terms not relevant to the actual loss) of the IA 2015,
as explained above, apply to both business and consumer insurance contracts. Therefore the
ICOBS rules should be considered together with the sections of the IA 2015 which also aim at
limiting the insurer’s defences for breach of warranties or terms not relevant to the
actual loss.
Chapter 7

B6 Contracting out of the Insurance Act 2015

Consumer insurance:
With regards to the sections of the IA 2015 regulating breach of warranty and terms not
relevant to the actual loss, the parties are prohibited from contracting out of these sections
in the context of consumer insurance, if contracting out would mean putting the consumer in
a worse position than the Act provides.
Non-consumer insurance:
Refer to Contracting out of s.9 of the IA 2015 is prohibited. In other words, even if the transparency
chapter 6,
section C1B for requirement is met, the insured is not permitted to create a warranty by basis of the contract
the transparency clauses.
requirement
Sections 10 and 11 may be contracted out of in the context of non-consumer insurance, if the
transparency requirement under s.17 of the Act is satisfied. Accordingly:
The insurer must take sufficient steps to draw the disadvantageous term to the
insured’s attention before the contract is entered into or the variation agreed
(s.17(2)) and the disadvantageous term must be clear and unambiguous as to its
effect (s.17(3))

B7 Compulsory insurances
In chapter 6, section B6, we noted that the principles surrounding the pre-contractual
information duties for consumers and non-consumers apply to compulsory insurances in the
normal way, and allow insurers to seek remedy for breach of these duties: there are no
special rules.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/15

Be aware
There are special rules for compulsory insurances when it comes to breach of warranty or
breach of condition. The rules are complex and are described only briefly here. They relate
to motor insurance and employers’ liability insurance.

B7A Motor insurance

Motor insurance is governed in the UK by the Road Traffic Act 1988
1988. The purpose of the
insurance rules of the Road Traffic is to make sure that a road accident victim will always
receive compensation if he is injured by the negligence of another person.
Insurance is made compulsory so that even though the wrongdoer may be unable to pay the
damages himself, his insurers will do so. However, if the wrongdoer has invalidated his own
insurance by breaking a warranty or condition, the victim might get no compensation at all,
because the insurers will have the right to terminate the cover or refuse the claim.
The Road Traffic Act 1988, therefore, stipulates that an insurer cannot avoid liability by
relying on certain types of policy condition or warranty.

Example 7.9
If a policyholder injures somebody when they are drunk or their car is unroadworthy, the
insurers cannot refuse to indemnify them for the personal injury claim against them by
relying on policy conditions which exclude liability when the driver is under the influence
of drink or drugs, or which require them to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy condition
at all times. The first condition is prohibited by section 148 (2) (a), and the second by
section 148 (2) (b).

Be aware
It must be emphasised that the restrictions in s.148 are in place purely to protect the rights
of the victim. They do not prevent insurers from relying on policy exclusions in connection
with claims that are not subject to the Road Traffic Act (such as claims for damage to the
insured’s own vehicle). Furthermore, the Act allows insurers to reclaim from the
policyholder themselves any damages which they have been obliged to pay to the victim
as a result of the operation of section 148.

Chapter 7
B7B Employers
Employers’’ liability insurance
Similar rules apply to employers’ liability insurance. In this case they are contained in the
Employers
Employers’’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998 1998. Five types of condition or
warranty are prohibited by the Regulations.
As a result of these prohibitions an insurer cannot, for instance, reject an employers’
liability claim:
• on the grounds of late notification, or
• because the insured has failed to comply with a policy condition which requires him to
take reasonable care to protect his employees against injury or disease.
• The use of policy excesses (deductibles) is also prohibited.
As in the case of motor insurance, the employers’ liability insurer is given a right of recovery
and can (in theory) reclaim from the employer any amount that he has had to pay to the
employee solely by virtue of the Regulations.

Be aware
It is worth noting that the 1998 Regulations do not invalidate all restrictive conditions and
warranties in employers’ liability policies. For example, so-called ‘trade warranties’, which
are used to exclude various types of hazardous work, are quite valid in law, although their
use has been criticised by the courts.
 7/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

C Joint and composite insurance

Two or more persons are often insured under a single policy.

Be aware
This is sometimes described as co-insurance, although the word is also used to describe
the sharing of a risk between a group of direct insurers, or the sharing of a risk between
the insurer and the insured – e.g. where the insured agrees to bear, say, 5% of any loss that
occurs.

When there is more than one person insured it is important to decide whether the policy is
joint or composite.
• A joint policy is ‘indivisible’, so that a breach by one insured (such as a breach of the duty
of fair presentation of the risk) may cause the whole policy to fail.
• By contrast, a breach or default by one insured under a composite policy may invalidate
their own cover without affecting the right of other insured persons to claim, provided the
latter are innocent of the breach or default.
A composite policy can, thus, be viewed as a bundle of separate contracts between the
insurers and the various insured persons, but contained in a single policy.

C1 Distinguishing joint and composite policies

Under English law, the distinction between a joint insurance and composite insurance
hinges on the interests of the insured persons.
If the insured persons share a common interest in the subject matter, for example, where
they are joint owners of property, the policy is likely to be joint. On the other hand, where the
interests are different, as in the case of lessor and lessee, or mortgagor and mortgagee, the
policy is likely to be composite.

Case example
A case mentioned in chapter 6, section B3B, Woolcott v. Sun Alliance & London
(1978), provides an example of the latter. Here the claimant applied for a
Insurance (1978)
mortgage from his building society and, via the mortgage application form, proposed for
Chapter 7

fire insurance at the same time. However, he did not disclose that he had been convicted
of armed robbery 12 years previously. The court held that the insurers could avoid the
policy as far as the claimant was concerned but allowed the building society, which was
also insured, to recover, since the interest of the building society was different and the
policy was composite.

Other examples of co-insurances which have been held to be composite in nature include
construction risks policies covering contractors and sub-contractors and policies covering a
number of companies within one group. An example of the latter is the Maxwell group, which
had fidelity coverage under a group policy. Each company had a separate interest to insure
and the insurance was composite. Therefore, fraud within one company (Mirror Group
Newspapers) did not taint coverage and the payment of claims for other companies in
the group.
It may be possible for parties who have the same interest in the subject matter (such as joint
owners of property) to insure either on a joint or composite basis. Again, partners in a
partnership may be able to insure jointly (on the basis that they are jointly and severally
liable, so their interests are the same) or on a composite basis. Where there is doubt about
the true basis of the insurance the courts are likely to consider the policy wording as well as
the nature of the parties’ interests in order to determine whether the insurance is joint or
composite.

Example 7.10
For example, if the policy states that the parties are being insured ‘for their respective
rights and interests’, and the interests are, indeed, different, it is likely to be treated as a
composite policy.

Again, the policy may state specifically that the wrongful act or neglect of one insured
person will not prejudice the rights of another insured.
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/17

Example 7.11
Property policies sometimes contain a ‘mortgage clause’ stating that the cover provided
in respect of the mortgagee (lender) will not be invalidated by any act or neglect of the
mortgagor or owner.

Similar clauses are found in other policies and may be described as ‘anti-avoidance clauses’,
‘breach of warranty clauses’ or ‘incontestable’ clauses.

Case example
The case of Arab Bank plc v. Zurich Insurance Co. (1999) provides a good illustration of
the approach taken by the courts when there is doubt about the nature of a policy
covering several parties.

In this case the defendant insurers provided professional indemnity insurance to JDW, a
company that carried out estate agency and valuation business. The claimants obtained
judgment for breach of professional duty against JDW but the insurers repudiated liability to
indemnify the firm. They did so on the basis of non-disclosure and breach of warranty, based
on the assumed fraud by JDW’s managing director (B) in making valuations for the claimant.
Under the policy, various persons were included within the definition of the insured,
including the company itself and its directors.
Company directors do not have a common interest, and are not jointly and severally liable
for each other’s defaults, and the court ruled that this was a composite insurance that
covered the company and each of its directors individually. The company JDW was
vicariously liable for the fraud of the managing director (B) and, while B could not claim an
indemnity, the insurers were liable to indemnify JDW.
In reaching this decision the court was also influenced by the wording of the policy, and Refer to
chapter 10,
particularly the fact that it allowed the insurers to exercise rights of subrogation against any section A for
fraudulent director – i.e. recover a claim payment from the fraudster. This implied that the subrogation

policy was intended to protect ‘innocent’ directors while denying cover to guilty ones,
indicating that the policy was intended to be composite.

C2 Rights under joint and composite policies

Chapter 7
Where a policy is joint the rights of the joint insureds stand or fall together whereas under a
composite policy each party has a separate interest and can make an independent claim that
is unaffected by the rights, or lack of rights, of the other parties.
As we have seen, this distinction becomes particularly significant where there has been
fraud, a breach of good faith or breach of warranty by one (or more) co-insureds but not by
others, as in the Woolcott and Arab Bank cases discussed above. However, there are other
situations where the distinction may be important.
One such case is where the loss has been brought about by the ‘wilful misconduct’ of the Refer to
chapter 3,
insured or where payment of the claim might be against public policy. If the property in section D3 for
question is jointly owned, and the insurance is joint (which is likely to be the case), an contracts against
public policy
‘innocent’ co-insured could find themselves in a difficult position.

Consider this
this…
…
What about the situation of the estranged spouse who deliberately sets fire to the family
house or other jointly owned property, perhaps as an act of revenge. If the policy is joint
then, on principle, neither party can recover. Does this seems exceedingly harsh on the
‘innocent’ party?

Be aware
At present the law is unclear on this point, although the Financial Ombudsman has taken
the view that the innocent party is entitled to one-half of the amount that would have
been payable in the absence of the wrongful act.
 7/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Terms of a contract

• To assist in resolving disputes over the meaning of words in insurance contracts, there are a number
of rules of construction:
– Statutory rules – the Consumer Rights Act 2015 imposes requirements for fairness and the use of
intelligible language.
– Common law rules – relating to the words’ ordinary meaning; technical or legal meaning; context
(noscitur a sociis and ejusdem generis); the contra proferenterm rule in cases of ambiguity.

Warranties, conditions and other terms

• A warranty is essentially a promise made by the insured relating to facts or to something they
agree to do.
• Continuing warranties are often applied by insurers to ensure that some aspect of good
housekeeping or good management is observed.
• Warranties can arise expressly, when clearly stated in the policy, or, in marine insurance only, be
implied.
• The creation of a warranty by virtue of a basis of contract clause has been abolished in both
consumer and business insurance.
• The consequences of a breach of an insurance warranty prior to the Insurance Act 2015 were
viewed by many to be draconian. The IA 2015 reformed the effect of and mitigated some of the
harsh consequences caused by a breach of an insurance warranty.
• The IA 2015 neither changed the rules regarding creation of warranties nor proposed a chain of
causation requirement between the breach and the loss. Instead of terminating the cover, the Act
suspends the cover during the time that the insured breaches the warranty. Thus, it enables
remedying the breach of a warranty.

Breach of warranty or condition

• An insurer has no liability under an insurance contract for any loss which occurs or is attributable to
something that happens after a warranty has been breached, but before the breach has been
remedied.
• Insurance cover is suspended from when the insured breaches the warranty until it remedies the
breach. Once the breach is remedied, the cover is reinstated.
Chapter 7

• The insurers do not have to prove a connection between the breach and any loss that has occurred
unless the warranty is intended to reduce the risk of loss of a particular kind, location or time
(IA 2015 s.11).

Breach of condition precedent to the contract

• If a condition precedent is to the validity of the policy and is never fulfilled, the contract never
comes into existence.

Breach of condition precedent to liability

• The insurers are automatically discharged from liability for the claim which is tainted by the breach.
• The policy remains in force. If the insured has claims in the future and complies with the condition
precedent the claim may be covered by the policy.
• Under the IA 2015, the insurer may not rely on non-compliance with terms not relevant to the actual
loss (or other than those which define the risk as a whole) to exclude, limit or discharge its liability if
the insured shows that non-compliance with the term could not have increased the risk of the loss
which actually occurred in the circumstances in which it occurred. This rule applies for the terms
that do not define the risk as a whole.

Breach of collateral (or ‘mere

mere’’) condition

• The remedy depends on the seriousness of the breach (similar to innominate terms in contract).
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/19

Joint and composite insurance

• When there is more than one person insured it is important to decide whether the policy is joint or
composite. The distinction between a joint and composite insurance hinges on the interests of the
insured persons.
• A joint policy is ‘indivisible’, so that a breach by one insured (such a breach of good faith) may
cause the whole policy to fail.
• By contrast, a breach or default by one insured under a composite policy may invalidate their own
cover without affecting the right of other insured persons to claim, provided that the latter are
innocent of the breach or default.
• A composite policy can, thus, be viewed as a bundle of separate contracts between the insurers and
the various insured persons, but contained in a single policy.

Chapter 7
 7/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Self-test questions
1. How would you distinguish between a breach of the duty of fair presentation of the
risk and a breach of condition or warranty in insurance?
2. What is the ejusdem generis rule?
3. What is the effect of the contra proferentem rule when interpreting an ambiguous
term? How would this rule typically apply to a term in a consumer insurance
contract?
4. What is a warranty in insurance and how does it differ from a warranty in a
non-insurance contract?
5. What is a warranty in insurance and how does it differ from a warranty in a
non-insurance contract?
6. In what way can a warranty be created?
7. Distinguish between a condition precedent to the contract and a condition
precedent to liability.
8. What are collateral (or ‘mere’) conditions?
9. May insurers avoid a claim for breach of warranty but allow the policy to continue?
10. What are the changes introduced by the Insurance Act 2015 to the remedy for
breach of a warranty?
11. What is the main way in which English law distinguishes between a joint insurance
and a composite insurance?
12. Why is it important to establish whether an insurance policy covering two or more
persons is joint or composite?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Insurance contracts and key terms 7/21

Scenario 7.1: Question

Apply the classification and interpretation of insurance contract terms to practical
situations (LO6.5)
Usha has a household insurance policy which she took out with your company last year.
Her house has been burgled and some very valuable jewellery has been stolen. She
reports this to you but, in the course of the conversation, she reveals that she was in the
rear garden when the burglary happened. She says that she often leaves the front door
unlocked when she is in the rear garden. She was unaware of the burglary until she
re-entered the house.
What impact might this information have on the validity of her policy?
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.

Chapter 7
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 Making the claim
8
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Who can claim on an insurance policy? 7.1, 7.5
B Notice and proof of loss 7.2, 7.5
C Causation 7.3, 7.4, 7.5
D Fraudulent claims 7.5
Key points
Questions
Appendix 8.1: Disclosure summary

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• describe who can enforce an insurance contract and who can benefit under it;
• explain the rules governing notice and proof of loss;
• discuss the doctrine of proximate cause and the effect on its operation of specific policy
wordings; and
• outline the main types of claims fraud, the requirements to demonstrate fraud and the
remedies available.

Chapter 8
 8/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
In the remaining chapters of the study text, we will look at legal issues that affect the
claims process.
In this chapter, we will consider the question of who can make a claim under an insurance
policy and who may benefit from it. Some people who are named in an insurance policy may
not be able to claim on it in their own name, whereas other people who are not named may
be able to enforce the contract. We then look at what the law requires of the insured in
terms of notifying and proving the loss when they first make their claim. Whether the loss is
covered by the policy is crucial. This may involve questions of construction (the meaning or
scope of the words used in the policy) which we looked at in chapter 7, section A3. There
may also be questions of causation. For example, was the loss a direct result of a peril that
the policy insures?

Example 8.1
If I own a shop on the ground floor of a building and a fire breaks out on the floor above,
can I claim under my fire policy if my own stock is damaged by water which the fire
brigade use to put out the fire? And can I claim for smoke damage to my stock, even
though there is no fire on my own premises?

Questions of this sort are governed by the insurance doctrine of proximate cause which we
will look at in section C.
A challenging area for claims functions is the management of fraudulent claims – both in
terms of detection and in trying to avoid paying out on such claims. In section D, we will look
at the main types of fraud, the requirements for establishing that a claim is fraudulent, and
how the law protects insurers.
Once it is clear that a loss is covered by the policy, it will then be necessary to measure the
loss and decide how much the insurers are liable to pay for it.
Here the controlling principle is that of indemnity, which effectively ensures that the
policyholder is fully compensated for their loss, but do not make a profit from it. This is
considered in chapter 9.
Finally, it may be possible for the insurers to recover some or all of the claim payment from
another person who was responsible for the loss, or call upon other insurers to share it with
them. These issues are governed by the principles of subrogation and contribution, which
are connected with the principle of indemnity and support it. They are discussed in
chapter 10.

Key terms
Chapter 8

This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Burden of proof Causation Chain of events Concurrent causes

Fraudulent device Prevention costs Proximate cause

defence

A Who can claim on an insurance policy?

At first sight this is an easy question to answer, because most people would say that ‘the
insured’ is the person who has the right to claim.

Be aware
However, the position is not as straightforward as it might first appear, because the term
‘insured’ may cover a number of different people, some of whom did not make the original
contract with the insurer. Some people who are not named in the policy at all may be able
to enforce the insurance contract, or at least benefit from it.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/3

The starting point is the common law doctrine of privity of contract.

Consider this
this…
…
Look back to chapter 3, section G and remind yourself about the effect of this concept.

You will recall that this doctrine confines the rights and duties under a contract to the
persons who originally made it. If this doctrine were strictly applied it would mean that the
only person who could claim on an insurance policy would be the policyholder (or
policyholders), that is, the person(s) who originally entered into the contract with the
insurer. However, there are many well-established exceptions to this principle in the field of
insurance, some of which we will examine shortly.
Before we look at these exceptions there is another complicating factor to consider.

Consider this
this…
…
Look back to chapter 3, section G1. What piece of legislation changed the doctrine of
privity of contract?

The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 has brought about a fundamental change
in the common law. It provides that a third party (i.e. someone other than one of the original
contracting parties) can enforce a contractual term if:
• the contract provides that they may do so; or
• the contract purports to confer a benefit on the third party.
This would seem to substantially increase the number of people who could possibly claim on
an insurance policy. However, you may also recall that the 1999 Act provides that a third
party will not be able to claim if ‘on a true construction of the contract it appears that the
parties did not intend the term to be enforceable by the third party’.

Be aware
This means that insurers can override the operation of the 1999 Act by making it clear in
the contract that a particular third party cannot enforce the insurance policy, or they can
exclude the operation of the Act altogether – which insurers frequently do.

This means that we must always look at the wording of the policy to decide whom the
contract covers and who can claim it.
We will now consider some circumstances where a person other than the person who made
the contract with the insurers can claim on, or benefit from, an insurance contract. The
subject is complex and only a high level overview is given here.

Chapter 8
A1 Assignment
We have seen that a contract, or the benefit of a contract, can be assigned to a third party. Refer to
chapter 3,
You will recall that if there is a legal assignment, the assignee can enforce the contract in section H for
their own name, whereas in the case of an equitable assignment the assignee must join the assignment

assignor in the action.

A2 Agency
A third party can gain the right to claim on an insurance policy under the rules of agency.
These rules were discussed in chapter 4. The most straightforward situation is where a third
party authorises the policyholder to insure on their behalf.
It is worth noting that the doctrine of the undisclosed principal, considered in chapter 4,
section G2, can apply in insurance.
Finally, you may recall that even if an agent has no authority to contract on behalf of their Refer to
chapter 4,
‘principal’, the ‘principal’ can, nevertheless, take advantage of the contract by ratifying it section A3 for
subsequently. The rules governing ratification apply to insurance in the ordinary way. ratification
 8/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Be aware
However, an important restriction arises from the rule that an undisclosed principal
cannot ratify a contract. This means, in effect, that a third party can ratify an insurance
contract only if they are named in it as the insured (or co-insured). You may also recall
that a marine insurance contract can be ratified even after a loss has occurred. This may
also be the case in non-marine insurance, though the authorities are less clear.

A3 Trusts
Sometimes a person who insures is deemed to have established a trust for the benefit of a
third party, who can enforce the policy. This arises frequently in the field of life insurance
where a person insures their own life but does so expressly for the benefit of another.
There are distinct advantages if a trust can be established:
• on the death of the insured, the policy money goes directly to the beneficiary and is not
counted as part of the insured’s estate; or
• if the insured becomes bankrupt, the beneficiary can usually claim the policy money
without being subject to the claims of the insured’s creditors.
A trust can be created in various ways, but section 11 of the Married Women
Women’’s Property Act
1882 provides the easiest method. If a person insures their life for the benefit of their spouse
and/or children, the policy automatically creates a trust in favour of the objects named
therein’ under the provisions of the Act.
What has been described as a ‘commercial trust’ can also arise in connection with the
insurance of property.

Example 8.2
You may recall that a person who has an insurable interest in goods can insure them for
their full value and, in the event of loss, recover the full amount of the loss. Then, having
deducted the amount of their own loss, they hold the balance in trust for others with an
interest in the goods.

Refer to In circumstances involving bailees and carriers, the third parties who own the goods clearly
chapter 5,
section D2A for benefit from an insurance contract to which they are not a party although, at common law,
bailees and they cannot claim on the insurance in their own names.
carriers
There are a number of statutory exceptions to the doctrine of privity of contract, which
affect various lines of insurance. Some examples are given below:
• Road Traffic Act 1988.
• Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010.
Chapter 8

• Law of Property Act 1925.

• Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774
1774..

A4 Road Traffic Act 1988

Refer to Motor insurance policies often cover persons other than the policyholder including, for
chapter 5,
section C6 for example, various named drivers or, quite frequently, any person who drives the insured
waiver of vehicle with the policyholder’s permission. You may recall that the policyholder can claim an
insurable interest
indemnity on behalf of such additional drivers, and the requirement of insurable interest is
deemed to be waived in such cases.
Section 148(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 effectively reverses the common law rule by
providing that:
…a person issuing a policy of insurance under section 145 of this Act shall be liable to
indemnify the person or classes of person specified in the policy in respect of any
liability which the policy purports to cover in the case of those persons or classes of
persons.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/5

The effect is to allow persons other than the policyholder (such as other persons who are
permitted to drive the vehicle) to enforce the policy directly, although they were not parties
to the original contract. They do not have to show that the insured acted as their agent or
trustee in arranging the cover.
Another exception to the doctrine of privity is found in s.151 of the 1988 Act. In effect, this
allows the victim of a road accident to make a direct claim against the motor insurer of the
negligent driver who caused the accident. Obviously, a third party such as this cannot be a
party to the original motor policy.

The right to make a direct

claim under section 151
arises in cases where:

The accident victim has The driver has failed to

obtained a judgment satisfy the judgment
against the negligent within seven days
driver (that is, the court
has ordered the driver to
pay compensation to him)

If the negligent driver has no insurance a direct claim can be made against the Motor
Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Be aware
Curiously, this right to claim against the MIB may not be technically enforceable by the
road accident victim, because it arises under a series of agreements between the MIB and
the Government, i.e. agreements to which the accident victim is, of course, not a party.
However, it is most unlikely that the MIB would seek to rely on the doctrine of privity to
escape its obligations.

A5 Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010

Consider this
this…
…
What would happen to an accident victim if the wrongdoer becomes bankrupt (or, in the
case of a company, goes into liquidation) before the victim has recovered damages
from him?

Any money payable under a policy covering the liability of the insolvent party is, at common
law, simply added to their assets. So the injured party ranks with other ordinary creditors in

Chapter 8
competition for the assets that are available. If the insolvent party’s debts are large in
relation to their total assets, the accident victim may then receive only a small proportion of
the damages awarded to them.
The root of the problem is again the doctrine of privity which, at common law, prevents the
third party from making any direct claim against the liability insurers.
Under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 19301930, the rights of an insolvent
insured to an indemnity from its insurers under a liability policy were transferred to a third
party claimant. However, the third party was required to establish the claim in proceedings
against the insolvent insured prior to obtaining any rights under the insurance against the
insurer. An important point to note is that the rights transferred were those of the insured
and it follows that the third party’s claim against insurers under the 1930 Act was only as
good as the insured’s claim to indemnity.
The procedure required under the 1930 Act was cumbersome and time-consuming, and so
the Act has been replaced by the new Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010. This
makes it easier, quicker and less expensive for a third party claimant, such as an accident
victim, to bring a claim directly against liability insurers, bypassing the insured and the
insured’s other creditors.
 8/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

The 2010 Act came into force on 1 August 2016, six years after its adoption by Parliament.
This delay was caused by the need for primary legislation to make a minor correction to the
rules on administration. The Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015) provided for the amendment of
the 2010 Act by statutory instrument to correct the problem. The relevant amending
secondary legislation was adopted and published in May 2016 in the form of the Third
Parties (Rights against Insurers) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/570)
2016/570).
The amended 2010 Act provides for rights to be transferred to a third party in the case that
the insured is facing financial difficulties and uses certain alternatives to insolvency, such as
voluntary procedures between the insured and the insured’s creditors. The 2010 Act retains
the basic notion of the 1930 Act, but also introduces a number of changes in order to remove
some of the procedural obstacles caused by the 1930 Act.

A6 Law of Property Act 1925

Under s.47 of the Law of Property Act 1925, the benefit of any insurance effected by the
vendor of real property (houses and other buildings) is automatically assigned to the
purchaser if, after exchange of contracts, the property is damaged or destroyed.
Thus, any insurance money received by the seller for such damage must be paid to the buyer
on completion. In practice, this provision is of limited significance, because the usual
arrangement will be for the buyer to arrange his own insurance on the property from the
date of exchange of contracts.

A7 Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774

Section 83 of the Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774 allows a person who has a legal or
equitable interest in buildings (such as a lessee, mortgagee or person who has exchanged
contracts) to effectively compel the owner or their insurers to reinstate (rebuild) the
property if it is damaged or destroyed by fire.
They can do this by serving notice on the insured of their interest, in which case the insurer,
must ‘cause the insurance money…to be laid out in reinstatement’ of the property. This does
not mean that the insurers need necessarily reinstate the building themselves but, failing
this, they must withhold payment of the insured’s claim until they are given a suitable
guarantee that the insured themselves will do so. The third party who invokes the Act cannot
claim on the policy as such, but they can influence the way in which the claim is settled.

A8 Policies with ‘additional insureds

insureds’’
Insurance policies, and especially liability insurance contracts, often grant an indemnity (i.e.
protection) to persons other than the main insured, which is usually a company.
Chapter 8

Example 8.3
An indemnity may be given to:
• any principal (usually another firm) that employs the insured (firm) to do work for
them;
• owners of plant that is hired by the insured; and
• employees and directors of the insured firm (who could be sued personally, in place of
the insured firm itself, if there is an accident).

Many other examples could be cited. Although the policy may clearly be intended to protect
people such as those mentioned above, it does not follow that they can enforce the contract
themselves. Whether they can do so depends on agency principles (as discussed above), the
operation of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, and also the wording of the
policy.
Since the contract appears to ‘confer a benefit’ on these additional insured persons, it would
appear that they can claim directly against the insurers should the need arise. However,
many, if not most insurers, exclude the operation of the 1999 Act altogether, which they are
permitted to do.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/7

Furthermore, insurers often restrict the right of additional insured persons to claim directly
by providing that an indemnity in their favour will be granted only ‘with the consent of the
insured’, or ‘if the insured so requests’. This, which in itself is probably enough to override the
effect of the 1999 Act, allows a claim to be made only with the permission of the main
insured. If there is a dispute, or the amount of cover is insufficient to indemnify both the main
insured and additional insureds, permission could be refused.

A9 ‘Noting the interest

interest’’ of third parties
Property insurance policies often have the interest of various persons other than the
policyholder ‘noted’ in them.

Example 8.4
The interest of a mortgagee (lender with security over the property) is often noted.

However, ‘noting the interest’ of a third party does not, in itself, make them a party to the
insurance and it is unlikely to bring the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 into play.

Be aware
In fact, it seems that ‘noting’ gives the third party little or no significant legal protection.

B Notice and proof of loss

When a loss occurs the insured will always be required, by a policy condition, to give notice
of the loss.
Often, (and especially in the case of liability insurances) the condition will also require the
insured to give notice of any incident or event which may give rise to a claim, so that the
insurers are forewarned when a claim may be imminent.

Activity
Find a liability policy wording and look at the requirements for notifying a claim. Are there
time limits? Is there a prescribed form for notification?

B1 Time limits for notification

A time limit for notification, such as 15 or 30 days, may be given by the insurer. If the insured Refer to
chapter 7,
fails to comply with the time limit the insurers may, in theory, have the right to deny liability section B2B for
for the loss, because a provision of this sort will usually be a condition precedent to liability. conditions
precedent to

Chapter 8
liability

Be aware
In the case of the compulsory classes of motor and employers’ liability insurance, English
law specifically prohibits insurers from repudiating liability by relying on the breach of a
notification or other claims condition. Late reported claims covered by the compulsory
insurance legislation must always be met and the insurers may have a right of recovery
against the insured.

The Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 introduces some exceptions to the Refer to
section A5 for the
policy defences that can be brought against the third party. A policy condition may require 2010 Act
the insured to provide continuing information and assistance to the insurer once notice has
been given of the claim. However, s.9(3) provides that the transferred rights are not subject
to such a condition if the insured no longer exists, either because it is an individual who has
died or a company that has been dissolved, and is therefore incapable of fulfilling the
condition.
Section 9(4) adds that a condition requiring information and assistance does not include a
condition requiring the insured to give notice of a claim to the insurer. That means that an
insurer may still rely on breach of a notification clause. However, if a third party complies
with such notice requirements, its compliance is to be treated as having been done by the
insured (s.9(2)).
 8/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

B2 The burden of proof

The policy may specifically state that the insured must give full particulars of the loss or
provide ‘such proofs and information as may reasonably be required’. Regardless of what
formalities (if any) the policy lays down, the burden of proving the loss remains with the
insured and it is obviously in their best interests to complete the claim form, provide as much
information as possible and generally co-operate with the insurers in their investigation of
the loss.
To discharge the burden of proof
proof, the insured must be able to establish two things:
• that the loss was caused by the operation of an insured peril; and
• the amount of his loss.
These things must be established by the insured ‘on the balance of probabilities’.

Example 8.5
So for example, in the case of a theft claim, the insured must prove that it is more likely
than not that the property has been stolen and provide good evidence of value to support
the amount claimed.

B3 The loss must be fortuitous

As suggested earlier, disputes may arise about the meaning of the words used in the policy
or the cause of the loss itself. However, before discussing these questions we should
emphasise that, whatever the peril, the law requires that the loss must be accidental or
fortuitous.
The loss must not be caused deliberately by the insured or brought about by the insured’s
own wilful misconduct.

Example 8.6
There are many cases that confirm the (rather obvious) point that a fire policy does not
provide cover if the insured deliberately sets fire to the property.

Refer to Deliberate acts by persons other than the policyholder are a different matter. Intentional
chapter 7,
section C for damage by, say, members of the insured’s family or their employees will be covered,
composite provided that the insured has no involvement in their actions. Again, you will recall that
insurance
under a composite insurance, wilful misconduct by one co-insured will not usually prejudice
the right to claim of an innocent co-insured.
In theory, insurers can extend their policies to cover deliberate losses if they wish.

Case example
Chapter 8

You will recall, for example, that in the suicide case Beresford v. Royal Insurance Co. Ltd
(1938) (discussed in chapter 3, section D3) it was held that the life policy did cover suicide
and that the insurers could extend the contract to cover a deliberate loss if they wished,
although the claim failed on other grounds. It is, of course, most unlikely that insurers will
ever wish to extend their policies to cover losses caused deliberately by the insured,
except, perhaps, in the case of suicide under a life policy.

Although insurance policies do not cover deliberate losses, there is no general rule of law
which prevents the insured from claiming for a loss which has been brought about by his
own carelessness. In fact, many insurance claims involve an element of negligence by the
insured. Indeed, in the case of liability insurance, the main purpose of the contract is to
protect against the consequences of the insured’s own negligence.
Although it is presumed that insurance policies cover losses caused by negligence, this
general rule may also be modified by the wording of the policy.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/9

Example 8.7
Insurers often seek to avoid liability for losses caused by excessive carelessness by
including a ‘reasonable precautions’ clause in the contract. For example:
• ‘You must take all reasonable care to protect the property insured, prevent loss or
damage and prevent accidents or injury.’ (From a household policy.)
• ‘The insured shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard from loss or damage and
maintain in efficient condition any motor car for which indemnity is granted hereunder.’
(From a motor policy.)

Activity
What do you think the main challenges are for the insurer and the insured when looking at
how a ‘reasonable precautions’ clause should apply?

The English courts have often been rather reluctant to enforce conditions of this sort. In the
case of liability insurances they have generally been enforced only in the case of reckless
conduct by the insured: in other words, conduct where the insured is not merely careless but
deliberately takes an obvious and unjustified risk. It seems that the courts now take a similar
attitude with property insurance claims.

Case example
In Sofi v. Prudential Assurance Company Ltd (1993)
(1993), conditions requiring the insured to
take ‘reasonable care to avoid loss’ in a personal all risks policy and a travel policy were
interpreted in this way. The insured had been travelling to France and, arriving at the
Dover ferry with time to spare, left his car in an unattended car park for 15 minutes.
Valuables worth £50,000 were locked in the glove compartment of the car and these
were stolen when the car was broken into. The Court of Appeal decided that the insured
was entitled to claim because his conduct, although careless, was not reckless.

Finally, you should note that conditions of this sort are treated like exceptions, in the sense
that the burden of proof (of recklessness) rests on the insurer.

B4 Insurers
Insurers’’ obligations in handling claims –
the ICOBS rules
You will recall that the FCA Insurance: Conduct of Business (ICOBS) Rules place some
restrictions on the right of insurers to avoid claims made by ‘consumers’ when there has
been a breach of the duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or condition.
The rules found in Chapter 8 of the ICOBS Sourcebook cover the general process of claims

Chapter 8
handling. In this connection, they are not always restricted to ‘consumers’, since some apply
to ‘commercial customers’ or ‘non-consumer (business) customers’ also (i.e. to business
insurances as well as private insurances).
In summary, the claims handling rules require insurers to:
• handle claims promptly and fairly;
• provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim and appropriate
information on its progress;
• not unreasonably reject a claim (including by termination or avoiding a policy); and
• settle claims promptly once settlement has been agreed.
The Rules also place some duties on intermediaries (i.e. insurance brokers or agents) who
handle claims.

Be aware
In particular, intermediaries must not put themselves in a position where their own
interests, or their duty to another party (e.g. to an insurer), conflict with their duty to any
customer (i.e. insured).
 8/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Activity
Look again at the FCA website www.fca.org.uk.
Remind yourself of the requirements of ICOBS, and in particular the claims handling rules.

B5 Damages for late payment

Prior to the Enterprise Act 2016
2016, claiming interest used to be the only option available to an
insured who suffered loss as a result of an insurer’s late payment of the insured amount.
Claiming damages for such late payments was denied by the English courts. This is because
the courts were of the view that the payment of the claim was in fact damages for breach of
contract, as the insurer had failed to prevent the insured event occurring, and the position in
law that a party cannot claim damages for failure to pay damages.

Case example
In Sprung v. Royal Insurance (UK) Ltd (1999)
(1999), the insured’s business was invaded by
thieves or vandals and the machinery wrecked. The insured needed the insured amount to
save his business. Initially, the insurer denied liability, but it then decided to pay the
insured amount three-and-a-half years later. During this time, the insured lost his business.
The Court of Appeal rejected the insured’s claim from the insurer for damages for late
payment. The only option recognised by the court for the insured to be compensated for
late payment was claiming interest.

The lack of remedy available to insureds when the insurer wrongly disputed a claim was
subject to much criticism as it was not in line with the general position of commercial
contract law. Therefore, the Enterprise Act 2016 added s.13A to the IA 2015, which allows the
court to award damages for late payment where the insurer has acted unreasonably.
Section 13A of the IA 2015 came into force alongside the Enterprise Act 2016 on 4 May 2017.
The law reform makes it an implied term under the insurance contract that the insurer must
pay any sums due in respect of the claim within a reasonable time. Breach of this provision
will result in contractual damages, in addition to the sums due under the policy and any
interest on those sums. It is apparent from s.13A(5) that the sums awarded by way of
damages are in addition to the sums due under the policy and any interest on those sums. It
is worth noting that the damages are available when a claim is made by the insured. It is
understood from the Law Commissions’ report No. 353 that the Law Commissions intended
this to mean that damages for late payment cannot be awarded against an insurer where the
claim is made by a third party, e.g. an assignee, or by a party with transferred rights under
the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010. As appears from the wording of
s.13A(5), damages are not capped and so they may exceed the amount covered by the
policy. Section 29 of the Enterprise Act 2016 added s.16A to the IA 2015 to regulate
contracting out of the IA s.13A. Contracting out of s.13A to the detriment of a consumer
Chapter 8

insured, is of no effect. For non-consumer insureds, it is not permitted to put the insured in a
worse position than the IA provides in the case of the insurer being deliberate or reckless in
breaching s.13A of the IA 2015. A breach meets that description if the insurer knew that it
was in breach or did not care that it was in breach. For other cases, the insurer may contract
out if the transparency requirement is satisfied.

C Causation
We have seen that careful drafting is necessary to minimise disputes about the meaning of
the words used in insurance policies. Unfortunately, even where there is no dispute about
the meaning of the words used, a dispute may still arise as to the true cause of the loss. This
is a separate issue.

Consider this
this…
…
A policy may cover fire but exclude fire caused by earthquake. What happens if a fire
breaks out during an earthquake?
There may be a dispute, not about the meaning of the words ‘earthquake’ or ‘fire’, but
about whether or not the fire resulted from the earthquake.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/11

Problems in relation to causation can take various forms.

• In some cases it may be difficult to separate the effects of a peril which is insured (e.g.
fire), from the operation of another peril which is excluded (e.g. earthquake), because the
two are linked together in some way.
• In other cases the operation of a peril that is insured (such as fire) may result in damage of
a different sort (e.g. damage by smoke, or water used to put out the fire, or looters who
take advantage of the chaos in order to steal).
Again, the insurance underwriter will want to know as precisely as possible how far they are
liable in such cases. They will be unable to fix premiums accurately if there is uncertainty
about the extent of his liability. Equally, the insured will wish to know how wide their cover is.
There must be rules to distinguish between the operation of one peril and another, and to
define how close the relationship must be between an insured peril and a loss for which the
insured can recover.

Be aware
These issues are governed by the doctrine of proximate cause
cause. According to the doctrine,
the loss in question must result directly from the operation of an insured peril if the
insurance is to respond.

Like many insurance principles, the doctrine is codified in the Marine Insurance Act 1906
1906), in this case in section 55(1):
(MIA 1906)
…unless the policy otherwise provides, the insurer is liable for any loss proximately
caused by a peril insured against, but…he is not liable for any loss which is not
proximately caused by a peril insured against.
The doctrine is easy to state but sometimes hard to apply in practice. There is a vast number
of cases on the subject but these are not always helpful, since the outcome of a case will
usually depend on its own particular facts rather than on matters of law. Again, the facts of
disputed cases are often finely balanced, so that different decisions are often reached in
cases that appear to be very similar.
Of course, when an accident or loss occurs many things may help to bring it about.

Example 8.8
A road accident may be the combined result of careless driving, bad weather, a poor road
surface, inadequate warning signs, a vehicle with poor safety features and many other
chance factors.

That which we regard as the ‘proximate cause’ may well depend on who we are and the
purpose of our enquiry. For example, a policeman may take a different view from that of a

Chapter 8
motor vehicle engineer or road safety campaigner.
In insurance, however, we are concerned only with the proximate cause for the purpose of
the agreement expressed in the insurance policy. In other words, our task is to establish
whether or not the parties intended the loss to be covered.
To find the intention of the parties we will usually need to consider only the perils insured
and perils excluded by the policy.

C1 Insured
Insured,, excluded and uninsured perils
MIA 1906 states that the proximate cause of the loss must be a ‘peril insured against’. Before
exploring the concept of proximate cause we must first look at the way in which these
insured perils are defined. This depends on how the policy is written.
In some cases there are specified or named perils, while in other cases the cover is written on
an ‘all risks’ basis. In the former case, exclusions are used to limit the scope of the insured
perils and losses from any other source than an insured peril are simply uninsured.
 8/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 8.9
A basic fire policy covers the risks of fire, lightning and explosion (to a limited degree) but
excludes, for example, fire caused by earthquake, riot, war and a number of other risks.
Loss of the insured property by theft can be described as an ‘uninsured’ peril, i.e. a peril
which is obviously not covered by the policy but which it is unnecessary to exclude.

‘All risks’ policies are put together in a different way. Any peril that is not specifically
excluded is automatically an insured peril and there is no third class of ‘uninsured’ perils. This
is shown below:

Named perils policy (e.g. fire insurance)

1. insured perils e.g. fire

2. excluded perils e.g. fire caused by earthquake, or war risks, or nuclear risks

3. uninsured perils e.g. loss by theft

‘All risks
risks’’ policy (e.g. personal ‘all risks
risks’’)

1. excluded perils e.g. ordinary wear and tear, gradual deterioration, inherent
vice

2. insured perils any form of fortuitous (accidental) loss other than (1)

The significance of the distinction between an excluded (or excepted) peril and an uninsured
peril becomes important when two such perils operate together. This will be explored later.

C2 What is the proximate cause

cause?
?
There is no standard legal definition of proximate cause. It has been described, in various
cases, as the ‘active’, ‘direct’, ‘real’, ‘immediate’, ‘dominant’, ‘operative’ or ‘efficient’ cause of
the loss. We could simply say that it is the main cause of the loss, or the cause that is most
powerful in its effect.
To speak of a ‘main’ or ‘direct’ cause, suggests that there are also ‘minor’ or ‘indirect’
causes – in other words, causes which play only a small part in bringing about the loss. These
are generally described as remote causes – a ‘remote cause’ being more or less the opposite
of a proximate cause. The law will normally disregard remote causes and consider only the
proximate cause of the loss. However, as we shall see later, the wording of the policy may
sometimes require the effect of remote causes to be considered also.
In looking for the proximate cause, insurance law has traditionally assumed that, no matter
how complicated the situation, one factor can be identified as the most powerful in bringing
Chapter 8

about the loss, this being the proximate cause (although, as we shall see, it has recently been
accepted that there might be more than one proximate cause). The courts have generally
taken a common-sense approach when looking for the proximate cause. Causation is to be
understood as by the man in the street, and not, for example, as by either the scientist or
metaphysician.
In fact, finding the proximate cause of a loss is not difficult when the circumstances of a loss
are simple and little time passes between the event which brings about the loss and the
damage that results.

Example 8.10
There can be little dispute about the proximate cause of the loss when thieves break into a
shop and steal electrical goods or when slates are stripped from a roof in a violent storm.

Difficulty tends to arise when the loss results from a series of events which are spread over
time and other perils, uninsured or excluded, are involved besides those which are insured –
in other words, where there is a so-called ‘chain (or train) of events’. A further possibility is
that two or more perils will operate together to bring about a loss. These are known as
causes. We will look at these in turn.
concurrent causes
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/13

C3 ‘Chain of events
events’’
Case example
The leading authority on this, and on proximate cause generally, is the decision of the
House of Lords in Leyland Shipping v. Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd (1918)
(1918).
This concerned a ship that was damaged by a torpedo (excluded as a war risk) which,
after reaching the port of Le Havre, sank while trying to move to an outer berth during a
storm (insured as a peril of the sea).
The established approach at this time would have been to treat the last event to occur as
the proximate cause, but the House of Lords held that the cause needed to be ‘proximate
in efficiency’, not ‘closest in time’. As a result, the torpedo was treated as the proximate
cause, because the damaged caused had been effective throughout – the chain of events
had not been broken.
Before the Leyland Shipping case, the principle was that the latest event in the chain,
proximate in time, had been the cause of the loss. Leyland Shipping replaced this principle
with that of ‘proximate in efficiency’ which is to be determined as a matter of common
sense and business seafaring.

Case example
The personal accident case of Etherington v. Lancashire and Yorkshire Accident
Insurance Company (1909) provides a good example of an ‘unbroken’ chain of events.
The insured fell from his horse, and suffered some injuries that forced him to lie in cold and
damp conditions so that he contracted pneumonia, of which he eventually died. It was
held that the proximate cause of his death was the original ‘accident’ of the fall from the
horse and not the disease that ultimately killed him (which was excluded).

In theory, where there is a ‘chain of events’, the insurers are liable where the loss flows in an
unbroken chain directly from an insured peril. Equally, there is no liability if the loss flows
directly from an excluded peril.

Case example
In the fire insurance case of Tootal Broadhurst Lee Company v. London and Lancashire
Fire Insurance Company (1908) an earthquake caused an oil stove to overturn. Spilt oil
was ignited by the wick and the building caught fire. The fire spread from one building to
another by radiant heat and sparks and embers carried on the breeze until the insured
premises, some 500 yards away, caught fire. The loss was not insured because the policy
excluded fire caused by earthquake, and the chain of causation between this excluded
peril and the loss was unbroken.

However, the chain will be unbroken only where each event is the natural and probable
result of what happened before. If the chain is broken by some new intervening cause the

Chapter 8
position will be different.

Case example
In Marsden v. City and County Insurance (1865) a fire caused a mob to gather, and glass
was broken when a riot developed and the mob took to plundering. The policy in question
covered breakage of glass but excluded breakage by fire. In this case, the riotous conduct
of the mob was not an inevitable or probable result of the fire and so the chain of events
was broken. The riot and not the fire was held to be the proximate cause, so the exception
did not apply and the loss was covered.

C3A Efforts to avoid or reduce loss

Insurance policies usually require the insured to take reasonable precautions to avoid loss or
damage and also to take reasonable steps to mitigate (i.e. minimise) any loss which actually
occurs. Damage to the subject matter insured should be distinguished from costs incurred
by the insured to prevent or minimise an insured loss.
 8/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 8.11
To take some obvious examples, fire insurers are liable to pay for damage caused by
water which is used to extinguish a fire. They are also liable to pay for damage to the
premises (such as the breaking down of doors) caused by the fire services in gaining
access to a building that is on fire.

C3B Prevention costs

Although damage to the insured subject matter is covered if it is the result of reasonable
efforts to avoid or reduce the impact of an insured peril, the English courts have refused to
allow recovery for mere prevention costs – unless the policy provides otherwise.
By this we mean, not damage to the subject matter itself, but expense incurred to prevent
damage being caused to the subject matter by an insured peril.

Case example
In Yorkshire Water Services Ltd v. Sun Alliance and London Insurance plc (1997)
(1997), the
claimants incurred expense in repairing an embankment in order to prevent sewage
sludge from escaping into the adjacent river. They tried to argue that there was an implied
term that required them to take action to prevent or minimise insured losses, and that it
was also an implied term that they would be indemnified for any expenditure involved in
complying with this term.
The Court of Appeal rejected this argument, on the basis that it was open to the parties to
agree expressly that such expenses would be recoverable. In addition, there was an
express term that required the insured to take reasonable precautions to prevent a loss
event, maintaining buildings etc., at their own expense. The suggested implied term would
therefore be inconsistent with the express wording of the contract.
This case established that it is not an implied term in an insurance contract that the insurer
would indemnify the insured for the expenses incurred to prevent or minimise an insured
loss. An express term to this effect is required.

The same approach is followed outside liability insurance. In All Leisure Holidays Ltd v.
(2011), the passenger protection insurance policy was
Europaische Reiseversicherung AG (2011)
‘to indemnify the Insured Persons in respect of their net ascertained financial loss sustained
arising from the cancellation or curtailment of the declared trip travel arrangements arising
solely from the event of the insolvency of [Hebridean International Cruises Limited (HICL)]’.
HICL entered administration before it performed the contracts it had entered into with its
clients to provide them with cruises on board Hebridean Princess. The cruise ship was sold to
another company by HICL’s administrators. The purchaser of Hebridean Princess offered to
perform the contracts but requested the clients make a claim against HICL’s insurers and
Chapter 8

pay the cost of the cruise from the insured amount. The court held that the beneficiary of a
travel policy providing cover in the event of the cancellation of a cruise was not required to
accept an alternative cruise on identical terms but offered by another provider.
Marine insurance policies usually contain a sue and labour clause which entitles the insured
to claim expenses incurred to prevent or minimise insured losses.

C3C A ‘chain
chain’’ or a ‘net
net’’?
In reality, perhaps, very few losses are the result of a simple ‘chain of events’ and the
comparison with a ‘chain’ may often be rather misleading. Ultimately, it is the most ‘efficient’
or powerful cause that is the proximate cause, irrespective of how it connects with other
events.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/15

C4 Concurrent causes
Occasionally, two or more perils operate concurrently (i.e. at the same time) to bring
about a loss.

Example 8.12
A building might be damaged by a fire that was raging and a storm that was battering it at
the same time.

Where the perils are independent (in the sense that one did not lead to the other) and either
one would have caused some loss without the other, the insurers are simply liable for that
part of the loss attributable to whichever peril is insured. So, in our example, if the policy
covered fire but excluded storm the insurers would be liable for the fire damage but not for
the storm damage. In some cases, of course, it may be difficult to say how much damage
would have been caused by the insured peril alone.
In other cases the perils may not only be independent (i.e. one did not lead to the other) but
also interdependent, in the sense that neither peril would have caused damage on its own. In
this case, of course, it is impossible to attribute part of the damage to one peril and part to
the other, because all the damage is caused by the two working together and none would
have been caused by either peril working separately. We mentioned earlier that, according
to the traditional view, there could never be two proximate causes of a loss and in such a
case one of the perils would have to be chosen as the proximate cause. It is now accepted,
however, that two causes might be equally powerful in their effect, so that each is a
proximate cause. If this happens the result will depend on whether there is a combination of
an insured peril and an excepted peril, or a combination of an insured peril and an
uninsured peril.

C4A Insured peril combined with excepted peril

If one peril is an insured peril and the other is an excluded peril, the exception prevails and
the insurers have no liability at all.

Case example
In Wayne Tank and Pump Co. Ltd v. Employers
Employers’’ Liability Insurance Corporation Ltd
(1974) the insured company had built a storage tank at a plasticine factory. A fire started
in the tank and destroyed the factory, so that they had to pay damages to the owners,
Harbutt’s Plasticine Ltd. The fire for which they were legally liable arose from a
combination of two causes. First, from the defective state of the equipment installed (a
source of liability which was excluded by the public liability policy) and, second, from the
negligent act of an employee who switched on equipment so that it was left on all night (a
source which was insured). These causes were independent (neither one led to the other)
and also interdependent (neither would have caused the fire on its own).

Chapter 8
The court held that the proximate cause of the loss was the defective state of the
equipment but it was noted, obiter, that had both causes been equally powerful the
insurers would still have escaped liability since one ‘peril’ was excluded.

C4B Insured peril combines with uninsured peril

If one of the perils is an insured peril and the other is an uninsured peril (i.e. not specifically
excluded) the position is different. In this case the insurers are liable for the whole of the loss.

Case example
The leading case is J. J. Lloyd (Instruments) Ltd v. Northern Star Insurance Co. Ltd
(1987) (‘The Miss Jay Jay’). In this case, damage to a yacht was caused by two concurrent
proximate causes. First, heavy weather (a peril of the sea which was insured) and, second,
defective design (which was an uninsured peril – neither insured not excluded). Neither
cause would have brought about the loss on its own and, since the former was insured
and the latter was not excluded, the insurers were liable in full.
 8/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

The following summary may be helpful at this point:

Concurrent perils

Independent perils combine to cause a loss: Insurers pay for the loss attributable to the insured
each would have caused some loss on peril only
its own

Interdependent perils combine to cause a 1. Insured peril plus excluded peril: no liability for
loss: neither would have caused loss on the loss and exclusion prevails
its own
2. Insured peril plus uninsured peril: full liability for
the loss and insured peril prevails

Sometimes it may be hard to say whether there is one proximate cause, or two operating
concurrently.

Case example
In Midland Mainline Ltd and Others v. Eagle Star Insurance Co. Ltd (2004)
(2004), the Court of
Appeal considered claims under a business interruption policy arising out of the Hatfield
rail disaster. In this case, the Court of Appeal had to consider whether train operators’
business interruption losses were caused by unusual levels of wear and tear (an excluded
peril) or speed restrictions (introduced by Railtrack as a result of the wear and tear).
It was held that there were two possible ways of viewing the situation – (a) that wear and
tear (an excluded risk) was the sole proximate cause of the loss, even though the speed
restrictions were the immediate cause; and (b) that there were two causes of roughly
equal effectiveness (the wear and tear and the speed restrictions) and, therefore, two
proximate causes. Whether the wear and tear was the single proximate or both were
proximate causes, the insurer was entitled to rely on the exclusion and refuse the claim.

It may be worth noting that this case differs from Wayne Tank and Miss Jay Jay in that the
two possible causes of the loss (the wear and tear and the speed restrictions) were not
independent, since the first led to the second. On this basis, the first analysis (wear and tear
the sole proximate cause) seems a better explanation.

C5 Modification of the doctrine of proximate cause

The doctrine of proximate cause can be excluded or modified by the particular words used
in the policy.

Example 8.13
Insurers may wish to exclude some risks (such as war risks) absolutely and be in a position
to refuse payment even where the peril operates as a remote cause (i.e. a cause which
Chapter 8

makes only a minor contribution to the loss).

To achieve this, insurers sometimes exclude losses caused ‘directly or indirectly’ by the peril
in question. Providing the clause is upheld, the effect will be to exclude any loss in which the
peril operates, even though it does so only as a remote cause.

Case example
In Coxe v. Employers
Employers’’ Liability Insurance Corporation Ltd (1916) the insured was killed in
the darkness by a train while inspecting sentries guarding a railway, the lights having been
extinguished under wartime regulations. War was excluded as an indirect as well as a
direct cause and so the insurers were not liable, even though war was only a remote cause
of the accident. The effect, therefore, was to widen the exclusion and reduce the scope of
the cover.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/17

Case example
The case of Dunthorne v. Bentley (1996) provides a further interesting example of a case
where the doctrine of proximate cause was modified by the words of the policy. In this
case, however, the effect was to widen the scope of the cover rather than narrow it.
A Mrs Bentley had parked her car at the side of a major road, having run out of petrol.
After about ten minutes a colleague stopped on the other side of the road. Mrs Bentley
rushed across the road to talk to her colleague but ran into the path of a car driven by
Dunthorne. Mrs Bentley was killed and Dunthorne was seriously injured.
Dunthorne brought an action in negligence against the estate of Mrs Bentley, and her
motor insurers were called upon to pay the claim. The motor policy covered liability
‘caused by or arising out of’ Mrs Bentley’s use of her motor vehicle. However, the motor
insurers denied liability, pointing out that Mrs Bentley’s car had been properly parked
about ten minutes before the accident occurred and, therefore, the accident was not
‘caused by or arising out’ of her use of the car.
The Court of Appeal accepted that the accident for which she was liable was not ‘caused
by’ the use of the car; that is, the use of the car was not the proximate cause of the
accident. Nevertheless, the court held that the accident did ‘arise out of’ the use of the
car – and so the insurers were liable.
The inclusion of the words ‘arise out of’ indicated that the doctrine of proximate cause
was not to be applied strictly and that cover operated where the use of the car was only a
remote cause of the accident.

C6 The burden of proof

The burden is on the insured to prove that an insured peril was the proximate cause of the
loss. So, in simple terms, in the case of fire insurance the insured must prove that the
property has been burned or, in the case of theft insurance, that it has been stolen.
However, where the insurance is written on an ‘all risks’ basis, and no insured perils are
named, the insured does not have to prove the operation of any specific peril and need only
prove that the loss was accidental.
Once the insured has established ‘prima facie’ (‘on the face of it’) loss by an insured peril the
burden shifts to the insurers. If they wish to reject the claim they must prove in turn that an
excepted peril was the proximate cause of the loss. However, these general principles
governing the burden of proof may themselves be modified by the terms of the policy. In
some cases, the insurers may shift the burden of proof by requiring the insured to prove that
a loss was not caused by an excepted peril.

Example 8.14

Chapter 8
Fire insurance policies sometimes used to provide that if a fire occurred during an
earthquake or time of civil commotion the insurers would be liable only if the insured
could prove that the fire did not arise from either cause.

Be aware
However, the courts are unsympathetic to these ‘reverse burden clauses’ and construe
them narrowly. Furthermore, clauses of this sort would almost certainly be struck out as
unfair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015
2015, were they to be used in ‘consumer’ insurance
contracts.

The standard of proof in the case of insured or excepted perils is that of the civil law
generally, i.e. proof on a balance of probabilities.
 8/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

D Fraudulent claims
In this section, we will look at how the law applies to claims involving fraud, focusing on the
types of fraudulent claim, the requirements to establish fraud and the remedies available to
insurers. We will not be looking at the practicalities of identifying and managing fraudulent
claims.
There are broadly four types of fraud involved in claims:
• Falsification of a loss – i.e. the insured makes a claim when they have suffered no loss.
• Deliberate loss – i.e. a policyholder deliberately causes the loss in order to bring a claim.
For instance, in Samuel v. Dumas (1924)
(1924), the insured deliberately sunk the ship he owned
and insured.
• Exaggeration of a loss – i.e. if the insured exaggerates the amount of loss, the claim would
be fraudulent. In Galloway v. Guardian Royal Exchange (UK) Ltd (1999)
(1999), the insured
claimed £2,000 for the loss of a computer which in fact did not take place.
• Lying about the circumstances of a genuine loss to improve the chances of a claim being
paid by the insurer. An insurer’s rejection of a claim on this basis is referred to as the
‘fraudulent device defence. We will explore this in more detail below.
device’’ defence
Where it is established that an insured has committed fraud as part of a claim, an insurer will
have remedies available under statute (the IA 2015) and in common law (the tort of deceit),
and may also be able to recover losses as part of any criminal proceedings.

D1 Requirements to establish fraud

D1A Defining fraud
The ABI gives the following definition:
Insurance fraud is when someone invents or exaggerates a claim, or does not tell the
truth in order to obtain cheaper cover.
There is, however, no single definition of fraud although there are various sources that
insurers can use to support their approach to determining whether a claim is fraudulent.
Insurers must apply common principles and relevant legislation when looking to establish
that fraud has been committed.
The Fraud Act 2006
This notes that a person is guilty of the criminal offence of fraud if they:
• dishonestly makes a false representation;
• dishonestly fails to disclose to another person information which he or she is under a duty
to disclose; or
Chapter 8

• dishonestly abuses their position.

For each of these, there must be an intention to make a gain for themselves or to expose
another to the risk of loss. For insurance claims, fraud is likely to take the form of a false
representation but could also relate to a failure to disclose.
The Insurance Act 2015
In the Explanatory Notes, Para 99 states that the Act does not define fraud, and that the
remedies set out in Part 4 (see section D2A) will be available where fraud is established in
accordance with common law principles.
Common law – the tort of deceit
In the case of case Derry v. Peek (1889)
(1889), the House of Lords held that:
..in order to sustain an action of deceit, there must be proof of fraud, and nothing
short of that will suffice. Secondly, fraud is proved when it is shown that a false
representation has been made knowingly or without belief in its truth or recklessly,
careless as to whether it be true or false.

D1B Burden of proof for fraud

For criminal prosecution of fraud to succeed, the prosecuting body will have to meet the
criminal standard of proof – i.e. prove the case ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/19

In order to enforce its rights to a civil remedy following a fraudulent claim, an insurer will
need to meet the civil standard of proof which requires that they establish that the person
committed fraud ‘on the balance of probabilities’.

Be aware
It is, however, important to note that the standard for establishing fraud is likely to be
higher than for other types of civil action. This was established in the case of S. and M.
Carpets Ltd v. Cornhill Insurance Company (1981) in which it was held by the High
Court that:
..if a defendant or plaintiff is to allege fraud, then the standard of proof is
somewhat higher than that ordinarily applicable to civil matters, but not as high as
that relating to criminal matters.
The nature of what is being alleged means that the burden of proof is very much with the
insurer to prove that fraud has taken place.

D1C Fraudulent devices

As mentioned in section D, the term ‘fraudulent device’ refers to fraudulent statements that
are designed to increase the likelihood of a claim being paid out, where the underlying claim
may be genuine (and valid under the policy). The historical position has been that where
such fraud is established, the insured would forfeit their claim. For instance, in Sharon
Sharon’’s
(2012), the claim was for a loss that the
Bakery (Europe) Ltd v. AXA Insurance UK Plc (2012)
insured genuinely suffered – he lost the machinery as a result of a fire in the bakery that he
was running. However, he could not find the original receipt for the price he paid for it and
issued a fake invoice. This was use of fraudulent means and device.
However, the recent Supreme Court decision in the case of Versloot Dredging BV v. HDI
Gerling (2016) has cast doubt as to whether the insured forfeits the whole claim in every
case of fraudulent device.

Case example
The Versloot Dredging case
In the Versloot Dredging case, the insured’s loss was genuine. Water had frozen in the
ship’s pipes and, once the ship sailed towards a warmer climate, it flooded into the ship’s
engine room. The engine was repaired and the loss was caused by an insured peril. The
insured was entitled to indemnity under the insurance contract.
The insured worried that the insurers might argue there was negligence on the part of the
insured’s senior management. Therefore, the insured claimed that an alarm had gone off
on the ship before the flood had occurred and that the crew had ignored it. Hence, if there
was any negligence in the case, it belonged to the crew. In fact, there had been no such
alarm. Discovering this lie, the insurers argued the fraudulent means and device rule: that

Chapter 8
the insured told a lie to improve their situation towards the insured under the insurance
contract.
The court initially held that where the insured had given a false representation in support
of their claim, which turned out not to be relevant, the claim should fail. This position was
upheld by the Court of Appeal on the basis of the need to deter fraud. However, the
Supreme Court overturned this decision. In their judgment, the Supreme Court decided
that the lie must be relevant to the existence or the amount of the insured’s entitlement –
this could only be determined at the end of a trial once all the facts were known rather
than the situation as it was seen by the insured at the time the lie was told. The insured
was entitled to be indemnified for their claim. While the lie was immoral, the judges felt
that the likelihood of having to pay third party legal costs and the difficulty of obtaining
insurance in the future amounted to an adequate punishment.

D2 Remedies for insurers

Once an insurer has established that a claim is fraudulent, it must then decide what action it
should take against the insured or third party claimant.
 8/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

D2A First party claims

Prior to the introduction of IA 2015, there was a degree of uncertainty about how insurers
should deal with policyholders once they had established fraud as a part of a claim. The
common law had established the remedy for making a fraudulent claim as ‘forfeiture of the
entire claim’ (for example, see The Star Sea (2001)
(2001)). What was unclear was whether the
insurer could terminate the contract and the validity of any other claims that had been made
by the insured – whether before or after the fraudulent act. Part 4 of IA 2015 has codified and
clarified the legal position for insurers. The key points are as follows:
For more on • If the insured makes a fraudulent claim, the insurer is not liable to pay the claim. It may
The Sea Star
Star,, see
chapter 6, recover any sums paid in respect of the fraudulent claim and can treat the contract as
section B5D having been terminated with effect from the time of the fraudulent act (s.12(1)).
• If the insurer terminates the contract, it does not have to return any premiums paid and it
may refuse to pay any claims arising after the time of the fraudulent act (s.12(2)). This
does not affect any claims relating to events occurring before the fraudulent act (s.12(3)).
• Section 13 regulates fraudulent claims in the case of group insurance. For example, when
an employer takes out employers’ liability insurance in favour of their employees as
required by the Employers 1969. Section 13
Employers’’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
provides that when one of the insureds (e.g. an employee) makes a fraudulent claim, this
does not have an effect on the other employees who are insured under the same
insurance and whose claims were not fraudulent. Similarly, if the contract is terminated by
the insurer against the fraudulent employee, the contract does not mean termination for
the other insured employees who did not commit any fraud.

D2B Personal injury – the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
In recent years, there has been a particular issue for insurers trying to defend third party
personal injury claims against an insured’s liability cover where it is established that the third
party has fraudulently exaggerated their claim. The approach of the courts was generally to
allow the genuine element of the claim in the event where it was established that the claim
was partly fraudulent (as opposed to the claimant ‘putting their best case forward’).
This position has been changed by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 s.57, which
states where ‘on the balance of probabilities that the claimant has been fundamentally
dishonest in relation to the primary claim or a related claim’, the court ‘must dismiss the
primary claim, unless it is satisfied that the claimant would suffer substantial injustice if the
claim were dismissed’. The result of this is that where part of a claim is found to be
‘fundamentally dishonest’ (a term which is not defined by the legislation), the entire claim
should be struck out by the court.

D2C The tort of deceit

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An insurer can pursue a claim for its losses against a fraudulent insured or third party, where
it can establish that the criteria for the tort of deceit has been met (see section D1A).

D2D The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)

Where the person who has committed the fraud has been convicted, a confiscation order
can be made to recover the assets that have been fraudulently obtained, and the insurer
which has paid out on a fraudulent claim may be able to recover their money through this
route (POCA Part 2). Even where a conviction cannot be made, Part 5 of POCA makes it
possible to recover criminal assets in limited circumstances (e.g. where the person has fled
abroad).
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/21

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Who can claim on an insurance policy?

• The doctrine of privity of contract means that only the parties to a contract can enforce its rights
and duties.
• However, there are many well established exceptions to this rule in the case of insurance contracts
including:
– assignment, agency, trusts; policies with additional insureds; and
– under statute: The Road Traffic Act 1988; Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010; Law of
Property Act 1925; Fire Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774.
• Assignment:
– a legal assignee or benefit of an insurance contract can claim on it in their own name; and
– an equitable assignee can benefit from the contract through a claim made by the assignor, but
not claim in their own name.

Notice and proof of loss

• Where a loss occurs the insured will be required by a policy condition to give notice of the loss.
• To discharge the burden of proof, the insured must be able to establish:
– that the loss was caused by an insured peril; and
– the amount of the loss.
• The loss must be fortuitous.
• ICOBS 8 sets out basic obligations on insurers when handling claims.
• The doctrine of proximate cause provides that the loss in question must result directly from the
operation of an insured peril if the insurance is to respond.

Causation

• The proximate cause can be said to be the main cause of the loss or the cause that is most efficient
or powerful in its effect.
• Where there is a ‘chain of events’ the insurers are liable where the loss flows in an unbroken chain
directly from an insured peril – and equally there is no liability if the loss flows directly from an
excluded peril.
• The chain will only be unbroken where each event is the natural and probable result of what
happened before.
• Provided that efforts to avoid or reduce loss are reasonable efforts to prevent or limit the operation
of an insured peril, insurers are liable to pay for any damage to the subject matter that results.
• However, unless the insurer expressly agrees by the contract, the courts will not allow recovery for
mere prevention costs.
• Concurrent causes:

Chapter 8
– Independent perils combine to cause a loss: each would have caused some loss on its own:
insurers pay for the loss attributable to the insured peril only.
– Interdependent perils combine to cause a loss: neither would have caused loss on its own:
ƒ Insured peril plus excluded peril: no liability for the loss and exclusion prevails.
ƒ Insured peril plus uninsured peril: full liability for the loss and exclusion prevails.

• The doctrine of proximate cause can be excluded or modified by particular words in the insurance
contract.

Fraudulent claims

• There are broadly four types of fraud in claims:

– Falsification of a loss whereby the insured makes a claim when they have suffered no loss.
– Deliberate loss whereby a policyholder deliberately causes the loss in order to bring a claim.
– Exaggeration of a loss.
– Lying about the circumstances of a genuine loss to improve the chances of a claim being paid by
the insurer. An insurer’s rejection of a claim on this basis is referred to as the ‘fraudulent device’
defence.
• Fraud does not have a single definition but there are tests for determining fraud in the Fraud Act
2006 and in the case of Derry v. Peek.
• Where an insurer can establish that there has been fraud by the insured, the remedies available are
set out in the Insurance Act 2015.
 8/22 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Self-test questions
1. When making a claim, what two things must the insured prove if the insurers are to
be liable for the loss?
2. What degree of proof applies in the case of an insurance claim?
3. Do insurance policies cover losses caused by negligence?
4. In the context of the doctrine of proximate cause, what is an ‘uninsured peril’?
5. Before the case of Leyland Shipping v. Norwich Union (1918), which peril was
generally regarded as the proximate cause when there was a ‘chain of events’
leading to the loss?
6. What is a remote cause?
7. What was the impact of the Versloot Dredging decision?
8. If an insured is found to have committed fraud during a claim, what action can the
insurer take with respect to the insured’s policy, the claim and any other claims they
may have made?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/23

Scenario 8.1: Question

Apply the main legal principles governing the making of an insurance claim to practical
situations (LO7.5)
Paul, who is insured with the insurance company you work for, fell off his mountain bike
and injured himself. His injuries were serious and an Air Ambulance attended the scene.
Paul refused to go in the Air Ambulance as he has a fear of flying. He was subsequently
taken to the hospital by road. At the hospital, he received poor – but not negligent –
medical treatment. He is now paralysed from the waist down. Paul makes an
insurance claim.
How would you, the insurer, go about establishing whether they are liable to pay a claim?
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.

Chapter 8
 8/24 M05/March 2019 Insurance law
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Making the claim 8/25

Appendix 8.1: Disclosure summary

This is an appendix to chapters 4 to 8.

Consumer insurance Non-consumer (business)

insurance

Statute Consumer Insurance (Disclosure Insurance Act 2015 (IA 2015)

and Representations) Act 2012

Disclosure There is no duty of disclosure. The insured is under the duty to

disclose material facts to the
insurer before the contract is
concluded.

Misrepresentation The insured (consumer) is under The non-consumer (business)

the duty to take reasonable care insured is under the duty not to
not to make a make a
misrepresentation
misrepresentation. material misrepresentation
misrepresentation.

Test of materiality There is no test of materiality. There is a test of materiality

The test is whether the insured which is an objective test.
took reasonable care not to Section 7(3) of the IA 2015 and
misrepresentation. The
make a misrepresentation case law explain the test of
standard of care required is of a materiality; namely, that it is a
reasonable consumer. prudent underwriter test
test.

Inducement The Act requires proof of The test is subjective.

inducement to establish breach Inducement is a statutory
of the duty. requirement of the Act.
Otherwise, the insurer is entitled
to a remedy for breach of the
duty of fair presentation of the
risk (s.8(1)).

Contracting out It is not permitted to agree on a The parties can contract out of
term which renders the insured’s the duty if the requirements
position worse than that which under sections 16 and 17 of the IA
the Act provided. 2015 are satisfied.

Insurer’’s knowledge of the facts This is taken into account when

Insurer The insurer
insurer’’s knowledge is
assessing the level of reasonable taken into account in assessing
care that the insured exercised the insured duty. Any
insured’’s duty
(s.3 (4)). circumstance which is known or
presumed to be known to the

Chapter 8
insurer need not be disclosed.
(See s.3(5) of IA 2015).

Insurer
Insurer’’s duty The Act does not refer to an The duty is imposed on the
express mutual duty. insured only
only.

Agent
Agent’’s duty The Act provides some guidance There is no separate duty
to determine if the agent is insured. The Act
imposed on the insured
acting for the insurer or the refers to agents with regards to
insured (Schedule 2). The the insured’s knowledge given
insured is responsible for the that the agent’s knowledge is
agent
agent’’s misrepresentation
misrepresentation. imputed on the insured.

Duration of the duty The duty is pre-contractual. The The duty is pre-contractual; it
Act is silent about post- comes to an end when the
contractual duty
duty. contract is concluded.
The existence of the
post-contractual duty has been
recognised by case law, but it is
not analysed as part of the
duty of fair presentation of the
risk. It is assessed as part of the
general duty of good faith.
 8/26 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Appendix 8.1: Disclosure summary

Consumer insurance Non-consumer (business)

insurance

Basis of contract clauses The Act has abolished the basis It is not permitted to convert
of contract clauses. A the statements made by the
representation cannot be insured in to a warranty. It is not
converted into a warranty by possible to contract out of the IA
means of any provision of the 2015 in this respect.
consumer insurance contract.

Remedy for breach Remedy is available only if the Remedy is available only if the
misrepresentation is a qualifying breach of the duty of fair
misrepresentation under s.4. presentation of the risk is
qualifying under s.8.
Remedy depends on whether
the misrepresentation is Remedy depends on whether
deliberate, reckless or careless: the misrepresentation is
deliberate, reckless or careless:
• The insurer can avoid the
policy only if the (qualifying) • The insurer can avoid the
misrepresentation is policy only if the (qualifying)
deliberate or reckless
reckless. misrepresentation is
• Proportionate remedy was deliberate or reckless
reckless.
introduced by Schedule 1, • Proportionate remedy was
Part 1 of the Act for introduced by schedule 1, part
(qualifying) careless 1 of the Act for (qualifying)
misrepresentation
misrepresentation. careless or innocent
breaches
breaches.
Chapter 8
 Measuring the loss:
9
the principle of indemnity
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Meaning of indemnity 8.1, 8.7
B Measure of indemnity 8.2, 8.7
C Variations in the principle of indemnity 8.3, 8.7
D Methods of providing indemnity 8.4, 8.7
E Salvage and abandonment 8.5, 8.7
F Effect of claim payments on policy cover 8.6, 8.7
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the principle of indemnity;
• explain the methods of providing an indemnity;
• explain the measure of indemnity under the main forms of insurance policy;
• discuss the factors which limit, reduce, extend or modify the principle of indemnity;
• state how claim payments affect policy cover; and
• explain the doctrine of salvage and abandonment.
Chapter 9
 9/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
We now turn to the rules concerning the amount to which the insured is entitled under their
policy when a loss occurs. The central concept here is the principle of indemnity which, in
simple terms, requires that the insured should be fully compensated for their loss, but not
over-compensated.

Be aware
However, not all insurance policies are contracts of indemnity.

We must, therefore, first distinguish between indemnity insurances and non-indemnity

insurances (or contingency insurances).
Indemnity insurances
Indemnity insurances are those where the insurers agree to pay only when the insured
suffers a loss of a particular type, and only for the amount of the loss.
Most types of general (non-life) insurances are indemnity contracts, i.e. virtually all property,
pecuniary and liability insurances, including motor, marine and aviation.
Non-indemnity (or contingency) insurances
These are policies in which insurers agree to pay a specified sum when a particular defined
event occurs. The insured does not have to prove that they have suffered a loss, only that
the event in question has happened.

Consider this
this…
…
What type of policy would fall into this description?

Life insurance policies provide the best example of this category. In this case, an agreed sum
is payable in the event of death or after a certain number of years on ‘maturity’ of the policy.
There is no question of having to prove a financial loss. Life insurances are not indemnity
contracts because, first, it is impossible to place a value on human life and, second, because
life policies are not always intended to cover financial loss: in many cases the main object is
to provide a means of saving for the future.
Related contracts, such as accident and sickness insurances may also be classed as
non-indemnity insurances. However, an accident or sickness policy can sometimes operate
as a contract of indemnity. The policy may not pay benefit on a fixed scale but only make
good certain losses or expenses which are actually incurred.

Example 9.1
• Employers sometimes insure their liability to pay wages to employees who are unable
to work because of illness or injury.
• Alternatively, a person may insure against their own loss of earnings or insure medical
expenses resulting from accident or illness.

The term ‘contingency insurance’ is an accepted legal term for a non-indemnity insurance.

Be aware
Chapter 9

However, it is also sometimes used by insurance practitioners to describe a rather

miscellaneous group of policies which cover financial loss arising from various defined
events, such as losses suffered by promoters of concerts or sporting occasions which are
cancelled because of, say, bad weather or the non-appearance of star performers.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/3

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Agreed value cover Average clause Franchise Indemnity

Limit of indemnity Manufacturers’ stock ‘New for old’ cover Pecuniary insurances

Reinstatement Repair Replacement Salvage and

abandonment

Successive partial Sum insured Total losses Underinsurance

losses

A Meaning of indemnity
The word ‘indemnify’ means, literally, to save from loss or harm and, accordingly, ‘indemnity
indemnity’
means protection or security against damage or loss.
Therefore, when we describe insurance policies as contracts of indemnity we mean that they
are intended to provide financial compensation for a loss which the insured has suffered and
put them in the same position after the loss as they enjoyed immediately before it.
The concept of indemnity thus implies that the object of insurance is to provide exact
financial compensation for the insured. However, it also implies that the insured should not
be over-compensated and should not ‘make a profit’ from their loss.

Case example
These points, and the strong presumption that non-life insurance policies operate as
contracts of indemnity are expressed in the words of Brett, L.J. in Castellain v. Preston
(1883)
(1883):
The very foundation, in my opinion, of every rule which has been applied to
insurance law is this, namely, that the contract of insurance contained in a marine
or fire policy is a contract of indemnity and of indemnity only,…and if ever a
proposition is brought forward which is at variance with it, that is to say, which
either will prevent the insured from obtaining a full indemnity or which gives the
insured more than a full indemnity, that proposition must certainly be wrong.

Be aware
We must be careful, however, not to take these words too literally. They suggest that
indemnity is an absolutely rigid rule which cannot be varied. In fact, indemnity is a
contractual principle of insurance and not a statutory one: this means that it can be varied
if the parties to the insurance contract wish to vary it. Accordingly, despite the words of
the judge in our quotation, the parties may agree that the policy will pay less than a full
indemnity in the event of a loss, or more than a full indemnity.

Many factors may prevent the insured from receiving a full indemnity, and we will examine
them in detail later.

Consider this
this…
…
Chapter 9

In what situations would an insured receive less than a full indemnity?

For the moment, however, we can note that a simple policy excess where, for example, a
motorist agrees to bear the first £250 of damage to their car, is a clear modification of the
principle in which the insured agrees to accept less than full indemnity. Equally, there are
many cases where insurers agree to provide more than an indemnity. A ‘new for old policy’,
where the insurers pay the full replacement cost of the property and not just its
second-hand value is an obvious example. There is nothing illegal in this although, as we
suggested in chapter 5, the policy might be void under the Gaming Act 1845 if it allowed the
insured to recover an amount wildly in excess of their actual loss. In practice, of course,
insurers must be careful not to adopt too generous an approach to the measurement of loss.
If insurers provide a great deal more than indemnity, the insured may be tempted to bring
about a loss deliberately in order to improve their financial position. This, of course,
introduces an extra element of ‘moral hazard’.
 9/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Be aware
Indeed, it has been suggested that the availability of ‘new for old’ policies has increased
the level of fraudulent claims, particularly in times of economic recession when people are
short of money.

Refer to Finally, you will recall that a claimant may be able to recover a sum greater than their actual
chapter 5,
section D2A for loss if they are a person with a limited interest in the subject matter, such as a bailee of
limited interests goods. However, you will also recall that if they do so, they hold the insurance money in
excess of their own actual loss for others who have in interest in the property, such as the
bailor of the goods.

B Measure of indemnity
A claim under a policy of indemnity may be described as a claim for unliquidated damages.
This means that the exact amount of the compensation is not known in advance but is to be
fixed afterwards on the basis of the loss actually suffered.
Unfortunately, where a policy operates on an ordinary indemnity basis, disputes sometimes
arise concerning the correct method of valuing the loss and the exact sum of money which is
necessary to provide the insured with a true indemnity. The method by which indemnity is to
be measured depends upon the type of insurance involved and the nature of its subject
matter. We shall look at each of the main categories.

B1 Property insurance
B1A General
The general rule is that the measure of indemnity for the loss of any property is determined
not by its cost, but by its value at the date of loss and at the place of loss.
If the value has increased during the currency of the policy, the insured is therefore entitled
to an indemnity on the basis of the increased value subject, of course, to the adequacy of the
insured. Similarly, if the value has decreased during the policy period, the insured will
sum insured
recover only the reduced value at the time of the loss, not the original value.
Under a property insurance, the policyholder can recover only the amount of the value of the
property itself: they cannot claim for loss of prospective profits or other consequential
losses unless these are specifically insured. For example, if a property is destroyed by fire,
the insured cannot recover under their fire policy for loss of trade and the cost of hiring
other premises.
Finally, property policies cover only the actual financial value of the subject matter: the
insured cannot claim any amount for sentimental value.
The precise basis of settlement under an indemnity policy will often depend on the type of
property insured. Some common types of property are considered below.

B1B Buildings
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Where a building is damaged, the normal basis of indemnity will be the cost of repair or
reconstruction at the time of the loss with, in many cases, a deduction for ‘betterment’.

Consider this
this…
…
What is betterment? Why is a deduction made for it?

Betterment can take two forms:

• First, when a building is repaired, certain parts of the structure will often have to be
renewed so that when the work is complete the building is likely to be in a better
condition than it was before the loss. This will be the case where, for instance, the roof of a
building which is in poor condition, with little useful life remaining, has to be replaced
following a fire. Again, the reconstruction work may include new plumbing, new electric
wiring and re-decoration.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/5

If no allowance is made for this renovation, the insured will obviously be in a better
position after the loss than before because the value of the building will have increased or,
at the very least, the insured’s immediate repair bills will be reduced.
• The other way in which betterment can arise is where the quality of the building is
improved in the course of carrying out repairs. For example, an extra storey may be
added to a building or a sprinkler system installed during the reconstruction. Again, the
insurer is not liable for this type of betterment under a basic ‘indemnity only’ policy: the
extra cost has to be born entirely by the insured.
In the case of a total loss, or a very substantial partial loss, the cost of rebuilding the
structure in its previous form may actually exceed the market value of the building or exceed
the cost of replacing the old structure with a modern building of similar size and usefulness.
This will often be the case with many old industrial buildings such as textile mills and
factories, or old farm buildings. These are often of massive construction and, therefore, very
costly to repair. However, such buildings are often worth relatively little on the open market
because they have outlived their original purpose and are now obsolete. It may, therefore,
be quite uneconomical to restore or rebuild these properties, either in the original materials
or in the original form. If buildings such as these are badly damaged or destroyed the correct
basis of indemnity may present some problems.
In fact, the appropriate basis depends on a number of factors, including the intentions of the
insured with regard to rebuilding, and whether rebuilding is a reasonable course of action.

Case example
The case of Reynolds and Anderson v. Phoenix Assurance Co. Ltd (1978) provides a good
illustration of these points. The claimants had bought, in 1969, an old maltings (buildings
used for processes employed in the brewing of beer) and insured them for £18,000, which
was a little more than the original purchase price. Subsequently, the sum insured was
increased to £628,000 to cover the probable cost of rebuilding in the event of the
building being totally destroyed. A fire then occurred which destroyed a substantial part
of the building and a dispute arose as to the appropriate basis of indemnity. The judge
outlined three alternative bases:
• market value;
• the cost of erecting a modern replacement building (around £50,000); and
• the cost of reinstatement
reinstatement, i.e. rebuilding the damaged part in its original form (which
would amount to more than £250,000).
The market value of the building would have been difficult to assess, but would probably
have been far less than the cost of rebuilding. The cost of a modern replacement would
also have been much lower than the rebuilding cost. Nevertheless, the court held that the
appropriate basis of indemnity was the third alternative: the cost of rebuilding in the
original form. This was because the insured had a genuine and reasonable intention of
rebuilding.

Case example
Reynolds contrasts with the decision in Leppard v. Excess Insurance Co. Ltd (1979)
(1979). In
this case, the court held that the claimant was not entitled to claim for the costs of
rebuilding, as their cottage was up for sale at the time it was destroyed by fire. The correct
Chapter 9

basis of indemnity was the market value, which was considerably less than the cost of
rebuilding.

The aforementioned principles were reiterated in Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) SE v.

Western Trading Ltd (2016) (see section C2A). At the time of the trial, no reinstatement had
occurred as the insurers denied all liability and asserted that the insured was not entitled to
be compensated on the basis of reinstatement. The court held that, in most cases, the
insured’s loss was the cost of reinstatement although it recognised that the position would
be different if the insured was trying to sell the property at the time of the loss, intending to
destroy it or if no one in their right mind would reinstate. It was doubtful whether a claimant
who had no intention of using the insurance money to reinstate was entitled to claim the
cost of reinstatement as the measure of indemnity unless the policy so provided.
 9/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

In some cases, the insured may not have had an intention to sell the property at the time of
the loss but may decide to do so following the loss. This may be because they need to find
alternative accommodation quickly in order to carry on trading and minimise loss of
business earnings.

B1C Machinery and equipment

Indemnity is generally valued as:
• the cost of repair less an allowance for wear and tear, if applicable; or
• the cost of replacement, less wear and tear, if repair is not possible.
In the latter case, it is assumed that there exists a ready second-hand market where the
insured can purchase a replacement. In some cases, however, there is no ready second-hand
market for such property because when it is disposed of, it is destroyed or sold as scrap. In
this case the insured may be obliged to purchase new equipment (which is likely to be
superior) and a deduction for betterment will normally be appropriate.
Examples of commodities where the retail price of second-hand goods is used are motor
cars and certain office equipment. In the case of motor cars, indemnity for a ‘write off’ will
normally be the market value of a vehicle of the same make, model, age, mileage and
condition, and not the ‘trade-in’ price.

B1D Manufacturers
Manufacturers’’ stock
Manufacturers’’ stock generally consists of raw materials, work in progress and
Manufacturers
finished stock.
The measure of indemnity will not necessarily be the cost to the manufacturer of producing
the stock. It will be what it will cost them, at the time and place of the loss, to replace the
goods or return them to the condition they were in before they were destroyed.
In the case of raw materials, this will be the replacement cost including delivery to site. In the
case of other stock, it will be the same raw material costs plus labour and other costs which
will be incurred in reproducing the half-made or fully completed goods which were lost.

B1E Wholesale and retail stock

Indemnity will be based on the cost at the time of loss of replacing the stock (i.e.
manufacturer’s or wholesale price) including transport and handling costs to the insured’s
premises. A complication may arise if stock is obsolete. In this case, the replacement cost
may well be higher than the market price for the goods. The market price is, therefore, likely
to be the appropriate basis of indemnity.

B1F Farming stock

In the case of both livestock and produce, the local market price is the normal basis of an
indemnity. With other commodities, as we have seen, the insured is not entitled to any
potential profit on sale. Farming stock is different: whereas in other markets there is a buying
price set by the merchant and a higher selling price, in the case of farming stock, there is one
market price on any particular day whether one is buying or selling. This means that the
replacement cost is the same as the selling price.
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From time to time, Government minimum price guarantees may be available to a farmer and,
if the farmer cannot sell goods because they have been destroyed, their real loss may be the
guaranteed price rather than the market price (which may be lower). If this is the case,
indemnity will require that the insurer pays the guaranteed price. The higher price must
naturally be reflected in the sum insured.

B2 Pecuniary insurances
Pecuniary insurances cover various types of financial loss and can be contrasted with
property (or material damage) insurances which cover some form of tangible property, such
as buildings or goods.

Consider this
this…
…
What types of pecuniary insurances have you come across in your insurance career?
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/7

Pecuniary insurances include business interruption insurances which cover loss of ‘profit’ as
a result of physical damage (such as by fire) to the insured’s property, and credit insurances
which cover bad debts arising from the insolvency or default of the insured’s trading
partners.
In the case of business interruption insurance, it is difficult to establish a precise indemnity
because it may be difficult to say exactly what ‘profit’ would have been made if the fire or
other damage had not occurred. The loss is, therefore, paid in accordance with a standard
formula which is set out in the policy wording.
In the case of credit insurance, indemnity will be easy to assess, being the amount of the bad
debt, less any recoveries. However, in practice insurers will rarely grant 100% cover for this
line of business.

B3 Liability insurance
This is perhaps the easiest class of insurance in which to establish the measure of indemnity.
It will be the amount of any court award or negotiated ‘out of court’ settlement plus costs
and expenses arising in connection with the claim (such as lawyers’ fees, court fees, and
payment for medical reports or the services of expert witnesses) plus any other expenses
which have been incurred with the agreement of the insurers.

B4 Marine insurance
The measure of indemnity under marine policies is complex and based on rules which differ Refer to
section C2C for
from those which apply to insurance generally. Only a brief description is necessary here. valued policies
The Marine Insurance Act 1906 provides for both unvalued and valued policies. In fact, most
marine policies are valued. In the case of an unvalued marine policy, the basis for the
measure of indemnity (unless another basis has been agreed) is the ‘insurable value’, which
is the value of the subject matter at the commencement of the risk. This is the amount
recoverable in the event of a total loss.
The amount recoverable for a partial loss depends on what is insured. For a ship, the
measure will usually be the reasonable cost of repairs. However, if the vessel is not fully
repaired, the measure of indemnity is the depreciation in its value. In the case of goods
which are delivered in a damaged state, the insured is entitled to a proportion of the insured
value, based on the difference between the ‘sound’ and ‘damaged’ values at the place of
arrival.

C Variations in the principle of indemnity

Indemnity is a contractual principle which can be contractually varied. In other words, the
parties may agree, if they wish, that the policy will provide either more or less than a strict
indemnity. We will now look at some examples of these variations, beginning with cases
where the insured may receive less than a full indemnity.

C1 Less than a full indemnity

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Consider this
this…
…
What factors can you identify which could limit an insured’s entitlement to a full
indemnity?

C1A The sum insured or limit of liability

The maximum amount recoverable under many policies is limited by the sum insured or the
limit of indemnity (or limit of liability). In those policies which have a sum insured or
indemnity limit, the insured cannot recover more than this amount even where the loss,
measured by the indemnity principle, is a higher figure.
An exception to this general rule is sometimes found in liability insurance, where costs and
expenses incurred in connection with liability claims may be payable over and above the
limit of liability.
 9/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Activity
Look again at the liability insurance wording that you reviewed earlier. Is the limit of
indemnity expressed to be costs-inclusive or costs-exclusive?

Be aware
In some cases, insurers will be prevented by law from imposing any limit.

Example 9.2
The Road Traffic Act 1988 requires motor insurers to grant unlimited cover for liability in
respect of death or bodily injury arising from the use of motor vehicles on the road.

Again, some motor insurers choose not to stipulate any fixed sum insured for loss or damage
to the insured’s own vehicle. Instead, they simply state that the ‘market value’ of the vehicle
will be paid in the event of a total loss. There is no real danger in doing this since, because
motor vehicles are mostly mass produced objects, the market value for any vehicle of a
given type and age will not vary much. In any case, most motor insurers ask the insured to
supply an estimate of the value of the vehicle when the insurance is arranged and state that
this will be their maximum liability in the event of claim. The estimate effectively operates as
a sum insured.

C1B Other policy limits

Within the overall sum insured or limit of indemnity, there may be further separate limits for
particular types of loss or particular types of property.

Example 9.3
A household contents policy will often restrict cover on individual ‘valuables’ (defined as
gold or silver items, jewellery, antiques, works of art etc.) to, say, 5% of the total sum
insured.

Consider this
this…
…
If a picture valued at £7,000 is destroyed in a household fire where the contents sum
insured was £60,000, how much will the policyholder receive?

The policyholder will receive no more than £3,000, which is less than a full indemnity.
In practice, it would normally be possible to arrange for the painting to be specifically
insured for its full value.

C1C Underinsurance and average clauses

If the sum insured or limit of indemnity is not large enough to meet the loss, the insured will
clearly not obtain a full indemnity.

Example 9.4
If goods which are insured for only £10,000 only are totally destroyed in a fire and cost
£15,000 to replace, the insured will obviously receive only two-thirds of their value. In our
Chapter 9

example, the insured will be paying a premium based on the sum insured of £10,000.

However, basic principles of insurance require the insured to pay a premium into the
‘common pool’ which is in line with the size of the risk which they introduce. This means that
where there is underinsurance
underinsurance, as in our example, the policyholder is not paying their fair
share into the pool. Logically, therefore, their entitlement to draw on the pool when they
have a loss should be scaled down to take into account this under-contribution, whatever
the size of the loss.
This can be achieved by introducing an average clause into the policy.
An average clause provides that where the sum insured is less than full value, the insured will
be considered their own insurer for the uninsured part of the risk and the claim payment for
any loss will be scaled down proportionately.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/9

The precise wording of an average clause will vary according to the type of cover granted.
However, under the simplest form of average clause (known as ‘pro rata’ average, and used
on various non-consumer (business) insurances arranged on a simple indemnity basis) the
formula applied is as follows:

Sum insured at the time of the loss × amount of loss

= liability of insurer
Value at risk at time of loss

Can average operate as an implied term?

Average clauses appear in many types of insurance, including most commercial lines.
However, they are not applied in every case. In some classes of insurance, such as house and
contents policies, they are uncommon.
This raises the question as to whether average can operate as an implied term. In other
words, can insurers scale down a claim payment for underinsurance where there is no
average clause in the policy? In the case of marine insurance the answer is yes: average
applies automatically by virtue of s.81 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906.
Where the policyholder is insured for an amount less than the insurable value, or in the case
of a valued policy, less than the policy valuation, he is deemed to be his own insurer in
respect of the uninsured balance.
The position regarding types of non-marine insurance is less clear. It is probably safe to
assume, in relation to household insurance at least, that average cannot be applied unless
there is an express average clause in the policy. However, when a person arranges a
household policy they are usually required to confirm that the sum insured which they
request represents the full value at risk. If, therefore, the proposer supplies a figure which is
clearly too low the insurers might argue breach of the pre-contractual information duty.

C1D Excess (or deductible

deductible))
An excess clause, or deductible, is a clause which provides that the insured must bear the
first amount of any loss, expressed either as a sum of money (say, £250) or a percentage of
the loss (e.g. 5%).
These clauses are common in many types of policy, including household, motor and various
non-consumer (business) insurances. In some cases, there may be an aggregate excess
which applies not to individual losses but total losses in any one period of insurance.

Example 9.5
If a non-consumer (business) fire policy is subject to an aggregate excess of £10,000, the
insurers will not be liable to pay for any losses until the total for all losses for the policy
year exceed £10,000.

The effect of an excess is to relieve insurers from having to deal with small losses (where
handling costs are likely to be high in relation to the amount claimed) and to reduce the size
of every claim payment which is made. The effect is, thus, to reduce the overall cost of the
insurance which benefits both insurer and insured. Excesses may either be compulsory or
requested by the insured in order to gain a reduction in premium, as described above.

C1E Franchise
Chapter 9

A franchise is similar to an excess in that there is no liability for any loss which is less than the
franchise figure. However, once the franchise has been exceeded, the loss is payable in full.
The distinction between an excess and a franchise is illustrated below.

Loss of £950 Loss of £1,045

Policy subject to £1,000 excess insurers pay nothing insurers pay £45

Policy subject to £1,000 insurers pay nothing insurers pay £1,045

franchise

Franchises are not very common because they may introduce an element of moral hazard.
 9/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 9.6
If an insured suffers a loss of £950 and their policy is subject to a £1,000 franchise they
might be tempted to deliberately inflate the loss to, say, £1,050 in order to be paid in full. If
the policy was subject to a £1,000 excess, there would be little point in taking the risk of
doing so as they would recover no more than £50.

C2 Extensions in the operation of indemnity

There are a number of instances where the insured may, depending on the precise
circumstances, recover more than a strict indemnity. Some examples are given below.

C2A Cover on a reinstatement basis

From what we have said earlier it will be clear that cover on an ordinary indemnity basis may
not provide the insured with enough money to restore their property in the event of
damage, because a substantial deduction for wear and tear may leave them seriously out of
pocket.

Example 9.7
When a building which is in less than perfect condition is destroyed or seriously damaged
it generally cannot be rebuilt without making good existing wear and tear. While the
insured will be left with a better building than they had previously, this will be of little
comfort if the insurance money is not enough to pay for the work.

Reinstatement cover solves this problem by providing that, in the event of a loss, the
insurers will pay a sum equivalent to the cost of rebuilding or replacing the property to a
condition ‘equivalent to or substantially the same as but not better or more extensive than
its condition when new’ (to quote the words used in the ‘reinstatement memorandum’ which
is added to the policy to achieve this cover).
In other words, no deduction is made for wear and tear and the insurance pays for the full
cost of rebuilding ‘as new’ (including any increased costs resulting from inflation between
the date of the damage and completion of the rebuilding work). It is also possible to insure
against extra costs which might be incurred by the insured in the course of rebuilding if they
have to comply with new building regulations or other legal requirements. Such regulations
might, for instance, require the new structure to be built in a different form from the old one
or incorporate different materials, resulting in considerable extra expense.
Reinstatement cover is obviously beneficial to the insured. However, it is likely to be more
expensive than a simple indemnity insurance because the sum insured (on which the
premium is based) will generally need to be higher to cover the cost of rebuilding ‘as new’.
Furthermore, the insured will not obtain the benefit of reinstatement cover unless they
actually rebuild the property in question. The effect of the usual reinstatement clause is to
restrict the cover to simple indemnity (thus allowing a deduction for wear and tear) unless
the rebuilding work is commenced without unreasonable delay and is subsequently
completed.

Case example
Chapter 9

Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) SE v. Western Trading Ltd (2016) provides a recent
example of reinstatement cover. Western Trading was the occupier and manager of
premises belonging to the company’s controller; it insured these premises for rebuilding
costs of £2,121,800. The policy provided that the insurers would indemnify the insured
against loss or damage. However, they would only pay reinstatement costs if the
reinstatement work had been commenced and carried out without unreasonable delay.
The insurer refused to pay reinstatement costs as the work did not start immediately. The
Court of Appeal, however, held that the claimant was entitled to reinstatements as there
was evidence that they intended to rebuild the premises and they had not therefore failed
to act without unreasonable delay.

Reinstatement cover can be appropriately applied to buildings and to plant, machinery and
other contents. However, the question of rebuilding and the making good of wear and tear
does not normally arise in the case of stock, and ordinary indemnity cover is, therefore, likely
to be adequate.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/11

C2B ‘New for old

old’’ cover
Cover on a reinstatement basis, described above, is really a type of ‘new for old
old’’ cover on
buildings and machinery. However, the term ‘new for old’ is more often associated with
insurances of household goods and personal possessions, including household contents and
personal ‘all risks’ policies.
Quite simply, the insurers agree to pay the full replacement cost ‘as new’ of any insured item
which is lost or destroyed, with no deduction for wear, tear or depreciation.
However, the cover may be a little more restrictive for items with a limited life, such as
clothing and linen, and pay ‘new for old’ only when the items are less than, say, three years
old at the date of the loss.
At first sight ‘new for old’ cover may seem to contradict the principle of indemnity and allow
the insured to making a ‘profit’ out of his loss. However, the reality is that most people are
reluctant to buy second-hand replacements when household goods or personal effects are
lost or destroyed, and normally expect to replace them with new ones. This accounts for the
low second-hand price of such items and means, in turn, that ‘indemnity only’ cover will give
the insured very little to spend if he suffers a loss. ‘New for old’ cover simply reflects a
non-consumer (business) necessity.

Be aware
Of course, where insurance is arranged on this basis, the sum insured needs to reflect the
total replacement cost of all items ‘as new’. This results in a much higher sum insured than
an equivalent ‘indemnity only’ policy and means that a more substantial premium must
be paid.

C2C Agreed value cover

The principle of indemnity operates in a much modified form in the case of insurances
written on an agreed value basis (often known simply as valued policies). We have seen that
for a loss under a policy written on an ordinary indemnity basis, the insurers are liable to pay
a sum equivalent to the value of the property at the time and place of the loss.
In the case of a valued policy, the parties agree that in the event of a loss a particular sum,
fixed at the outset of the insurance, will be paid, regardless of the actual value of the
property at the time.
You will recall that a claim under a policy of indemnity may be described as a claim for
unliquidated damages. In the case of a valued policy, the claim is effectively for a liquidated
(i.e. agreed) amount.
The object of a valued policy is to avoid disputes as to the value of the property at the time
of the loss. This form of cover is, therefore, often employed where the property is unique or
of a type for which there is a limited market. Here the question of value is likely to be more
subjective than is normal and more likely to give rise to a dispute.

Consider this
this…
…
What sort of items might be insured on this basis?
Chapter 9

Works of art and veteran, vintage or ‘classic’ cars are frequently insured on an agreed value
basis. We have already noted that valued policies are common in the marine market.
Under a valued policy, the insurers must pay the agreed value regardless of the actual value
at the time of the loss, even if they can prove beyond doubt that the value of the property
has declined since the insurance was opened. The insured may, therefore, receive more than
a full indemnity (although they may, of course, receive less than indemnity if the actual value
has increased). If the initial valuation is grossly excessive, the insurer may argue breach of
the pre-contractual information duty or the policy may even be void as a gaming policy .
However, the insured will normally be required to substantiate the value for which they seek
to insure by providing an expert valuation at inception and so problems rarely arise in
practice.
 9/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

C2D Partial losses under valued policies

Where there is a total loss under a valued policy, there is no doubt that the insurers are liable
to pay the agreed value whether this is greater or less than the actual value of the property
at the time.

Case example
In the case of a partial loss, the rule established in Elcock v. Thomson (1949) may be
applied. In this case, a large house was insured under a fire policy for an agreed value of
£106,850 although its actual value was only £18,000 at the time when it was damaged by
fire. The effect of the fire was to reduce the value of the building to £12,600: a reduction of
30%. The court held that the insured was, therefore, entitled to 30% of the agreed value,
namely £32,055. Under the rule, the insured is thus entitled to a proportion of the agreed
value which is equivalent to the degree of depreciation in actual value caused by the loss.

Be aware
It may be worth noting that it would now be unusual to issue an agreed value policy on a
house, or on buildings generally.

Again, insurers could probably overrule the ‘Elcock principle’ by including a specific
provision in the policy about the basis of settlement for a partial loss. The insurers might
state, for example, that cost of repair was to be the basis of settlement in such a case. Where
there is a claim under marine insurance for damage to a ship, the Elcock rule is in any case
automatically modified by s.69 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906. In this case, the agreed
value is disregarded and settlement is based on the cost of repairs which is the same basis as
an unvalued marine policy. Finally, it should be noted that whether the policy is valued or
unvalued, the insurers will usually have the option of paying nothing at all to the insured and
settling the claim simply by repairing the building or other property. This question – the
method of providing an indemnity – is considered next.

D Methods of providing indemnity

When a claim occurs there are often several methods which insurers can use to provide
indemnity. The wording of the policy will usually give the insurer the right to choose which
method to adopt. Insurers will, of course, generally wish to choose the method which is most
economical to them. However, they are conscious of the need to give a good service and
often comply with an insured’s request for indemnity to be provided in a specific way,
provided it does not substantially increase their costs.
The methods of providing indemnity which are available are usually set out in the insuring
clause (the ‘working part’ of the policy).
The following is fairly typical:
We may choose to indemnify you by paying the amount of your loss or damage or
by repair, reinstatement or replacement.

D1 Payment of money
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An insurance contract is essentially a contract to pay money.

If there is no clause in the policy (such as the one above) giving the insurers the right to
settle in some other way, the insured has a legal right to insist on money payment.
In fact, in the vast majority of cases, the method of providing indemnity under an insurance
policy will be a money payment, simply because this is likely to be the most convenient and
satisfactory method for both parties. In liability insurance, cash payments (by way of
electronic transfer or cheque) are always made although, in the majority of cases, the money
is paid to the third party rather than the insured. This is because liability claims are normally
settled by direct negotiation between the insurers and the third party.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/13

D1A Can the insured spend the money as they wish?

Where insurers make a cash payment, there is no general obligation on the part of the
insured to spend the insurance money on restoring the property in respect of which the
claim was paid. However, the insured may be required to do so by virtue of their relationship
with a third party.

Example 9.8
• The insured may be obliged to expend their insurance money on repairing or rebuilding
a house or other building because of a clause in a lease, or mortgage deed.
• Again, they may be compelled to repair or replace a motor car (or other property)
under the terms of a hire-purchase agreement.

Furthermore, a failure by the insured to restore the property may affect the amount of a
claim settlement. For example, we saw in section C2B that insurances on a ‘new for old’ or
‘reinstatement’ basis generally pay the full cost of replacement or reinstatement only where
the insured actually replaces or reinstates the property concerned. If they do not do so,
settlement is made on an ordinary indemnity basis. In which case, a deduction for wear and
tear may reduce the size of the claim payment.

D2 Reinstatement
Be aware
We have to be careful when using the word ‘reinstatement’ in connection with insurance,
because it is employed in a number of different contexts. In section C2A, for example, we
discussed cover on a reinstatement basis, a form of ‘new for old’ cover where the insurers
agree to pay the full cost of rebuilding without deduction for wear and tear. Here,
however, we are discussing reinstatement as a method of providing indemnity.

In simple terms, it is where the insurers choose to settle the claim by actually rebuilding the
property that has been damaged instead of paying money to the insured.
The choice of rebuilding the property instead of paying money is given in the insuring clause
of most fire policies and many other property insurance contracts. However, insurers rarely
exercise this option, because if they decide to reinstate they become responsible for any
problems that arise in the reconstruction process.
If insurers do choose to reinstate, the original contract to pay money becomes a contract to
provide a restored building (or machinery). If, then, the restored property is defective or in
any way inferior to the old property, or there is an unreasonable delay in handing it over, the
insurers may have to pay compensation to the policyholder for breach of contract.

Case example
In Brown v. Royal Insurance Co. (1859)
(1859), the insurers elected to reinstate a partial loss but
were prevented from doing so because the Commissioners of Sewers, using their
statutory powers, ordered that the buildings should be demolished owing to their
dangerous condition. The court held that the insurers were liable to pay the full value of
the building to the insured as damages for breach of the contract to reinstate.
Chapter 9

Be aware
However, Brown was decided before the courts developed the doctrine of frustration
(see chapter 3, section E3). If an unforeseen event made it impossible for an insurer to
fulfil their undertaking to rebuild, a modern court might well declare the contract to be
discharged by frustration although, of course, the insurers would still have to settle the
claim with a money payment.

Another potential difficulty lies in the fact that, at common law, insurers cannot limit their
expenditure to the sum insured. In fact, insurers usually seek to protect themselves against
at least some of these pitfalls by stating in the policy that if they do choose or become
obliged to reinstate, they will only do so ‘as circumstances permit and in a reasonably
sufficient manner’. Policies usually also provide that ‘in no case shall [the insurers] be obliged
to expend more than the sum insured’ on reinstatement.
 9/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Yet again, once insurers elect to reinstate they must do so within a reasonable time and, if
they fail, they may be liable to pay damages to the insured for loss of use. Finally, once they
have elected to reinstate, insurers are their own insurers during reconstruction. In other
words, they are responsible for any further damage (such as a fire on the building site) which
may occur during reconstruction.
In view of these potential difficulties, insurers almost invariably choose to pay money rather
than reinstate. However, insurers have occasionally chosen to reinstate where they have
suspected, but have been unable to prove, fraud on the part of the insured (e.g. a fire that
may well have been caused deliberately by the policyholder). Although the cost of the claim
is still met by the insurers in such a case, at least the dishonest intent of the insured is
defeated. Furthermore, where there has been a large number of possibly fraudulent claims
within the same sector of industry (which sometimes occurs when a particular trade is hit by
recession), insurers have sometimes adopted a general policy of reinstatement in order to
discourage other policyholders from following suit.

D2A Statutory reinstatement – the Fires Prevention (Metropolis)

Act 1774
You will recall from chapter 8, section A7 that in some cases insurers may become subject to
the provisions in s.83 of the Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774
1774.
This Act requires insurance companies to lay out the insurance money, as far as it will go,
towards rebuilding or reinstating buildings which have been destroyed or damaged by fire.
There are two circumstances where insurers must do this:
• if they suspect fraud or arson by the insured; and
• upon the request of any person(s) interested in the buildings.
With regard to the second point, the Act may be invoked against the insurers by any person
(other than the insured) who has a legal or equitable interest in the insured building, such as
a lessee, mortgagee or person who has contracted to buy. The object is to protect such
persons by ensuring that the insurance money is properly used to restore the building in
which they have an interest and not spent on something else by the insured.

Be aware
In practice, the insurers do not themselves have to reinstate but may simply withhold
payment from the insured until they have done so, or give an adequate guarantee that
they will do so.

The Act applies to:

• fire insurance of buildings only;
• England, Wales and some other countries where it has been adopted, but not to Scotland
or Ireland; and
• policies written by insurance companies but not to policies issued on behalf of Lloyd’s
underwriters.

D3 Repair
Chapter 9

Insurers make quite extensive use of repair as a method of providing indemnity. Motor
insurance is perhaps the best known example, where motor repairers are commonly
authorised by insurers to carry out repair work on damaged vehicles.

Consider this
this…
…
Why do you think that an insurer would want to specify in which garage the car should be
repaired?

For the insurer, having a network of approved repairers can help them to manage costs, and
ensure that the quality of the work is maintained. Some insurers have taken this process a
step further by acquiring ownership of garages which are used to repair their policyholder’s
vehicles. This practice is currently more common in continental Europe than in the UK.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/15

D4 Replacement
The most common situation where insurers choose to settle claims by ‘replacing’ the insured
property is where they arrange for the replacement of broken glass for their policyholders.
Insurers can obviously negotiate very favourable discounts with glazing firms because of the
large volume of business which they can offer. They will often have a standing arrangement
with a number of such firms. Similar agreements with suppliers sometimes exist for the
replacement of other property, including household goods.

E Salvage and abandonment

The following section looks at salvage and abandonment for both marine and non-marine
insurance. We will look first at marine insurance.

E1 Marine insurance
In marine insurance, there is a long established principle that, where the insured has been
paid for a total loss, the insurer is entitled to claim, for their own benefit, anything that
remains of the insured subject matter.
The action of giving up the subject matter to the insurer is referred to as abandonment, and
the right of the insurer to take over the subject matter is known as salvage.
In marine insurance, salvage and abandonment are particularly important because marine
insurance recognises not only actual total losses (where the subject matter is destroyed, or
ceases to exist, or the insured is irretrievably deprived of it) but what are known as a
‘constructive total losses’.

E1A Constructive Total Loss

Constructive Total Loss applies when the subject matter is damaged or the insured is
deprived of the possession of their ship or goods but the subject matter is not destroyed. In
addition:
• it is unlikely that the insured can recover the ship or goods; or
• in the case of damage to a ship, the cost of repairing the damage would exceed the value
of the ship when repaired; or
• in the case of damage to goods, where the cost of repairing the damage and forwarding
the goods to their destination would exceed their value on arrival.
Where there is an actual total loss under a marine policy, abandonment is automatic.
However, in the case of a constructive total loss, the insured must serve a notice of
abandonment on the insurers if they wish to be paid for a total loss. This is a formal notice
indicating the insured’s willingness to give up the subject matter to the insurers.

Be aware
It should not be confused with the action of abandonment itself. In principle, if no such
notice is served, the insured is deemed to have suffered a partial loss and may claim only
for this. There are some exceptions to this rule under s.62 of the MIA 1906.
Chapter 9

E2 Non-marine insurance
In non-marine insurance, the concept of a constructive total loss is not recognised. Losses
are either actual total losses or partial losses, and the points made above about notice of
abandonment are, therefore, not relevant.
However, when insurers pay an (actual) total loss under a non-marine policy, the doctrine of
abandonment and salvage will apply.
The doctrine of abandonment and salvage supports the principle of indemnity and prevents
the insured from ‘making a profit from their loss’.
 9/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

When insurers pay a total loss under a non-marine policy, there will often be little of value
remaining because the property will either be lost, totally destroyed or completely useless.
Nevertheless, if the insured does not agree to treat the property as wholly destroyed, they
cannot insist on the loss being wholly made good to them. Furthermore, property insurers
are entitled to any materials left by the fire (or other peril) where they have agreed to pay a
loss in full.
In some cases property is recovered intact after the insurers pay for a total loss. This is
particularly common in the case of theft claims but may apply in other situations as the
insured ceases to be the owner and the insurer is entitled to claim the property.
In the case of motor claims where vehicles have been ‘written off’ the insurers are entitled to
sell the remains of the insured vehicle to reduce their loss.

Be aware
In practice, insurers often agree to sell the property back to the owner and, in some cases
(such as fine art insurance), the policy may contain a clause giving the insured ‘first
refusal’. The Financial Ombudsman Service has taken the view that the insured should
always be given the chance to repurchase.

E2A The effect of underinsurance

In some cases where there is a total loss, the insured will not receive a full indemnity because
of underinsurance or the operation of a policy excess. It has not been clearly established
whether the insurers can keep the whole of the salvage if they have not provided a full
indemnity but the probability is that they cannot.

F Effect of claim payments on policy cover

When insurers pay a claim they are, of course, performing their part of the agreement. But
what effect does this have on the policy cover? Is part of the cover ‘used up’, as it were,
when insurers pay a claim, or are they liable to go on paying any number of claims which
occur in the period of insurance? The subject is complex but the broad rules are as follows.

F1 Successive partial losses

First, where a policy grants a fixed amount of cover (such as a theft policy on goods with a
sum insured of £500,000), the cover reduces by the amount of any claim payment. So,
unless the sum insured is restored by the insured paying an extra premium (known as a
reinstatement premium), the policy will lapse once all the cover is used up.

Example 9.9
Fire insurance provides a good example of a class where a reinstatement premium is
required to restore the sum insured in the event of a claim.

However, in practice, it is not collected in cases where the loss is trivial in relation to the total
sum insured and the extra premium involved is insignificant. In some cases (such as stock
Chapter 9

declaration policies), restoration of the sum insured is automatic and the insured is obliged
by the terms of the contract to pay the extra premium.
Some policies do not provide a fixed amount of cover and normally have no sum insured as
such. We have seen, for example, that under a UK motor policy the insurer’s maximum
liability for loss or damage is generally expressed to be the ‘market value’ of the vehicle at
the time of the loss, provided this does not exceed the estimate of value given by the insured
at inception. Third party cover under a UK motor policy is also unlimited for any one year
and, except in the case of some non-consumer (business) vehicle insurances, it is unlimited
in respect of any one accident for both injury and property damage claims. A motor policy,
therefore, cannot terminate by virtue of its sum insured or liability limit being exhausted by a
series of partial losses.
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/17

In marine insurance, s.77 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906 provides that the insurer is liable
for successive losses, even though the total amount of such losses may exceed the sum
insured (s.77(1).) Thus, although no one partial loss could give rise to a right of indemnity in
excess of the insured value, the aggregate of more than one such partial loss could do so. If a
ship is damaged and repaired and became a total loss subsequently, the insured may
recover for both the cost of repair and the total loss of the vessel. Under the same policy, if a
partial loss, which has not been repaired or otherwise made good, is followed by a total loss,
the insured can only recover in respect of the total loss (s.77(2)).

F2 Total losses
In this section we will deal with the termination of insurance policies following a total loss.

F2A Termination of the policy by payment

In some cases, such as life insurance, it is fairly obvious that payment of the full sum insured
will usually end the contract. Again, in the case of property insurance, a payment on the
basis of a total loss normally ends the insurer’s liability. In contract law generally, it is
presumed that a person need do only once what they have promised in the contract to do.
In many cases (but not life insurance) the subject matter will be restored after a total loss.
This will be common in the case of property policies where the property in question is often
rebuilt or replaced. If this is done, a fresh insurance contract must be effected on the
restored property and must be supported by fresh consideration (i.e. a further premium
payment).

F2B Termination by destruction of the subject matter

Quite apart from the question of payment, cover may cease automatically if there is a total
loss, simply because the subject matter which supports the insured’s interest will, as a result,
no longer exist or, even if it does, the insured will have no rights in respect of it. You should
bear in mind what we have said about insurable interest in chapter 5, section B, and salvage
in section E of this chapter.
The automatic right to terminate cover following a total loss can, of course, be modified by
the terms of the policy. The insurers may, for example, allow the old policy to remain in force
and permit the insured to substitute new property for that which has been destroyed.

Example 9.10
Many motor insurers will accept the substitution of a replacement vehicle under the
existing policy when the original insured vehicle has been stolen or ‘written off’.

On the other hand, some insurers are less generous and always cancel when there is a total
loss. In some cases, the right to cancel is reinforced by an express clause in the policy, such
as the following, taken from a motor policy:
In the event of any claim under Section 3 (Loss or Damage)…for the total loss or
destruction of the Insured Car and for which a full indemnity is paid hereunder, this
insurance shall be cancelled with no return of premium and this document and the
‘Certificate of Motor Insurance’ shall be returned to the Underwriters forthwith.
Chapter 9

F2C The effect of termination in the event of a total loss

As we have seen, where a policy lapses following a total loss, the insured will be required to
effect a new insurance contract in respect of the replacement property and pay a further
premium for it. Where the loss occurs at the beginning of the policy year, the insured will,
therefore, lose almost a whole year’s premium. In some classes of insurance, such as marine
and aviation, premiums are high and this loss may be quite substantial. In fact, this risk (of
having to pay another premium following a total loss) can sometimes be insured under a
special ‘premium insurance’.
 9/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Meaning of indemnity

• Indemnity insurances are those where the insurers agree to pay only when the insured suffers a loss
of a particular type, and only for the amount of the loss.
• Non-indemnity (or contingency) insurances are policies in which insurers agree to pay a specified
sum when a particular defined event occurs. The insured does not have to prove that they have
suffered a loss, only that the event in question has happened.
• The concept of indemnity means that insurance should provide exact financial compensation for
the insured; it also means that the insured should not be over-compensated and should not ‘profit’
from their loss.

Measure of indemnity

• The measure of indemnity depends upon the type of insurance involved and the nature of its
subject matter.

Variations in the principle of indemnity

• Factors which could limit the insured’s entitlement to a full indemnity include the sum insured or
limit of liability; other policy limits; underinsurance and average clauses; the excess or deductible;
and operation of a franchise.
• In some situations the insured can receive more than a full indemnity; including where cover is
provided on a reinstatement basis; new for old cover; agreed value cover; and partial losses under
valued policies.

Methods of providing indemnity

• The methods by which the insurer will provide indemnity are usually set out in the insuring clause of
the policy; the main methods are payment of money; reinstatement (including statutory
reinstatement under the Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774); repair and replacement.

Salvage and abandonment

• The action of giving up the subject matter to the insurer is referred to as abandonment, and the
right of the insurer to take over the subject matter is known as salvage.
• In marine insurance (but not recognised in non-marine insurance) a constructive total loss is where
the subject matter is not destroyed but the insured is deprived of the possession of their ship or
goods and it is unlikely that they can recover the ship or goods; or the cost of recovering the ship or
goods would exceed their value when recovered.
• In marine insurance the insured may claim successive partial repaired losses although the claim may
exceed the policy amount in the aggregate.
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Measuring the loss: the principle of indemnity 9/19

Self-test questions
1. Why are life insurance policies not indemnity contracts?
2. What is ‘betterment’?
3. Suggest three circumstances where a person insured under a property policy may
receive less than a full indemnity in the event of a loss.
4. Can average operate as an implied term?
5. Distinguish between an excess (or deductible) and a franchise.
6. What is a valued policy?
7. What kinds of policy are subject to the provisions of s.83 of the Fires Prevention
(Metropolis) Act 1774?
8. Explain the terms ‘salvage’ and ‘abandonment’.
9. What is ‘notice of abandonment’?
10. What is the effect on policy cover when insurers pay a total loss?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 9
 9/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 9.1: Question

Apply how losses are measured and the principle of indemnity to practical situations
(LO8.7)
Martin, an antiques dealer, has a commercial insurance policy with your company. Martin’s
stock was kept in a warehouse which has been destroyed by a fire, the cause of which has
been validated as an insured peril. The warehouse contained some valuable antiques.
Although the warehouse had been in good repair, it was due to be replaced next year with
a more modern building. Your view, based on the initial loss adjusted assessment, is that
Martin’s warehouse was underinsured.
Discuss, with justification, what legal issues might have to be dealt with when Martin
makes a claim.
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.
Chapter 9
 Subrogation and
10
contribution
Contents Syllabus learning
outcomes
Learning objectives
Introduction
Key terms
A Subrogation 9.1
B Nature of subrogation 9.1
C Operation of subrogation 9.1
D Source of subrogation rights 9.2, 9.3
E Double insurance and contribution 9.4, 9.5
F When contribution arises – the common law rules 9.5
G Operation of contribution at common law 9.4, 9.5
H Basis of contribution 9.5, 9.6
I Market agreements 9.7
Key points
Questions

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the principles of subrogation and contribution as corollaries of the principle
of indemnity;
• describe how and when contribution and subrogation arise;
• explain the extent of rights of subrogation;
• discuss the application of the principle of contribution to basic insurance situations; and
• understand the modification of the principles of subrogation and contribution by policy
conditions and market practices.
Chapter 10
 10/2 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Introduction
The principles of subrogation and contribution are sometimes described as corollaries of the
principle of indemnity. This means that they support the principle of indemnity – they apply
automatically and only to insurances which are contracts of indemnity.
We have seen that the principle of indemnity prevents the policyholder from recovering
from their insurer a greater amount than their loss. What happens, however, if the insured is
in a position where they can claim twice (or more than twice) for the same loss?

Consider this
this…
…
In what situation might an insured be able to claim more than once for the same loss?

They may be able to do so if:

• they have more than one insurance policy covering the loss; or
• they have a claim under one insurance policy only but can also make a claim for
compensation against another person.
In either case, it appears that they will be able to ‘make a profit from their loss’ and achieve
more than an indemnity. However, the law prevents this. In the first case (where there is
double insurance), the right to claim twice is denied and the loss is shared between the
insurers under the principle of contribution. In the second case, the right to claim twice is
also denied. If the insured makes a claim under their policy they must give up their right to
claim from the other person and, instead, allow the insurers to recover their own claim
payment from the other. This is the doctrine of subrogation and we will consider it first.

Key terms
This chapter features explanations of the following ideas:

Co-insurance cases Common interest Contribution Double insurance

Double recovery Ex gratia payments Market agreements Maximum liability

method

Public policy Recovery equal to the Sharing the recovery Subrogation

loss

A Subrogation
We can define subrogation as:
The right of one person, having indemnified another under a legal obligation to do
so, to stand in the place of that other and avail himself of all the rights and remedies
of that other, whether already enforced or not.
In the context of insurance, subrogation refers to the right of an insurer who has indemnified
an insured in respect of a particular loss (i.e. paid a claim) to recover all or part of the claim
payment by taking over any alternative right to indemnity which the insured possesses. It
follows that subrogation will arise only where the insured has suffered a loss and has another
means of recovering for it, i.e. a claim on their insurance policy and a legal right or claim
against some other person for the same loss. If the insured chooses the first option (a claim
on their policy), then the alternative right, the claim against another, passes to the insurers.
The effect is to prevent the insured from recovering twice for the same loss and so preserve
the principle of indemnity.
Chapter 10

Example 10.1
A house has been damaged in a fire which was started by the negligence of a plumber
who had come to repair a pipe. The damage amounts to £5,000 and the house owner has
a household policy which covers fire damage. The house owner has two means of
recovering this loss: (a) they can claim under their own household policy; or (b) they can
make a claim against the plumber, based on negligence (discussed in chapter 2,
section D).
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/3

The easiest course is likely to be the claim against the household insurers. However, if the
house owner receives an indemnity from their insurers (i.e. payment of the claim) they lose
the right to recover from the plumber. This right is now transferred to the household
insurers, who can sue the plumber, in the name of the insured, to recover their claim
payment.
If, in our example, the house owner did actually obtain compensation from the plumber after
receiving an insurance claim payment, they would have to pass on the money to their
insurance company. This is a second way in which subrogation can operate.
What happens if the plumber has their own insurance to protect them against claims of this
sort – in other words, public liability insurance? Obviously, the household insurers will now,
effectively, have a right of recovery against a second insurance company – the public liability
insurers who will have to indemnify the plumber.
The implications of this will be discussed later.

B Nature of subrogation
Why does the law allow subrogation? It is sometimes suggested that subrogation prevents
the ‘guilty’ party (such as the plumber in example 10.1) from being ‘let off the hook’, and
ensures that they do not escape their financial responsibilities simply because the other
party has been careful enough to arrange insurance. The plumber may also have public
liability insurers who ultimately bear the loss. The plumber could pass on the cost of their
public liability insurance to their customers, including the house owner in our example!
The main purpose of subrogation is simply to prevent what is known as the ‘unjust Refer to chapter 1,
section C for the
enrichment’ of the insured – in other words to prevent him from unfairly profiting from their principles of
loss and so to preserve the principle of indemnity. The prevention of ‘unjust enrichment’ is a equity

principle of equity.

Case example
To quote Brett, L.J. in Castellain v. Preston (1883)
(1883), subrogation is:
a doctrine in favour of the underwriters or insurers in order to prevent the insured
from recovering more than a full indemnity.

B1 Indemnity policies only

Since subrogation is a corollary of indemnity, the doctrine does not apply to non-indemnity
contracts, such as life or personal accident.

Example 10.2
This means that a life insurance company which paid a claim for the death of a
policyholder who was killed in a road accident would have no subrogation rights against a
driver whose negligence caused the accident.

C Operation of subrogation
The principle of subrogation can operate in two ways.
First, the insured may have actually succeeded in ‘recovering twice’, i.e.
recovering for the same loss twice
collected a claim payment from his insurers and also recovered compensation for the same
loss from another source.
Chapter 10

Example 10.3
We have seen that the householder in our case above may have actually received a
payment from both the plumber and his insurers. In this case the insurers can call upon the
insured to pay back to them the ‘profit’ which has resulted from the double recovery
recovery. The
insured would be guilty of ‘unconscionable (unfair) conduct’ if he did not ensure that sums
paid by the third party were handed over to the insurer.
 10/4 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Moreover, the courts have held that insurers have an enforceable equitable lien or charge
over such money. This means that the insurer may be able to secure an injunction requiring
the money to be paid over.
Second, where the insured has not received compensation from another source, insurers
who have indemnified the insured in respect of the loss may themselves bring an action
against the third party who is legally responsible for it. We will look at each of these
situations in turn.

C1 Where the insured has ‘recovered for the same

loss twice
twice’’
Case example
A good example is provided by the leading case of Castellain v. Preston (1883). Here, the
seller of a house recovered £330 from his insurer when the property was damaged by fire
between the signing of the contract and the completion of the sale. The buyer afterwards
completed the purchase and, despite the fire, paid the full price of £3,100, which he was
bound to do by the terms of the contract. It was held that the seller had to pay to his
insurer £330 from the money that he had received from the buyer, otherwise the seller
would have ‘made a profit from his loss’.

The rule that the insured cannot recover in respect of the same loss twice is subject to some
qualifications.

C1A The insured must be indemnified

The insured is only accountable to the insurers if he has been indemnified for his loss.

Case example
In the case of Scottish Union and National Insurance v. Davies (1970) insurers had paid
£409 to the motor vehicle repairers who had carried out repairs on the insured’s car.
However, even though three attempts had been made to repair the car, the work was not
satisfactory, so the insured sued the person who caused the damage and recovered £350,
which he used to get the work done properly. The motor insurers attempted to claim this
£350 by way of subrogation but failed because the repairs they had paid for were useless
and no satisfaction note had been signed by the insured. The judge held that the insurers
were not entitled to recover and stated:
‘So far as the insured was concerned, they (the insurers) might have thrown £409 in bank
notes into the Thames.’

In many cases the insurers will have made a payment to the insured but will not have
provided a full indemnity. For example, the policy may be subject to a deductible, or there
may be under-insurance, or it may be that some of the loss is simply not covered by the
policy. The implications of this for the operation of subrogation are considered in section C3.

C1B Gifts
In some cases the insured may receive a gift (i.e. voluntary payment), after having suffered a
loss, usually from somebody other than the wrongdoer. In general terms, it appears that
where the giver intends the money to be for the sole benefit of the insured it cannot be
claimed by way of subrogation.

C2 Where the insurers bring an action against the

third party
Chapter 10

As we have seen, where the insurers have indemnified the insured and the insured has not
enforced his alternative rights to compensation, the insurers may ‘step into the shoes’ of the
insured and pursue any right of action available to the insured to reduce the loss insured
against. The action will normally lie against a third party whose negligence (or other tort) has
caused the loss. However, subrogation can arise in other ways, and these are discussed in
section D of this chapter.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/5

C2A Action in the name of the insured

The action must be brought in the name of the insured and legally it is regarded as the
insured’s own action although, as we have seen, the insurers will, effectively, have the
benefit of it.

Be aware
There is one exception to this rule, which is actions brought by insurers under the Riot
2016, where the insurers may sue in their own name. This is discussed
Compensation Act 2016
in section D3.

C2B One action only – for the whole loss

When an action is taken by insurers in the name of the insured, it must be for the whole loss
and not just for the portion which has been borne by the insurers. This is because, as a
general rule, the law only allows a person to sue once for a wrongful act that has been
committed against them.

Example 10.4
If a motor car is damaged by the negligent action of another motorist, and the cost of
repair is £5,000, the owner will be able to claim for this loss if they have a comprehensive
policy. However, the policy may be subject to a deductible (say £250), and the owner may
also need to hire another vehicle while their car is in the garage for repair. This latter cost
(say £500) may not be covered by their insurance. Therefore, the owner will have to
recover these uninsured losses from the other motorist. Since the insurers have the right
to sue in the insured’s name for the £4,750 which they have paid, it is important that they
claim, in addition, for the £250 excess and £500 hire charges on behalf of their insured:
otherwise the right to recover this expense may be lost.
The same principle would apply if the insured, rather than the insurers, initiated the claim
against the motorist whose negligence caused the loss. That is, the insured would be
obliged to claim for the whole loss of £5,500 and not just the £750 which they could not
recover from their own insurers. Of course, they would then have to return £4,750 to the
insurers, assuming that they had already paid the insured this amount.

C2C The time when subrogation rights arise

At common law the insurers must indemnify the insured (i.e. pay the claim) before they can
exercise subrogation rights. However, this means that insurers do not have complete control
from the date of the loss and their ability to recover could be seriously prejudiced by delay
or by some other action taken by the insured.
For this reason, insurers always include an express subrogation clause in non-marine
policies. This allows the insurers to begin proceedings against a third party before they have
settled the insured’s own claim. The clause will also give the insurers the right to control the
proceedings.
The effect is that the insured will not be able to bring an action against the third party
themselves (unless the insurers agree) and will be in breach of the policy condition if they do
so. Equally, the insured will be in breach of their duty to the insurers if they prejudice their
rights in any way (e.g. by waiving their rights against the third party or entering into a
compromise with them). In this respect, the clause reinforces and supplements the common
law duty of the insured to act in good faith when proceeding against the third party.

Activity
Find a non-marine policy wording and locate the express subrogation clause.
Chapter 10
 10/6 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

C3 Sharing the recovery

The operation of the principle of subrogation, and the way in which any recovery from a
third party is shared between the insured and the insurers, depends on two factors:
• the amount of the recovery in relation to the loss; and
• whether the insurance covers the loss in full.
We will consider three possible situations.

C3A Recovery equal to the loss

Quite often, the amount of the recovery from the third party will be exactly the same as the
loss suffered by the insured. In this case the position is straightforward and no problem
about sharing the money recovered will arise because, in effect, the whole of the loss will be
borne by the third party.

Example 10.5
If insurers pay in full for a loss of £5,000, and then recover £5,000 from the third party,
they will be entitled to keep the whole of that £5,000. However, if the insurers pay £4,750
only because, for example, the policy is subject to an excess of £250, the insurers will be
allowed to retain £4,750 only and will hold the balance of £250 for the insured. Equally, as
explained earlier, if the insured, rather than the insurers, was to recover the £5,000, he
would be able to retain only £250 from this and would hold the rest for the benefit of the
insurers.

C3B Recovery greater than the loss

If there is any surplus after the insurers have recovered their money the insured is entitled to
keep it. Again, the insurer is not entitled to recover more than it has paid out.

Case example
Although a surplus is very unlikely to arise, it did do so in Yorkshire Insurance Co. Ltd v.
(1962). In this case insurers had paid an agreed value of £72,000
Nisbet Shipping Co. Ltd (1962)
for the loss of a ship in a collision in 1945. The insured sued the Canadian Government,
who owned the other ship, and damages of £75,000 were awarded. This sum was
converted into Canadian dollars at the exchange rate prevailing in 1945. However, when
the dollars were converted into sterling they produced £126,000, because the pound had
been devalued in 1949. It was held that the insurers were entitled to £72,000 only, the sum
they had paid out. The insured thus benefited from the £55,000 surplus (and the insurers,
effectively, lost the interest that they could have earned on their money over 13 years).

Refer to The Nisbet case confirmed that insurers can never recover by way of subrogation a greater
chapter 9,
section E for sum then they have paid out. However, as we shall see in section D4, insurers may be able to
abandonment recover more than they have paid under the doctrine of abandonment and salvage.
and salvage
Again, insurers may, in theory, be able to recover more than they have paid if, instead of
relying on the doctrine of subrogation, they stipulate in the insurance contract that the
insured shall assign to them any right of recovery against a third party, or persuade the
insured to assign the right after a loss has occurred. In this case the Nisbet principle will not
apply, because the right to sue will now belong exclusively to the insurers. Furthermore, the
insurers will not have to first indemnify their insured before pursuing the third party.
However, it seems that insurers rarely use the device of assignment in these circumstances.

C3C Recovery less than the loss

In some cases the recovery from the third party will be less than the loss that has been
Chapter 10

suffered by the insured. This may happen, for example, if the third party is insolvent or
simply unable to pay. If the insurers have paid for the whole of the loss they will obviously be
entitled to keep the whole of the sum that has been recovered. However, if the insurers have
not paid the whole of the loss, because, for example, the policy is subject to an excess, a
difficult question arises.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/7

Example 10.6
Let us suppose, for instance, that the insured has suffered a loss of £5,000, but the
insurers have paid £4,750 only because the policy is subject to an excess of £250. If the
insurers recover, say, £4,000 only, can they keep all of this (because they have paid out
more than £4,000) or do they have to give £250 to the insured so that he is indemnified
in full?

Until Napier v. Hunter (1993) there was no clear answer. It appears from the decision,
however, that the insurers could keep the whole £4,000, even though the insured has not
been fully indemnified. Apparently, this is because the insured, in accepting an excess, has
‘agreed’ to bear the first £250 of any insured loss himself, giving the insurers first claim on
the money that is recovered.
This part of the decision in Napier is controversial. Nevertheless, the same principle would
probably apply in a case of under-insurance. For instance, in our example above, the insurers
might have paid only £4,750 of the £5,000 loss because the sum insured was limited to the
former amount. In this case the insurers could probably, again, keep the whole of any
recovery that was less than £4,750.
It seems unlikely that this principle would apply to uninsured losses that were completely
outside the policy cover and would not have been paid even if there had been no excess or
under-insurance.
Finally, it is clear that the insured can deduct from any amount to which the insurer is
entitled by way of subrogation, any legal costs or other expenses reasonably incurred in
attempting to recover the loss that was insured.

C4 Ex gratia payments
So far we have dealt with situations where there is a valid claim under a policy. What
happens if an insurer makes a payment when it is not strictly bound to do so by the
policy terms?
In fact, subrogation arises only from payments made under the terms of the policy. If the
insurers make a payment outside the terms of the policy, making it clear that no legal
obligation to pay is accepted, and that payment is made merely as a favour (known as an ‘ex
gratia payment), they are not entitled to subrogate against a third party. The insured is
gratia’’ payment
entitled to retain any amounts secured in this way.

D Source of subrogation rights

We have seen that the effect of the doctrine of subrogation is to pass to the insurer a right to
recover from a third party who is legally responsible for the loss suffered by the insured.

Such a right may arise:

In tort In contract Under statute

D1 Tort
Chapter 10

Subrogation rights most frequently arise in tort, a branch of the law. In most cases, the third Refer to chapter 2
for the law
party will have negligently damaged property belonging to the insured which is covered of torts
under the latter’s property insurance.

Example 10.7
A lorry driver might negligently drive his vehicle into a building, causing damage. If the
owners of the building claim for the impact damage under their property insurance, the
insurer will, on the face of it, be able to exercise subrogation rights against the lorry driver
in the name of the insured.
 10/8 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Although subrogation rights will usually be founded on the tort of negligence, there are
other possibilities.

Example 10.8
A person’s house might be damaged by tree roots that encroach from a neighbour’s
garden, causing subsidence. If the owner of the damaged property makes a claim under
his household buildings policy, the insurers may have subrogation rights against the
neighbour which, in this case, could be based on the tort of nuisance.

D2 Contract
Subrogation rights may exist in contract. If the insured has an alternative contractual right of
recovery, in addition to that provided by their own insurance, the insurers will be able to
enforce this right for their own benefit.

Example 10.9
Property insurers who pay a claim for damage to buildings may have rights of recovery
against a tenant of the insured, who is legally responsible for the damage under the terms
of the lease.

Again, marine insurers who pay shippers for damage to cargo may have subrogation rights
against the carrier that arise from the contract of carriage.
Subrogation rights in contract can also arise from indemnity (or ‘hold harmless’) clauses
whereby one party to a contract (A) agrees to pay back another (B) if the latter (B) should
suffer a particular sort of loss. Clauses of this sort are very common in contracts associated
with complex construction or engineering projects, where many firms and many groups of
workers are involved.
Refer to An important subrogation case involving contracts of this sort arose from the Piper Alpha
section D5A for
knock for knock disaster. These indemnity clauses effectively formed a network of ‘knock for knock’
agreements and agreements whereby the rig owners and each firm working on the rig accepted
Lister v. Romford
responsibility for injuries to their own employees.
A final, unusual, example of subrogation arising in contract is found in Lister v. Romford Ice
and Cold Storage Ltd (1957)
(1957).

D3 Statute
Finally, a recovery by way of subrogation may be founded on a statutory right belonging to
the insured.
The most common example is the statutory right of property owners to recover damages
from the police authority if their property is damaged in the course of a riot. This right arises
under the Riot Compensation Act 2016 (RCA). The RCA replaced the Riot (Damages) Act
1886, which was generally seen as antiquated and difficult for policing bodies to apply
1886
following the 2011 UK riots.
Under the doctrine of subrogation, the right passes to insurers who pay a claim for riot
damage and is enforceable by them against the policing body in the district in which the riot
occurred. Unusually, the Act allows insurers to sue the relevant authority in their own name.

D4 Subrogation, salvage and abandonment

In chapter 9, section E, we discussed the doctrine of salvage and abandonment, which allows
Chapter 10

insurers who have paid a total loss to claim for their own benefit anything which remains of
the subject matter. Abandonment is often linked with subrogation and has the same general
purpose of preventing the insured from recovering more than an indemnity.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/9

However, there are important differences, as follows:

• subrogation gives the insurer the right to pursue a claim against a third party for the loss
of the subject matter, whereas abandonment and salvage confer rights only over the
subject matter itself;
• an action by way of subrogation cannot be brought in the insurer’s own name (with one
exception), whereas an insurer who accepts abandonment becomes the owner of the
goods;
• the insurer can make a profit on the abandoned property, whereas subrogation allows the
insurer to recover no more than their own payment; and
• subrogation operates automatically as a result of the principle of indemnity, whereas
abandoned property need not be accepted by the insurer.

D5 Modification or denial of subrogation rights

Sometimes insurers agree not to enforce their subrogation right, and on other occasions
they are prevented by law from exercising rights of subrogation that would otherwise exist.
Some of the main examples are discussed below.

D5A Market agreements

Subrogation rights are often affected by general agreements between insurance companies.
Sometimes insurers agree among themselves to waive (i.e. give up entirely) their rights of
subrogation against third parties. This is particularly common where the third party is
insured. As we have seen, if the third party is covered by their own liability insurance, the
consequence is that one insurer will end up claiming from another. This can result in extra
administrative costs and, possibly, wasteful and expensive litigation between the two
insurers if they cannot agree which of their policyholders is to blame for the damage.
Furthermore, over a period of time neither of two insurers who regularly claim from each
other is likely to be much better off – they will simply be ‘pound-swapping’.

Example 10.10
The most well-known examples of waiver of subrogation rights are found in the field of
motor insurance, where a network of ‘knock-for-knock’ agreements developed in the UK
and in some other countries. The general effect of these agreements is as follows. When
an accident (such as a collision) occurs involving vehicles covered by different insurers,
each insurer pays for the damage to its own policyholder’s vehicle (provided the policy
covers the damage) and gives up any subrogation rights that may exist against the other
motorist. The development of these agreements in the UK goes back to the First World
War (1914-18). Insurance offices were understaffed because so many men had gone to
fight and the agreements became necessary in order to cut down on paperwork.

Recently dissatisfaction with ‘knock for knock’ agreements has led to withdrawal by a
number of insurers, causing the system to break down in the UK.
Various other agreements exist. For example, there are ‘immobile property agreements’
between motor insurers and property insurers that cover impact damage by motor vehicles.
Under these agreements losses are shared in a predetermined proportion.
Another interesting example is found in the field of employers’ liability insurance.
Chapter 10
 10/10 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Case example
The agreement in question arose from the case of Lister v. Romford Ice and Cold Storage
Ltd (1957) where a worker injured a fellow employee (who was his father) in the course of
his employment. The injured employee recovered damages from the employer because
the latter was vicariously liable (see chapter 2, section H3) for the son’s negligence.
Having indemnified the employers, the employers’ liability insurers brought a successful
action against the negligent employee to recover what they had paid. The court accepted
the argument that the son had broken an implied term of his contract of employment (to
take reasonable care) in injuring his father, giving the employer a right of recovery in
contract which the insurers pursued by way of subrogation. Concern at the harsh effects
of the decision, particularly in view of the relationship between the parties (because the
compensation given to the father was taken back from the son), and accompanying
criticism of the industry led insurers generally to agree to give up their subrogation rights
in such cases.

Therefore, other than in exceptional circumstances, insurers do not pursue rights of recovery
against persons who negligently injure their fellow employees.

D5B Contractual waiver of subrogation

Quite often, insurers agree with a particular insured that they will not exercise subrogation
rights against certain other parties or persons who are associated with the insured. They can
do this by including in the policy a ‘subrogation waiver clause’.
The clause may, for example, expressly state that subrogation rights will not be exercised
against affiliated or subsidiary companies of the policyholder, the intention being to prevent
a subsidiary from having to pay back sums which had been paid to the parent company
under an insurance claim.
Even if there is no such ‘subrogation waiver clause’ in the insurance policy, a non-consumer
(business) contract between the insured and another person may be construed in such a
way as to bar the insurers’ rights of subrogation.

Example 10.11
If a contract (e.g. a construction contract) between A and B states that certain property
shall be ‘at the sole risk of A’, the courts may assume that A had agreed not to sue B for
any damage to the property, thus depriving A’s insurers of subrogation rights.

Again, the way in which two or more parties have arranged their insurance may persuade a
court that there should be no subrogation rights. For example, if a non-consumer (business)
contract states that a person ‘shall have the benefit’ of the insurance arranged by another,
the courts may assume that the intention was to exempt that person from any liability for a
loss to be covered by the insurance.

D5C Co-insurance cases

Refer to We have seen that two or more persons can be insured under the same policy and that the
chapter 7,
section C for policy in question can be either joint or composite. A question then arises as to whether an
composite and insurance company, having indemnified one co-insured for a loss covered by the policy, can
joint insurance
exercise subrogation rights against another co-insured who was legally responsible for the
loss. In some cases there may be an express ‘waiver of subrogation’ clause in the insurance
contract (see above), to the effect that no subrogation rights will be exercised against a co-
insured. It used to be the position that, even if there is no such clause, subrogation will
usually be denied.
The theories behind this principle (no rights of subrogation against a co-insured) are
Chapter 10

complex and beyond the scope of this course. However, it is worth mentioning that
subrogation in co-insurance has been a topic which has come before the English Courts a
number of times in recent years. It should be first noted that in cases in which a subrogation
action in co-insurance is discussed, there are normally two contracts involved:
1. The underlying contract between the parties, for example, a construction contract
which could require the contractor to take out an insurance insuring both the employer
and the contractor.
2. An insurance contract.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/11

In Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions (UK) Ltd v. Rolls Royce Motor Cars Ltd (2008) Rix LJ
held that (in the absence of an express subrogation waiver clause) whether or not the
insurer has subrogation rights depends on the underlying contract between the contractor
and the subcontractor. If the underlying contract exempts the sub-contractor’s liability,
there will be no subrogation rights but otherwise, the insurer subrogates into the
contractor’s rights despite the co-insurance.
The Supreme Court, by majority, recently rejected Rix LJ’s view as stated above. In Gard
Marine & Energy Ltd v. China National Chartering Co Ltd (formerly China National
(2017), the owners of the vessel Ocean Victory
Chartering Corp) (The Ocean Victory) (2017)
chartered the vessel by a demise charterparty dated 8 June 2005 to Ocean Line Holdings
Ltd. On 2 August 2006, Ocean Line Holdings Ltd time chartered the vessel to time
charterers. All of the charters contained a safe port clause under which the vessel was to be
used at safe ports. Clause 12 of the demise charter required the demise charterer to put
insurance in place for the joint account of the owners and demise charterers. On 24 October
2006, the vessel was lost in a storm at Saldanha Bay. The insurers indemnified the owners
and demise charterers, and took an assignment of the demise charterers’ rights against the
time charterers and sought damages for breach of the safe port warranty in the time charter.
The Supreme Court unanimously rejected the claim on the basis that the port was safe. On
the basis that there had been a breach, the Supreme Court divided 3:2 on the question of
whether the demise charterers had a claim that was capable of being assigned. The majority
held that there was no such claim – the insurance arrangements in the demise charter
operated on the basis that there was an implied term in the demise charter so the owners
had no cause of action against the demise charters for risks covered by the insurance. The
minority view was that the safe port warranty took priority, and that although a payment by
the insurers discharged the liability of the demise charterers to the owners, the insurance
could not be relied upon by the time charterers to resist a claim by the demise charterers.
It should be noted that if one co-insured ceases to be covered by the insurance, subrogation
may then be allowed.

D5D Public policy

You will recall that following Lister v. Romford Ice and Cold Storage Ltd (1957), insurers have Refer to
section D5A for
generally agreed to give up their subrogation rights against negligent workers who injure Lister v. Romford
their fellow employees in the course of employment. The following example shows how the
Court of Appeal has refused to allow subrogation in a similar (but not identical) situation.

Case example
In Morris v. Ford Motor Co (1973)
(1973), the injured claimant worked for a cleaning firm
(Cameron) that was contracted to clean at a Ford location. The claimant successfully
recovered damages from Ford, which was vicariously liable for its employee’s negligence.
Ford then sought an indemnity from Cameron, relying on the indemnity clause in the
contract, which led to Cameron trying to bring a subrogate legal claim directly against the
negligent Ford employee. The Court of Appeal rejected Cameron’s claim, on the grounds
of public policy
policy, and highlighted that industrial relations would be harmed if there was a
right to sue employees in such cases.

E Double insurance and contribution

Like subrogation, contribution is a corollary of the principle of indemnity which effectively
prevents the insured from ‘making a profit from his loss’. In this case, however, the possibility
of making a profit arises from the existence of double insurance
insurance. Contribution is concerned
with the sharing of losses between insurers when such double insurance exists, the
Chapter 10

overriding principles being that the insured cannot recover for the same loss twice and that
the insurers should share the loss in a fair way.
Contribution can be defined as follows:
Contribution is the right of an insurer to call upon others similarly, but not necessarily
equally liable to the same insured, to share the cost of an indemnity payment.
Like subrogation, contribution applies only to insurance policies that are contracts of
indemnity. Therefore, for example, a person is entitled to buy as many life insurance policies
as they can afford and each insurer must pay in full when the time for payment comes.
 10/12 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Contribution is governed by common law rules (although, as in the case of subrogation, the
central principle behind them is one of equity). However, these common law rules are
frequently modified by clauses in the policy known as contribution conditions. In practice,
contribution is often further modified by internal market agreements between insurers.

E1 Double insurance
Double insurance can arise in various ways. In the past, deliberate double insurance was not
unknown, a second insurance being arranged in case the first insurer should be insolvent and
unable to pay. This would be rare nowadays, when the motive for deliberate double
insurance is more likely to be an attempted fraud. In fact, double insurance will usually be
unintentional. In some cases, for example, a person may effect insurance without having
cancelled a policy which the new contract was intended to replace. More frequently, there
may be some overlap in cover between two different types of policy which the insured has
arranged.

Example 10.12
• If a camera is stolen from a car, the loss might be covered under the owner’s motor
policy (which may cover personal effects in the vehicle) and a household contents or
personal all risks policy. If the owner was on holiday at the time then there might be
additional cover under a separate travel insurance.
• In the field of non-consumer (business) insurance, a person might have a policy
covering stock in a particular warehouse only and hold, in addition, another insurance
on a ‘floating’ basis covering stock in a whole series of warehouses, to cater for peaks
and troughs of trading. Each could be placed with a different insurer.

F When contribution arises – the common

law rules
Contribution will arise only when the following conditions are satisfied:
• each policy is liable for the loss;
• each insures the same interest in the subject matter;
• two or more policies of indemnity exist;
• each insures the subject matter of the loss; and
• each insures the peril which brings about the loss.

F1 Two or more policies of indemnity

Cases where there are more than two policies are not unknown but, from now on, we will
generally assume that only two policies are involved.

Case example
In Body Corporate 74246 v. QBE Insurance and Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (2017)
(2017), a
policy which ended at 4pm on 4 September 2010 was not renewed with QBE, and the
insured took out a new policy with Allianz that started at 4pm that day. The QBE policy
included an ‘excess’ clause, under which, if there was any other insurance in place, the
other insurance would respond first and QBE would only be liable for loss in excess of the
cover of the other policy. There was a similar clause in the Allianz policy.
At 4.35am on 4 September 2010, the property was severely damaged by an earthquake.
Chapter 10

QBE paid the claim but it sought 50% contribution from Allianz on the basis that Allianz
had been on risk at the same time. The judge dismissed the claim and held that the Allianz
policy should be construed as incepting at 4pm on 4 September 2010. The intention had
been to provide seamless continuing cover rather than overlapping cover. If necessary, a
term would be implied to that effect.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/13

It is important that the policies in question must be indemnity contracts, and both be in place
at the time of the insured incident.
As we have already seen, contribution does not apply in the case of life or other non-
indemnity insurances.

F2 A common subject matter

The subject matter that is affected by the loss must be common to both policies.
However, the policies need not cover exactly the same subject matter.

Example 10.13
• A person may have one policy covering goods in a particular warehouse only, and
another policy covering goods in all warehouses which they own.
• Alternatively, a person might have a household policy covering all personal possessions
and a separate ‘all risks’ policy covering a small number of specified items only.

To put this another way, the range of the property covered by the policies does not have to
be the same, provided there is some overlap in what they cover.

Be aware
Finally, you should bear in mind that the subject matter may be something other than
property. Liability policies or pecuniary insurances may be drawn into contribution where
each policy covers the source of legal liability or financial loss in question.

F3 A common peril
Just as the range of property or other subject matter covered by the two policies need not
be the same, so the range of perils need not be identical, provided there is overlap between
the two. Therefore, an ‘all risks’ policy may be drawn into contribution with a fire policy
where the source of the loss is fire, despite the broader cover provided by the former.

F4 A common interest
Case example
The leading English case is North British and Mercantile Insurance Co. v. London,
Liverpool and Globe Insurance Co. (1877) (the ‘King and Queen Granaries case’). In this
case, merchants had deposited grain with a granary, the owners of which were treated as
bailees of the grain. The grain was damaged by fire and, as the granary owners were
strictly liable by custom of trade, they claimed against their own insurance. The insurer
then tried to bring a claim against the merchants’ insurer under contribution but the claim
failed because the interests of the bailee and owner of the grain were different.

Different interests in the same property may exist in the case of landlord and tenant,
mortgagor and mortgagee or seller and purchaser of a building. If each takes out a policy
which covers their own interest only there will be no double insurance and, therefore, no
contribution. However if either (or both) of the parties insures for the benefit of the other as
well as themselves, contribution may arise.
Chapter 10
 10/14 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

F5 Each policy liable for the loss

Contribution will arise only where both insurers can be called upon to pay under their
policies. This may not be the case if one insurer has the right to avoid the contract, for
example, for breach of condition or where an exclusion applies. Insurers cannot, however,
always rely on breach of a condition to deny a claim for contribution as indicated by the
case below.

Case example
In Legal and General Insurance Society v. Sphere Drake Insurance Co. Ltd (1992)
(1992), the
insured had two similar motor policies with the claimant and defendant insurers. He was
involved in an accident in which a third party was injured and Legal and General
negotiated a settlement of £65,000 with the third party. Having settled, they claimed a
50% contribution from Sphere Drake.
Their claim failed at the Court of Appeal because the Legal and General policy included a
‘rateable proportion’ clause, the application of which meant that Legal and General should
only have paid 50% of the loss (£32,500), and had therefore paid the other 50% on an ex
gratia basis. Just as no subrogation rights exist in respect of a voluntary payment so there
are no rights of contribution. The judges also considered whether Sphere Drake could rely
on the fact that the insured had failed to notify them of the loss, in breach of a policy
condition, to reject a contribution claim. The Court’s view was that this argument would
not have succeeded, as contribution was based on an equitable right and on balance
allowing recovery would have been less unfair.

G Operation of contribution at common law

An insured whose loss is covered by two or more policies cannot recover more than an
indemnity. However, at common law, they can claim against the insurers in any order and for
such proportion of the loss as they think fit. In particular, they may choose to claim from one
insurer only and recover in full from that insurer. Having satisfied the loss, the insurer who
pays may then, and only then, claim a contribution from the other insurer(s). Insurers have
always regarded this as an unsatisfactory state of affairs, because the insurer that is called
upon to pay has the full burden of handling the claim and paying the loss, plus the further
inconvenience of claiming from another insurer. It may be some time before the paying
insurer is able to make a recovery and the process of doing so may involve extra cost and,
perhaps, even lead to a dispute with the other office.
For this reason, insurers may include contribution conditions in their policies. A contribution
condition is a clause that sets out how the loss is to be met if the insured has another policy
which covers it. The effect of the condition will be to change or override the common law
rules described above.

G1 Contribution conditions
There are many different types of contribution conditions and only the more common
varieties are described here. The ‘rateable proportion’ condition is the most common of all
and therefore the most important. We will begin, however, by looking at some conditions
that are more drastic in their effects.

G1A ‘Escape
Escape’’ clauses
An escape clause is a condition that effectively forbids the insured from taking out another
policy without the consent of the insurers. It does this by providing that the insurance will be
Chapter 10

avoided if the insured takes out any further insurance on the same risk without notifying the
insurers and obtaining their consent. The original purpose of these clauses was to prevent
the insured from secretly arranging double or multiple insurances and so guard against
possible fraud. The clause may also state that the insurance will be invalid if the insured
already has cover on the same risk with another insurer.
What happens if a person takes out two policies and both prohibit other insurances? The
second policy never operates because of the existing policy in force. This means that the
first insurers are liable for the loss because no insurance other than their own has ever come
into effect.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/15

Finally, it seems that a purely accidental overlap in cover will not bring conditions such as
this into operation.

G1B Other non-contribution clauses

The clause in question may not prohibit other insurances being arranged without consent in
the way described above, but simply state that there will be no liability for any loss which is
insured by another policy.

Example 10.14
There shall be no liability under this policy in respect of any loss for which the insured is
entitled to indemnity under any other policy.

These clauses are valid in law and their effect is to push the whole of any such loss onto the
other insurer. However, there is again the possibility that both contracts will have a similar
clause, stating that there will be no liability if another policy covers the loss, so that the
insured appears to have no cover at all. In fact, the courts have rejected the possibility of the
two policies cancelling each other in this way.

Case example
In Gale v. Motor Union Insurance Co. (1928) Loyst had caused an accident while driving
Gale’s car and his liability was insured under Gale’s Motor Union policy, which gave ‘any
driver’ cover. However, Loyst was also insured under the ‘driving other vehicles’ extension
of his own policy, issued by General Accident. Although both policies excluded liability for
losses that were insured elsewhere, the judge ruled that the loss should be shared equally
by the two insurers.

Previous cases have shown the courts are not enthusiastic about non-contribution clauses
and that, where there is double insurance, identical non-contribution clauses will, effectively,
cancel each other out rather than cancel the cover. The courts should invoke the equitable
principle of contribution between co-insurers to avoid the absurdity and injustice of holding
that a person who has paid premiums for cover by two insurers should be left without
insurance cover because each insurer has excluded liability for the risk against which the
other has indemnified them.
In some cases insurers will exclude liability for the amount of the loss covered by the other
policy but agree to contribute to the balance of any loss that is not insured by the first
policy. In other words, they will pay once the cover provided by the other policy has been
exhausted.

Example 10.15
A typical clause might read as follows:
This policy shall not apply in respect of any loss where the insured is entitled to
indemnity under any other insurance, except in respect of any excess beyond the
amount which would have been payable under such other insurance had this
insurance not been effected.

In this case the insurance operates like an excess of loss policy, providing an extra ‘layer’ of
cover above that provided by the ‘primary’ insurance. If both policies have a similar wording
the clauses will cancel each other out in the way described above. If no payment is made
under the primary insurance because the primary insurer is insolvent the excess insurer will
not usually ‘drop down’ to cover loss in the primary layer, although this will depend on the
exact wording of the clause.

G1C ‘More specific insurance

insurance’’ clauses
Chapter 10

In some cases a policy will provide that where a loss is covered by another more specific
insurance, the policy will respond only when the cover provided by the more specific
insurance has been exhausted. In other words, the policy operates like an excess of loss
policy (above), but only where the ‘primary’ cover is more specific. The term ‘more specific’
may or may not be defined in the policy. However, a policy is likely to be regarded as more
specific if it describes or identifies the subject matter more precisely.
 10/16 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 10.16
A policyholder may have a household contents policy covering household goods and
personal effects in general and a separate ‘all risks’ policy covering specified items only,
such as jewellery, cameras and other valuable possessions. The loss of, say, a camera
could be covered under both policies, but if the household insurance carried a ‘more
specific insurance clause’ (which is likely) the ‘all risks’ insurers would be primarily liable
and the household insurers would contribute only if cover under the all risks policy was
insufficient.

Again, if a loss is covered by two policies, but the range of property covered by one is
narrower than the other, the former may be regarded as more specific.

Example 10.17
If Policy 1 insures stock in building A only, and Policy 2 has a ‘floating’ item on stock in
building A, B, C and D, the former is a more specific policy. If Policy 2 carried a more
specific insurance clause, it would operate only once the cover provided by Policy 1 was
used up.

G1D ‘Rateable proportion

proportion’’ clauses
A clause of this type is now included in virtually all indemnity insurances, and it is sometimes
found in conjunction with other contribution conditions. The clause states that the insurers
will be liable for a ‘rateable proportion’ only of any loss that is also insured by another policy.

Example 10.18
If at the time of any loss, damage or liability there is any other insurance covering such
incidents we will pay only our rateable proportion.

The effect is to prevent the insured from recovering in full under a policy that includes the
condition. Almost invariably, both policies will carry a clause of this type, so the insured will
be obliged to separately claim an appropriate proportion from each insurer.

H Basis of contribution
As we have seen, contribution may arise at common law (i.e. under policies with no
contribution condition) or, much more frequently, under a standard ‘rateable proportion’
clause. In either case, the question arises as to exactly how the loss should be shared by the
insurers. Unfortunately, there is little legal authority on this issue. The Marine Insurance Act
s.80 (1) states that:
Where the assured is over-insured by double insurance, each insurer is bound, as
between himself and the other insurers, to contribute rateably to the loss in
proportion to the amount for which he is liable under his contract.
However, the Act does not say exactly how this rateable proportion is to be calculated.
Moreover, there is very little case law on the subject. For this reason the assessment of the
insurers’ liability in cases of double insurance is often based on market practice rather than
established principles of law.
In fact, there are two main methods of calculating the ratio of contribution: the maximum
liability method and the independent liability method.

H1 Maximum liability method

Chapter 10

Under the maximum liability method the loss is shared by the insurers in proportion to the
maximum amount of cover that is available under each policy which, in the case of property
insurance, is usually equivalent to the sum insured.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/17

Example 10.19
So, to take a simple case, if property is insured for £10,000 with insurer A, and for
£20,000 with insurer B, A will pay 1/3 of any loss and B will pay 2/3, as in the following
example:
Loss of £6,000

£10,000
A pays  × £6,000 = £2,000
£30,000

£20,000
B pays  × £6,000 = £4,000
£30,000

Unfortunately, there are many circumstances where this method will not operate fairly, or
simply not work at all.

Example 10.20
• If the terms and conditions of the policies are not the same the maximum liability
method will not operate fairly (for example, one policy may be subject to an average
clause or policy excess).
• If the range of the two policies is different it will be difficult to compare properly the
sums insured.
For example, policy A above may cover stock in building 1 only, whereas B covers stock in
buildings 1, 2 and 3.
• If one policy provides unlimited cover (as in the case of some liability insurances), the
method will not work at all.

H2 Independent liability method

Under the independent liability method, the liability of each insurer for the particular loss
which has occurred is assessed as though its policy were the only one in force. The figure
that results in each case represents the independent liability of the insurer for the loss. The
loss is then shared in proportion to the independent liabilities of the two insurers.
Some examples, using the two policies described above, will help to make this clear.

Example 10.21
Policy A sum insured £10,000

Policy B sum insured £20,000

Loss £6,000

(Neither policy is subject to average)

Step 1 Calculate independent liability of policy A (the amount payable if A was the only policy in
force)
This is £6,000

Step 2 Calculate independent liability of policy B

This is also £6,000

Step 3 The loss is shared in proportion to the two independent liabilities (i.e. the proportion of
the loss which the independent liability of each policy bears to the total of the
independent liabilities), i.e.

A pays £6,000
Chapter 10

× £6,000 = £3,000
£12,000

B pays £6,000
× £6,000 = £3,000
£12,000

(In this case the independent liabilities are the same so the loss is shared equally.)
 10/18 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Example 10.22
Policy A sum insured £10,000

Policy B sum insured £20,000

Loss £15,000

(Neither policy is subject to average)

Step 1 Calculate independent liability of policy A (the amount payable if A was the only policy in
force)
This is £10,000

Step 2 Calculate independent liability of policy B

This is £15,000

Step 3 The loss is shared in proportion to the two independent liabilities

A pays £10,000
× £15,000 = £6,000
£25,000

B pays £15,000
× £15,000 = £9,000
£25,000

(In this case the independent liability of B is greater, so B bears a greater part of the loss.)

Example 10.23
Policy A sum insured £10,000

Policy B sum insured £20,000

Loss £6,000

(Neither policy is subject to average, but policy A is subject to a £2,000 excess)

Step 1 Calculate independent liability of policy A (the amount payable if A was the only policy in
force)
This is £4,000 (£6,000 less £2,000 excess)

Step 2 Calculate independent liability of policy B

This is £6,000

Step 3 The loss is shared in proportion to the two independent liabilities

A pays £4,000
× £6,000 = £2,400
£10,000

B pays £6,000
× £6,000 = £3,600
£10,000

(Because policy A is subject to an excess the independent liability of B is again greater

and B bears a greater part of the loss.)

Be aware
Whether the maximum liability method or independent method is used will depend on the
circumstances and the class of business concerned. A distinction can be made between
property and liability insurances.
Chapter 10

H3 Property insurance
There is little legal authority on the basis of contribution in property insurance and the
choice of method will usually depend on market practice.
In the case of property policies that are not subject to average and in which the subject
matter of insurance (the property) is identical, the maximum liability method is
normally used.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/19

Where non-average policies are in contribution but they are not concurrent (in other words
the property covered is not identical), the ratio of contribution is often based on a rather
complicated ‘mean method’ which is outside the scope of this course.
In the case of policies that are subject to average, or where a lower loss limit applies within a
greater sum insured, the independent liability method is used to calculate the proportions. In
fact, the vast majority of non-consumer (business) property policies are now subject to
average and limits within a greater sum insured are increasingly common. This means that
the independent liability method is becoming almost universal in use.

H4 Liability insurance
It is now established in law that the independent liability method is the proper basis for the
calculation of contribution in the case of liability insurance.

I Market agreements
We have seen that the way in which the ratio of contribution is calculated may sometimes be Refer to
section D5A for
based on market practice rather than established legal rules. Furthermore, in some cases market
market agreements between insurers will modify the application of contribution itself. This agreements

can happen in two ways:

1. Insurers may agree to share losses in cases where, strictly speaking, contribution does
not arise in law.
2. They may sometimes agree to waive rights of contribution in cases where such a right
clearly exists, so that the whole of the loss is borne by one insurer.
The purpose of these agreements, like that of ‘knock for knock’ and the other claims sharing
agreements, is to prevent disputes between insurers and reduce operating costs.
An agreement of the first sort is found in the field of fire insurance, where UK fire insurers
have agreed to share certain losses where their policies cover the same subject matter
against the same peril, even though the policies may not cover the same interest. In other
words, they agree to disregard the principle established in the King and Queen Granaries
case discussed in section F4.

Example 10.24
A good example of an agreement of the second sort (waiver of contribution rights) is
found in the motor market. In the common situation where one person (A) drives a car
belonging to another (B) and injures a third party (C). Contribution may arise in law if A is
an insured driver under B’s policy and A also has his own policy with a ‘driving other
vehicles’ extension. This is the situation that arose in Gale v. Motor Union Insurance Co.
(1928), discussed earlier. Under the market agreement, B’s insurers (who insure the
vehicle involved in the accident) will provide the indemnity to A and not seek contribution
from A’s own insurers. A’s insurers would be called upon to pay only where A was not an
insured driver under B’s policy.
Chapter 10
 10/20 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Key points
The main ideas covered in this chapter can be summarised as follows:

Subrogation

• The principles of subrogation and contribution are sometimes described as corollaries of the
principle of indemnity. This means that they support the principle of indemnity – they apply
automatically to insurances which are contracts of indemnity and apply only to contracts
of indemnity.
• Subrogation can be defined as the right of one person, having indemnified another under a legal
obligation to do so, to stand in the place of that other and avail himself of all the rights and
remedies of that other, whether already enforced or not.

Nature of subrogation

• The main purpose of subrogation is simply to prevent what is known as the ‘unjust enrichment’ of
the insured – in other words to prevent him from unfairly profiting from their loss and so to preserve
the principle of indemnity.
• Since subrogation is a corollary of indemnity, the doctrine does not apply to non-indemnity
contracts, such as life or personal accident.

Operation of subrogation

• The principle of subrogation can operate in two ways:

– the insured may have actually succeeded in ‘recovering for the same loss twice’, i.e. collected a
claim payment from his insurers and also recovered compensation for the same loss from
another source; or
– where the insured has not received compensation from another source, insurers who have
indemnified the insured in respect of the loss may themselves bring an action against the third
party who is legally responsible for it.
• The way in which any recovery from a third party is shared between the insured and the insurers,
depends on two factors:
– the amount of the recovery in relation to the loss; and
– whether the insurance covers the loss in full.

Source of subrogation rights

• Subrogation rights can arise in tort, in contract or under statute.

• Insurers’ subrogation rights can be modified or restricted by market agreements; contractual
waivers; in coinsurance cases or as a matter of public policy.

Double insurance and contribution

• Contribution is the right of an insurer to call upon others similarly, but not necessarily equally liable
to the same insured, to share the cost of an indemnity payment.
• Contribution is governed by common law rules. However, these common law rules are frequently
modified by clauses in the policy known as contribution conditions.

When contribution arises – the common law rules

• Contribution will arise only when the following conditions are satisfied:
– two or more policies of indemnity exist;
– each insures the subject matter of the loss;
– each insures the peril which brings about the loss;
– each insures the same interest in the subject matter; and
– each policy is liable for the loss.

Operation of contribution arises at common law

• A contribution condition is a clause that sets out how the loss is to be met if the insured has another
policy which covers it.
Chapter 10

• Different types of contribution conditions include escape clauses, non-contribution clauses, ‘more
specific insurance’ clauses and ‘rateable proportion’ clauses.

Basis of contribution

• There are two main methods of calculating the ratio of contribution: the maximum liability method
and the independent liability method.
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/21

Market agreements

• In some cases, market agreements between insurers will modify the application of contribution
itself. This can happen in two ways:
– Insurers may agree to share losses in cases where, strictly speaking, contribution does not arise
in law.
– They may sometimes agree to waive rights of contribution in cases where such a right clearly
exists, so that the whole of the loss is borne by one insurer.

Chapter 10
 10/22 M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Self-test questions
1. Provide a simple definition of subrogation.
2. Why does the law allow subrogation?
3. Can insurers claim money which the insured receives as a gift by way of
subrogation?
4. What are the three main sources of subrogation rights?
5. What conditions must be satisfied for contribution to arise at common law?
6. What is an ‘escape clause’?
7. What is a ‘more specific insurance clause’?
8. What are the two main methods for calculating the ratio of contribution?
9. What method for calculating the ratio of contribution is employed in the case of
liability insurance?

You will find the answers at the back of the book

Chapter 10
Chapter 10 Subrogation and contribution 10/23

Scenario 10.1: Question

Apply the principle of contribution to the main lines of insurance and to practical
situations (LO9.6)
Imran recently went on holiday to Thailand but while he was there he accidentally
dropped his new tablet computer which was worth £1,600. He had to have it replaced. He
claimed for the loss under his household contents policy as he had paid an additional
premium to cover his personal possessions while they were outside the home. The claim
was accepted but only up to the value of £1,000 which was the policy limit. Imran then
tried to recover the remaining amount from his travel insurance.
Discuss, with justification, whether Imran is likely to receive the outstanding amount from
his travel insurer.
When planning your answer, use the following four-step IRAC approach:
• provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question;
• look at the relevant areas of law;
• apply the principles of the law to the scenario; and
• provide a conclusion to your answer.
Note: The M05 study text is based on English law. All scenarios included are set in
England therefore English law applies.

Chapter 10
 10/24 M05/March 2019 Insurance law
Chapter 10
Answers i

Chapter 1
self-test answers
1. Public law concerns the relationship between the State and its individual members.
Private law concerns the relationship between the individuals themselves.
2. Law of contract, law of torts, law of trusts, law of property, family law, law of
succession.
3. Ratio decidendi is the exact reason for a decision; obiter dictum is a statement made by
a judge which is of persuasive authority only.
4. The law of trusts generally; promissory estoppel; subrogation; contribution; special
performance; injunction.
5. Orders in council; statutory instruments (regulations and orders made by ministers);
bye-laws.
6. The literal rule; the golden rule; the mischief rule.
7. The three tracks are:
• The small claims track – this is normally used for disputes up to £10,000, except for
personal injury cases and housing disrepair cases, where the limit is usually £1,000.
• The fast track – this is used for straightforward disputes where the financial value is
not more than £25,000.
• The multi-track – this is used for disputes which are neither small claims nor have
been allocated to the fast track. It includes cases with a financial value exceeding
£25,000, and cases of a lower value if the court considers the trial likely to last longer
than one day or if any oral expert evidence given at the trial will not be limited to one
expert per party in up to two expert fields.
8. It has always been possible for a person involved in litigation to make the other party an
offer in the hope of settling the case before it comes to trial, and/or to make a payment
into court. The rules governing these offers and payments are now contained in Part 36
of the Civil Procedures Rules, hence the terms ‘Part 36 offer’ and ‘Part 36 payment’.
A Part 36 offer or payment is essentially an attempt to force the other party into a
compromise. If an offer or payment into court is accepted by the other party then the
case ends. However, if the offer or payment is not accepted within the time allowed for
doing so the person refusing it may end up paying extra costs, even if they win the
case. This puts pressure on the other party and may persuade them to settle for a lower
amount rather than risk heavy legal costs. The aim of Part 36 is to encourage the
acceptance of reasonable offers, and avoid the need for unnecessary court hearings.
9. Natural persons and juristic persons (or corporations).
10. A corporation sole is a legal person representing an official position which will be
occupied by a series of different people. A corporation aggregate is an artificial legal
person consisting of a number of people – for example, a limited company.
ii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 1.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the nature and sources of
English law and the concept of natural legal persons to practical situations
(learning outcome 1.6).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
It is important to recognise that this question is not about compulsory insurances or
motor insurance specifically. Its focus is the sources of English law.
Look at the relevant areas of law
English law has certain recognised sources: common law or case law, statute law and
European law. Unless a law comes from one of these sources, it is unlikely to be part of
English law.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
As stated in the question, the English legal position is that the driver must be insured
rather than the vehicle. Arlo’s Romanian insurance policy cannot be valid in England
unless there is a recognised legal source (a specific provision in English case law or
statute) which allows for it. Only law which comes from one of those sources is
recognised law and no other source can introduce or change the law.
Therefore, unless a specific English legal source that incorporates what Arlo says into
English law can be found, it is likely that his understanding of the situation is incorrect.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
Answers iii

Chapter 2
self-test answers
1. A tort is a breach of a civil duty imposed on everybody by the general law, damages are
always unliquidated and liability is usually based on fault.
A breach of contract is the breach of a duty imposed by agreement, damages may be
liquidated or unliquidated and liability is usually strict.
2. A defence is a legal excuse for what would otherwise be a wrong. If successful, it
removes all liability. Contributory negligence is a plea in mitigation which reduces
liability (and damages payable) but does not remove it.
3. The act of the defendant must be direct. It must be intentional (or possibly only
negligent). The tort is, in every case, actionable per se.
4. The defendant owed a duty of care to them, that duty of care was breached and they
suffered loss or damage as a result of the breach.
5. The ‘neighbour test’ is a principle for establishing when a duty of care is owed in
negligence. It was proposed by Lord Atkin in Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932) and is
based on ‘reasonable foreseeability’.
6. i. Wrongfully allowing the escape of noxious things from one’s property so as to
interfere with the claimant’s land.
ii. Wrongful interference with servitudes (rights attaching to land).
7. Vicarious liability is liability which one person assumes for the wrongful act of another.
The main example in the law of torts is the vicarious liability of the employer for torts
committed by their employees in the course of their employment.
8. Truth, honest opinion, publication on a matter of public interest, innocent defamation,
privilege.
9. One year where the claim is for libel or slander, three years for personal injury and six
years for most other tort actions (mainly property damage claims).
10. Ordinary visitors to an owner’s property have protection under the Occupiers’ Liability
Act 1957, which states that the occupier has ‘a duty to take such care as in all the
circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe in
using the premises for the purposes for which he is invited or permitted by the occupier
to be there.’
The position for trespassers, as set out in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984, is slightly
different. A duty is owed only if the occupier knows or has reasonable grounds to
believe that the danger exists and the trespasser is/may come into its vicinity. The risk
must also be one against which the occupier may reasonably be expected to offer a
trespasser some protection. The only protected forms of damage are death and
personal injury, with no duty in relation to property.
iv M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 2.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the law of tort to practical
situations (learning outcome 2.5).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
The first step is to identify the torts that may apply. They are as follows:
1. Ben has trespassed and has taken goods.
2. Ben has been injured while trespassing so the scrapyard owner/occupier may owe a
duty of care to him which has been breached causing him damage or injury.
Look at the relevant areas of law
These are as follows:
1. The tort to trespass both to land and to goods.
2. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 (OLA 1984) will apply as Ben is not a lawful visitor.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
1. Ben may be liable for trespass to land and to goods. However, the tort of conversion
may not apply as it appears that no loss has been established because the goods
were returned.
Therefore, the scrapyard owner may be successful if he sues Ben in relation to
trespass to land and goods but conversion may not apply as no loss has been
established.
2. Ben will only be owed a duty of care by the occupier of the scrapyard (who may or
may not be the owner) if the requirements set out in the OLA 1984 are satisfied.
Under the OLA 1984, much depends on the occupier’s knowledge – a duty may be
owed but that duty has then to be breached and damage proved.
Therefore, a duty will be owed to Ben if the occupier knew trespassers may be in the
vicinity, that there was a danger to them and it was a risk against which the occupier
should offer some protection. Based on the facts, it is unclear if a duty is owed to Ben
by the scrapyard owner/occupier under OLA 1984. If a duty is owed to Ben, it then
needs to be established whether it has been breached. Therefore, Ben may not be
successful if he sues the scrapyard owner.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
Note: The provisions of the OLA 1984 can be set out in full or paraphrased but, if
paraphrased, the meaning must not be changed. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 does
not need to be mentioned in relation to this scenario as it does not apply.
Answers v

Chapter 3
self-test answers
1. Agreement (generally shown by offer and acceptance), intention to create legal
relations, consideration (for simple contracts), form, capacity to contract. The contract
must not be illegal or against public policy.
2. At the cash desk. Taking the goods to the cashier is probably the offer to buy, taking
money in payment is probably the acceptance.
3. An invitation to treat is a statement made when negotiations are still in progress, and
not an offer. It is, effectively, an invitation to make an offer.
4. An acceptance generally can be in any form, e.g. in writing, orally or by conduct.
However, if the offeror states that acceptance must take a particular form, the method
stipulated must generally be used.
5. A transfer of title to land; a transfer of a British ship or shares in a British ship.
6. Necessaries are the basic products and services of everyday life.
7. A warranty is a term which affects only a minor aspect of the agreement. If it is broken,
the injured party has a right to claim damages but not, in general, to terminate the
contract. A condition is a term which relates to an important aspect of the agreement: it
‘goes to the root’ and if it is broken the victim has a right not only to claim damages but
also to terminate the agreement.
8. If, after the contract is concluded, it becomes illegal, futile or impossible to perform.
9. Performance, breach, agreement, frustration.
10. An insurance contract may be illegal and void because the insured lacks the insurable
interest required by statute (e.g. under the Life Assurance Act 1774), the purpose of the
contract may be illegal or against public policy, the insured property may be used
unlawfully or there may be a close connection between the loss for which the insured
seeks compensation and a crime.
11. In the case of the assignment of the benefit of a contract, the entire contract is not
assigned but merely the benefit of it. There is no change in the subject matter of the
contract (such as the property which the policy covers), or in any other aspect of the
risk; the insurance money is payable on exactly the same event or events. The assignor
is simply saying that the proceeds of any valid claim they may have should go to the
assignee in question.
12. An equitable assignment of a life policy has always been possible: this may be done, for
instance, simply by handing the policy to another – provided the intention to assign is
clear. If there is only an equitable assignment the assignee cannot enforce the policy in
their own name – they have to join the assignor in the action, either as co-claimant or
co-defendant.
13. Motor insurances are ‘personal’ contracts. The insurer’s willingness to provide cover will
depend not only on the vehicle to be insured but also on the age, occupation,
experience and driving record of the insured and of the other people whom the insured
may allow to drive.
vi M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 3.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the law of contract to practical
situations (learning outcome 3.10).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
Contract law is a wide-ranging subject so it is important to identify what the issues are in
this scenario. The starting point is whether there is a true offer made via the
advertisement. If there is a true offer, the issue is whether the offer has been accepted. If
no offer has been made, the issue is whether the advertisement has any legal effect or is
merely an invitation to treat.
Look at the relevant areas of law
The relevant law is on offers which, if accepted, bind the parties. Offers can be made to
the public as a whole so the insurance firm’s advertisement may be considered as an offer
which, once accepted, binds the parties.
However, in Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v. Boots Cash Chemists (1953), it was
held that offers to sell were not made by placing goods on shelves in a shop. Similarly, an
advertisement may not be a true offer, it may simply be an ‘invitation to treat’. If this is the
case, it is the customer who makes the offer when responding to the advertisement.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
If the television advertisement is an offer, the customer may be accepting the offer by
responding to the advertisement. As long as the customer satisfies the conditions
attached to the offer (i.e. they are over 65 years of age and respond within the one month
time period mentioned), he may claim that an offer and acceptance has taken place. He
will then be bound and there may be a contract (subject to the other elements of a valid
contract being in place). One reason the discount may have been refused is that the offer
may have lapsed through passage of time.
If the television advertisement is not a true offer but an invitation to treat then it is the
customer that is making the offer and it is up to the insurance firm to decide if they wish to
accept it. It may be for the courts to decide if there is an offer made by the insurance
company or by the customer in this scenario. The principles of contract law and relevant
case law suggest it is difficult to predict the outcome of such a case.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
Answers vii

Chapter 4
self-test answers
1. • Principal and agent.
• Principal and third party.
• Agent and third party.
2. Actual authority (which may be expressed or implied) or apparent (or ostensible)
authority.
3. By agreement (or consent), by ratification, by necessity.
4. • The person doing the act must do it as agent and not for themselves.
• The principal must have been in the agent’s mind at the time.
• The principal must have full knowledge at the time of ratification.
• The principal must have been in existence at the time of the unauthorised act.
• The whole contract must be ratified, and in a reasonable time.
• Void or illegal acts cannot be ratified.
5. Agency by necessity arises when a person is entrusted with the goods of another and
an emergency makes it necessary to do something to save them.
6. Under the law of agency, any knowledge which an agent possesses is imputed to the
principal: in other words, the law assumes that the principal is aware of information
which has been given to the agent: what is known by an agent is deemed to be known
to the principal also. This is of particular importance in relation to the duty of disclosure.
This rule is subject to sections 4 and 5 of the IA 2015.
7. • Where expressly authorised by the principal.
• Where the right to delegate is implied (i.e. routine administration).
• Where delegation is in accordance with trade custom.
• In cases of necessity.
8. (c) Both the insured and the insurer from time to time.
9. • Obedience.
• Care and skill.
• Personal performance.
• Good faith.
• Accounting for money.
10. Against either the agent or the principal.
11. By agreement, by performance, by lapse of time, by withdrawal of authority, by
renunciation, by death, bankruptcy, insanity or by frustration.
viii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Scenario 4.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the principles of agency law to
practical situations (learning outcome 4.6).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
1. The scenario presents an agency situation with Carlos as the principal and Priya as
the agent. The task of an agent is to bring about a contract between the principal
and a third party. Here, the agent has been created by express agreement and Priya
has actual authority.
2. The scenario also presents the issue of whether there is a disclosed or undisclosed
principal and what impact this might have in terms of who may be liable for any
breach alleged by the buyer.
Look at the relevant areas of law
1. The relevant areas of law are the general principles of agency with specific reference
to the obligation to pay an agent. An agent has certain duties but so too does the
principal, and one of these is to pay the agent. This means the agent has a right to be
remunerated and, in this case, the sum of that payment is clear.
2. There is a possibility that Carlos is an undisclosed principal and this may be relevant
to who the buyer can seek compensation from.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
1. It seems as though Priya is entitled to the agreed payment (known as ‘commission’)
as she has done what was asked of her, including handing over of the purchase
price – she has earned her commission. It does not appear that she has gone beyond
her authority as an agent and therefore the principal, Carlos, should not withhold
payment. Regardless of whether there was a disclosed or undisclosed principle, Priya
is entitled to payment from Carlos because she has performed her required duties.
2. The facts suggest that the buyer may not have known Priya was an agent and so
Carlos may be an undisclosed principal. Carlos being an undisclosed principal may
have no effect unless the buyer wishes to enforce the contract (that is, to take some
legal action based on the contract). If this is the case, the buyer may have the right of
election (i.e. the buyer can elect to pursue a claim against the agent or the principal
but not against both) so either Priya or Carlos could be sued. As the buyer is
unhappy with the car, there is a risk of Priya being sued unless the existence of a
principal is known to the buyer. If Priya disclosed the principal then any
compensation sought by the buyer from her is unlikely to be successful.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
Answers ix

Chapter 5
self-test answers
1. The parties must have reached agreement on the nature of the risk and the subject
matter of insurance (what is to be insured and what perils are to be covered); the
duration of the contract and the amount of the premium (or the method by which the
premium is to be calculated).
2. The only type of insurance contract which must be in writing (and only for making a
claim against the insurer, not for the binding nature of the contract) is a marine
insurance policy (Marine Insurance Act 1906, s.22). The policy need only give the name
of the insured or their agent, be signed by or on behalf of the insurer and specify the
subject matter of the insurance with reasonable certainty.
3. The legal right to insure arising out of a financial relationship recognised at law
between the insured and the subject matter of insurance.
4. A subject matter of insurance, an economic or financial interest in the subject matter of
insurance, a current interest (not merely an ‘expectancy’), a legal interest (in
English law).
5. To reduce moral hazard and to discourage gaming.
6. At the time when the contract is made – but not necessarily when a claim is made on
death or maturity.
7. Insurances on goods.
8. The contract is void. Policies governed by the Life Assurance Act 1774 are illegal
and void.
9. Three of:
• outright owners of property;
• part or joint owners;
• mortgagees and mortgagors;
• executors and trustees;
• landlord and tenant;
• bailees;
• people living together;
• finders.
x M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Chapter 6
self-test answers
1. A duty not to misrepresent any matter relating to the insurance, i.e. a duty to tell
the truth.
A duty to disclose all material facts relating to the contract, i.e. a duty not to conceal
anything which is relevant.
2. If the statement is false but there is no intention to mislead the other party, there is an
innocent misrepresentation.
Where a person makes a false statement with the deliberate intention of misleading
another and putting them at a disadvantage, there is a fraudulent misrepresentation.
3. It is the duty imposed on the parties to an insurance contract to act honestly and in fair
dealing throughout their contractual relationship.
4. The standard definition is that provided by s.7(3) of the Insurance Act 2015:
A circumstance or representation is material if it would influence the judgment of a
prudent insurer in determining whether to take the risk and, if so, on what terms.
5. No. They need only establish that the non-disclosure was material to the risk generally.
6. The first case is where there is an agreed change in the contract during the period of
insurance. Here the insured has a duty to notify material facts which relate to
the change.
The second case is where a continuing duty is imposed on the insured contractually
through a ‘change in risk’ or ‘increase in risk’ clause incorporated in the policy wording.
7. Yes. The right to avoid is unrestricted subject to the breach being a qualifying breach
and either deliberate or reckless. Alternatively, the breach may be neither deliberate
nor reckless, but the insurer would not have entered into the contract on any terms
without the breach.
8. Yes.
The Insurance Act 2015 introduces the proportionate remedy that if the breach of the
duty of fair presentation of the risk is neither deliberate nor reckless, and if the insurer
would have entered into the contract on different terms had there been no breach of
the duty, the contract is presumed to have been made on those terms.
If the insurer would have charged a higher premium, then the Act provides a
proportionate reduction from the insured amount instead of avoiding the contract as a
whole. The insurer may nevertheless avoid the contract, although the breach is neither
deliberate nor reckless, if the insurer proves that in the absence of the qualifying
breach, the insurer would not have entered into the contract on any terms.
9. If the breach is deliberate or reckless, the insurer may avoid the contract and need not
return any premium. If the breach is neither deliberate nor reckless, and if the insurer
avoids the contract, the insurer must return the premium paid.
10. The insurer may avoid the contract if a qualifying misrepresentation was deliberate or
reckless. If the qualifying misrepresentation is careless, the insurer’s remedies are based
on what it would have done if the consumer had exercised reasonable care not to make
a misrepresentation. If the insurer would not have entered into the consumer insurance
contract on any terms, the insurer may avoid the contract and refuse all claims.
Answers xi

Scenario 6.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the main principles governing
the formation of insurance contracts to practical situations (learning outcome 5.8).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
This question is about potential misrepresentation/non-disclosure in the broader context
of the information which ought to be disclosed in the making of an insurance contract.
There are other legal considerations as well such as the nature of risk and physical and
moral hazard which may be relevant.
Look at the relevant areas of law
The relevant law depends on the nature of the transaction. Different legal principles apply
depending on whether the contract is a non-consumer (business) or a consumer contract.
As this is a consumer contract, the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations)
Act 2012 (CIDRA) would apply. The test is now whether the consumer has acted with
reasonable care rather than the materiality of the information given.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
It is likely that a proposal form was completed which would require Mary to give certain
information. Depending on what information was required, the incorrect responses may
be regarded as misrepresentations. The information given seems to relate to moral
hazard – i.e. to the individual rather than the subject matter. Age discrimination is
outlawed under the Equality Act 2010 but, in insurance, actuarial information may be
relevant and linked to age. The most serious issue here could be Mary’s driving history.
You, as the insurer, could only seek a remedy under certain circumstances. You would
have to show that any misrepresentation was qualifying – i.e. deliberate, reckless or
careless.
The remedies available to you depend on the nature of the misrepresentation. If, for
example, it was deliberate or reckless as might be inferred here (the burden of proof
being on you, the insurer) then the contract of insurance can be avoided (i.e. it will be of
no legal effect). If it is a careless misrepresentation, you may be entitled to
proportionately reduce the payments of any claims, using the actual premium you would
have charged with the correct information.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
xii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Chapter 7
self-test answers
1. A breach of the duty of fair presentation of the risk normally arises from a failure to
supply full and accurate information in the negotiations which lead up to the formation
of the contract – before the contract has come into existence. A breach of condition or
warranty arises from a failure to comply with a term of the contract itself, so that the
breach occurs after the contract has been made.
2. The ejusdem generis rule provides that general words which follow specific words are
taken as referring to things of the same kind as the specific words
3. Where the term is ambiguous, the courts will construe the term against the party that
proposed it. In consumer insurance contracts, the insurer will usually set the terms, and
so it would normally be construed in favour of the insured.
4. A warranty in an insurance contract is a promise made by the insured relating to facts
or to something which it agrees to do. Breach of a warranty suspends the insurance
cover until the breach is remedied. A warranty in a non-insurance contract is a minor
term which, if broken, allows an action for damages only.
5. A continuing warranty is one in which the insured promises that a state of affairs will
continue to exist or they will continue to do something. It may be applied by insurers to
ensure that some aspect of good housekeeping or good management is observed or to
ensure that certain high risk practices are not introduced without the insurer’s
knowledge.
6. In marine insurance, warranties can arise expressly or impliedly. In non-marine
insurance, warranties are express only.
7. A condition precedent to the contract is one which states that the contract will not
come into existence unless the condition precedent is satisfied.
If a condition precedent to liability (or recovery) is not observed, the insurers will be
discharged from liability automatically for the loss which is tainted by the breach. The
contract will not be terminated. There may be future claims if the insured complies with
the condition precedent regarding those claims.
8. These are conditions which are not part of the main agreement to insure but are
concerned only with a side issue such as the adjustment of the premium. Mere
conditions in insurance are interpreted the same way as innominate terms in contract.
In other words, the breach entitles to terminate the contract and claim damages only if
it is so serious that it goes to the root of the contract.
9. Yes. The Insurance Act 2015 repealed any rule of law which provides that the cover is
terminated automatically upon breach of an insurance warranty.
10. Under the IA 2015, the cover does not terminate automatically upon breach of a
warranty, but is suspended during the period of time when the insured breached the
warranty to when they remedied it. Hence, the IA 2015 permits the insured to remedy
the breach. Section 11 may operate together with s.10 of the IA 2015 so that if the
breach has no relevance to the loss, as described under s.11, the insurer may not rely on
the breach to deny liability. However, this is only if the term in question does not define
the risk as a whole.
11. Under English law, the distinction between a joint and composite insurance hinges on
the interests of the insured persons. If the insured persons share a common interest in
the subject matter, for example where they are joint owners of property, the policy is
likely to be joint. On the other hand, where the interests are different, as in the case of
lessor and lessee, or mortgagor and mortgagee, the policy is likely to be composite.
12. A joint policy is ‘indivisible’, so that a breach or default by one insured (such as a breach
of the duty of fair presentation of the risk by a non-consumer, breach of warranty or act
of wilful misconduct by one insured) may cause the whole policy to fail. By contrast, a
breach or default by one insured under a composite policy may invalidate their own
cover without affecting the right of other insured persons to claim, provided they the
latter are innocent of the breach or default.
Answers xiii

Scenario 7.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the classification and
interpretation of insurance contract terms to practical situations (learning outcome 6.5).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
All contracts have terms which are traditionally classified as conditions or warranties. In
insurance contracts, however, these classifications apply differently. The classification is
more important when there is a breach of the terms.
Look at the relevant areas of law
The relevant area of law is on warranties and conditions, and the potential impact of a
breach. A warranty must be exactly complied with. The impact for a breach of warranties
is set out in the Insurance Act 2015 – such terms are often about good management or
housekeeping of property. Policy wording often includes a requirement to secure
property but this may be intended to apply when the property is left unoccupied. In this
scenario, Usha was at the property at the time of the burglary although not in the house.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
This will depend on the precise wording of the contract of insurance. If the usual
provisions are included about securing the property, it can be argued that the failure to
secure the front door is relevant to the loss. It may be that any ‘reasonable precautions’
clause is specifically referred to as a warranty in the contract – this would be a strong
indicator that the courts should treat it as such. If there is such a warranty, it appears that
Usha was in breach at the time the loss occurred, and so the insurer would be entitled to
reject her claim. As the precise policy wording is unknown, it is unclear what the outcome
will be. There are, however, a number of potential outcomes. The Insurance Act 2015
should be applied and the validity of Usha’s policy will be determined on the basis of the
classification of the breach. If it is decided that there is no breach of warranty, the claim is
likely to be paid in full.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
Note: It is sometimes necessary to consider a number of potential outcomes if it is unclear
what the outcome will be (in this case because the precise policy wording is unknown). It
is not appropriate to decline to answer on the basis that further information is needed as
you will have been given all the information required to answer the question.
xiv M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Chapter 8
self-test answers
1. That the loss was caused by the operation of an insured perils, and the amount of
the loss.
2. Proof ‘on the balance of probabilities’.
3. Generally, yes. Even if there is a ‘reasonable precautions’ clause the insurers will usually
be liable unless the loss was caused deliberately or through reckless conduct.
4. An ‘uninsured’ peril is a peril which is neither specifically insured nor specifically
excluded by an insurance policy covering named perils only (e.g. the risk of theft in the
case of a fire policy).
5. The last peril to operate.
6. A cause which plays only a small part in bringing about the loss. More or less the
opposite of the proximate cause.
7. The decision of the Supreme Court has made it harder for insurers to use the
‘fraudulent device’ defence, where the insured has given a false representation to
improve the prospects of a genuine claim. The claim will no longer be automatically
forfeited as a result and the insurer will need to show that the lie is relevant to the
existence or the amount of the insured’s entitlement.
8. Under s.12(1) of IA 2015, the insurer can refuse to pay the fraudulent claim, recover any
sums already paid and can treat the contract as having been terminated with effect
from the time of the fraudulent act. It can therefore refuse to pay any genuine claims
that arise after the fraudulent act, but cannot refuse any claims that arose before this. In
addition, the insurer does not have to return any premiums paid.
Answers xv

Scenario 8.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the main legal principles
governing the making of an insurance claim to practical situations (learning outcome 7.5).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
It is important to read the question in the context of the learning outcome. Although
mountain biking is mentioned, this is not a question about the ability to insure what may
be regarded as a ‘dangerous’ activity. Instead, the issues here are to do with causation and
proximate cause of loss, and the nature of the insurance policy held.
Look at the relevant areas of law
The main legal issue is causation and the doctrine of proximate cause. According to the
doctrine, the loss in question must result directly from the operation of an insured peril if
the insurance is to respond. You, the insurer, are concerned with the proximate cause only
for the purpose of the agreement expressed in the insurance policy. Your task is to
establish whether or not the parties intended the loss to be covered. In practice, these
rules can be difficult to apply as much depends on the circumstances of each case.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
In order for you to know precisely what you are liable for, you will want to establish the
proximate cause of the loss. You will need to read Paul’s policy very carefully to establish
precisely the nature of the perils, both insured and uninsured, and any exclusions – this will
depend on how the policy has been written. Where there is a ‘chain of events’ – as is the
case here – you will only be liable for loss flowing from an unbroken chain. The refusal to
fly may be regarded as a break in the chain of causation but the ‘thin skull’ rule is likely
to apply.
It should not be assumed that the paralysis was caused by the ‘poor’ medical treatment as
the scenario states that the medical treatment was not negligent. If it is found that the
chain of causation has been broken by other causes, your liability may be limited or there
may be no liability at all. If the proximate cause is found to be a peril insured against, it is
likely that you will have to pay the claim.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
xvi M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Chapter 9
self-test answers
1. Because it is difficult to put a value on human life and because life policies are not
always intended to cover financial loss – the main purpose may be to provide a means
of saving.
2. Betterment can take two forms. First, when a building (or other property) is repaired,
certain parts of the structure will often have to be renewed so that when the work is
complete it is in a better condition than it was before the loss.
Betterment can also arise if the quality of the building is improved in the course of
carrying out repairs. For example, an extra storey may be added to a building or a
sprinkler system installed.
3. • Inadequate sum insured or limit of indemnity.
• Operation of another policy limit.
• Operation of an average clause.
4. • Yes, in the case of marine insurance.
• Possibly, in the case of commercial property insurance.
• Probably not, in the case of household insurance(!).
5. An excess clause, or deductible, is a clause which provides that the insured must bear
the first amount of any loss, expressed either as a sum of money (say £250) or a
percentage of the loss (e.g. 5%).
A franchise is similar to an excess in that there is no liability for any loss which is less
than the franchise figure. However, once the franchise has been exceeded, the loss is
payable in full.
6. In the case of a valued policy the parties agree that, in the event of a loss, a particular
sum, fixed at the outset of the insurance, will be paid, regardless of the actual value of
the property at the time.
7. The Act applies to fire insurance of buildings only in England, Wales and some other
countries where it has been adopted (but not to Scotland or Ireland) and to policies
written by insurance companies but not Lloyd’s policies.
8. The action of giving up anything which remains of the insured property to an insurer
who has paid a total loss is referred to as abandonment. The right of the insurer to take
over the subject matter is known as salvage.
9. Where there is a constructive total loss under a marine policy, the insured must serve a
notice of abandonment on the insurers if he wishes to be paid for a total loss. This is a
formal notice indicating that the insured is willing to give up the subject matter to the
insurers. It should not be confused with the action of abandonment itself. If no notice is
served the insured is deemed to have suffered a partial loss and may claim only for this.
10. Cover will usually terminate unless the insured replaces the property and the insurers
agree to continue cover.
Answers xvii

Scenario 9.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply how losses are measured and
the principle of indemnity to practical situations (learning outcome 8.7).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
The destruction of the building is said to be due to a fire whose cause has been validated
as an insured peril. The question, therefore, is not about causation. The issues here relate
to indemnity and the measurement of losses.
Look at the relevant areas of law
The relevant principle is that of indemnity. In insurance, this means putting the insured
back in the position they were in immediately before the loss. In many cases, there will be
a full indemnity but the measure of indemnity can be affected by a number of factors. For
that reason, the measurement of loss is also relevant.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
There are three factors:
• The valuable stock – this raises the issue of whether there may be any agreed values in
relation to items such as antiques.
• The reinstatement of the building – this raises the issue of betterment.
• The potential underinsurance – this raises the issue of whether there is an average
clause in the policy.
Excluding any excess or deductible but taking into account any underinsurance, Martin
may receive payment for the valuable antiques at their agreed value. The building may be
reinstated and perhaps there may be an element of betterment in doing so.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
Note: The key to answering this scenario (and other scenarios in which there are several
elements to discuss) is to first separate out the issues. You can then address each one
individually and avoid too many overlapping comments.
xviii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Chapter 10
self-test answers
1. The right of one person, having indemnified another under a legal obligation to do so,
to stand in the place of that other and avail themselves of all the rights and remedies of
that other, whether already enforced or not.
2. To prevent the ‘unjust enrichment’ of the insured and preserve the principle of
indemnity.
3. Where the person who gives the money intends it to be for the sole benefit of the
insured it cannot be claimed by way of subrogation.
4. Subrogation may arise in tort, in contract or under statute.
5. Contribution will arise where:
• two or more policies of indemnity exist;
• each insures the subject matter of the loss;
• each insures the peril which brings about the loss;
• each insures the same interest in the subject matter;
• each policy is liable for the loss.
6. An ‘escape clause’ is a form of non-contribution clause which prevents the insured from
having other insurance on the same risk. The policy is avoided if the insured takes out
further insurance or already has other insurance when the policy is opened.
7. Under a ‘more specific insurance’ clause, the policy will pay only when the cover
provided by another more specific insurance has been exhausted, if such a policy
exists. In other words, the policy operates like an excess of loss insurance where there is
another policy which is more specific (i.e. it identifies the insured property more
precisely).
8. The maximum liability method and the independent liability method.
9. The independent liability method.
Answers xix

Scenario 10.1: How to plan your answer

Aim
This fictional case study tests the reader’s ability to apply the principle of contribution to
the main lines of insurance and to practical situations (learning outcome 9.6).
It is recommended that you use the following four-step IRAC approach when planning
your answer.
Provide an introduction that identifies the focus of the question
This question is about double insurance in which more than one insurance policy covers a
loss, and contribution. Contribution prevents an insured from profiting from their loss by
recovering for the same loss twice. It only applies in cases of indemnity and it allows
insurers to share the losses in cases of double insurance.
Look at the relevant areas of law
The relevant law on double insurance and contribution requires two issues to be
considered:
• Is this a case of double insurance (applying common law rules on contribution that
require a common subject matter, a common peril and a common interest between the
two (or more) relevant insurance policies)?
• If so, how do the terms in the two contracts apply? While contribution is governed by
common law rules, these rules are frequently modified by clauses in the policies known
as contribution clauses. These clauses will attempt to prevent a contribution
being made.
Apply the principles of the law to the scenario
It seems that this is not a situation in which an insured has taken out two (or more)
policies in an attempt to commit fraud. Imran’s claim has been accepted by his household
contents insurer even though it is only partly paid. His claim to the travel insurer seems
genuine because he is only seeking to recover the remaining – not the full – amount. The
travel insurer will be providing an additional layer of insurance cover. Both insurance
policies will need to be read carefully as the presence and detail of non-contributions in
one or both policies could result in a different effect to his entitlement. It is, however, likely
that the claim should be paid as the courts are not keen on non-contribution clauses, and
there is no suggestion of fraud.
Remember to provide a conclusion to your answer that directly links back to the
question and relevant area(s) of the law.
xx M05/March 2019 Insurance law
 xxi

Cases
A Coxe v. Employers
Employers’’ Liability Insurance
Corporation Ltd (1916): Proximate cause,
Abouzaid v. Mothercare (UK) Ltd (2001):
remote causes, 8C5
Remoteness of damage, 2D3A
Alcock v. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire
Police (1992), 2D6B
All Leisure Holidays Ltd v. Europaische D
Reiseversicherung AG (2011), 8C3B Dalby v. The India and London Life
Arab Bank plc v. Zurich Insurance Co. (1999), Insurance Company (1854): When
7C1, 7C2 insurable interest must exist in life
Association belge des Consommateurs Test assurance, 5C2A, 5D5
Achats ASBL v. Conseil des ministres Dawsons Ltd v. Bonnin (1922), 7B1D
(2011), 6B3B Derry v. Peek (1889), 8D1A
Attwood v. Lamont (1920), 3D1C Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932): Key case on
negligence and the duty of case, 2D1
Dunthorne v. Bentley (1996), 8C5

B
Bank of Nova Scotia v. Hellenic Mutual War
Risks Association (Bermuda) Ltd (The E
Good Luck) (1992), 7B1A Earl of Oxford’s case (1616), 1C2
Banque Financiere de la Cite S.A. v. Elcock v. Thomson (1949), 9C2D
Westgate Insurance Co. Ltd (1991), 6C2 Etherington v. Lancashire and Yorkshire
Barclays Bank v. Various Claimants (2018), Accident Insurance Company (1909), 8C3
2H3
Beach v. Pearl Assurance Co. Ltd (1938),
3D5A F
Beresford v. Royal Insurance Co. Ltd (1938): Farr v. Motor Traders’ Mutual Insurance
Illegal contracts, 3D3A, 8B3 Society (1920), 7B3A
Body Corporate 74246 v. QBE Insurance and Forster & Sons Ltd v. Suggett (1918), 3D1C
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (2017), 10F1 Francovich v. Italian Republic (1991), 1G3C
BP Plc v. AON Ltd (No.2) (2006), 4C3
British Railways Board v. Herrington (1972),
2I2 G
Brown v. Royal Insurance Co. (1859), 9D2 Gale v. Motor Union Insurance Co. (1928),
10G1B, 10I
Galloway v. Guardian Royal Exchange (UK)
C Ltd (1999), 6B5D, 8D
Castellain v. Preston (1883): Key case on Gard Marine & Energy Ltd v. China National
subrogation and indemnity, 5B2A, 9A, 10B, Chartering Co Ltd (formerly China National
10C1 Chartering Corp) (The Ocean Victory)
Catholic Child Welfare Society and Others v. (2017), 10D5C
Various claimants and Others (2012), 2H3 Geismar v. Sun Alliance (1977), 3D3B
Central London Property Trust v. High Trees Gray v. Barr (1971), 3D3C
House (1947): Promissory estoppel, 3B5 Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) SE v. Western
Comlex Ltd v. Allianz Insurance Plc (2016), Trading Ltd (2016), 9B1B, 9C2A
5B2D
Container Transport International Inc. v.
Oceanus Mutual Underwriting Association H
(Bermuda) Ltd (1984), 6B2B Hardy v. Motor Insurers’ Bureau (1964), 3D3,
Cox v. Ministry of Justice (2016), 2H3 3D3C
Harse v. Pearl Life Insurance Co. (1904), 5C4
xxii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Hayward v. Zurich Insurance Company plc North British and Mercantile Insurance Co.
(2016), 6B5D v. London, Liverpool and Globe Insurance
Hedley Byrne v. Heller and Partners (1963): Co. (1877): Key case on contribution (‘King
Negligence: liability for negligent and Queen Granaries’ case), 10F4, 10I
misstatement and financial loss, 2D4, 3D6A
Houghton v. Trafalgar Insurance Co. Ltd
(1954), 7A5D O
Olley v. Marlborough Court Ltd (1949), 3C3A
Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v. Mort
Mort’’s Dock
I and Engineering Co Ltd (1961) (The
Involnert Management Inc v. Aprilgrange Ltd Mound): Key case on remoteness
Wagon Mound)
(The Galetea) (2015), 4C3, 6B2B on damage in tort, 1E5B, 2D3A

J P
J. J. Lloyd (Instruments) Ltd v. Northern Star Page v. Smith (1996), 2D6B
Insurance Co. Ltd (1987) (‘The Miss Jay Pan Atlantic Insurance Co v. Pine Top
Jay’), 8C4B Insurance Co. (1994), 6B2B
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v.
Boots Cash Chemists (1953): Offer and
L invitation to treat in contract, 3B1A
Legal and General Insurance Society v.
Sphere Drake Insurance Co. Ltd (1992),
10F5 R
Leppard v. Excess Insurance Co. Ltd (1979): Reynolds and Anderson v. Phoenix
Principle of indemnity, 9B1B Assurance Co. Ltd (1978): Useful case on
Leyland Shipping v. Norwich Union Fire indemnity, 9B1B
Insurance Society Ltd (1918): Good case Rohan Investments Ltd v. Cunningham
on proximate cause, 8C3 (1999), 7A5C
Lister v. Romford Ice and Cold Storage Ltd Rozanes v. Bowen (1928): Nature of the duty
(1957): Waiver of subrogation rights, 10D2, of disclosure, 6B1
10D5A, 10D5D Rylands v. Fletcher (1868): Key case on
Lucena v. Craufurd (1806): Insurable strict liability in tort, 2B3C, 2F, 2L3
interest: expectations, 5B2B, 5B2C

S
M S. and M. Carpets Ltd v. Cornhill Insurance
Macaura v. Northern Assurance Co. Ltd Company (1981), 8D1B
(1925): Insurable interest must be legally Samuel v. Dumas (1924), 8D
recognised, 5B2D Scottish Union and National Insurance v.
Manifest Shipping Co. v. Uni-Polaris Shipping Davies (1970), 10C1A
Co. (2001) (The Star Sea), 6B5D, 8D2A Sharon’s Bakery (Europe) Ltd v. AXA
Marsden v. City and County Insurance (1865), Insurance UK Plc (2012), 8D1C
8C3 Smith v. Leech Brain and Co. Ltd (1961):
Midland Mainline Ltd and Others v. Eagle ‘Thin skull’ rule, 2D3A
Star Insurance Co. Ltd (2004), 8C4B Sofi v. Prudential Assurance Company Ltd
Milton Keynes v. Nulty (2013), 7B4 (1993), 8B3
Morris v. Ford Motor Co (1973), 10D5D Spartan Steel and Alloys v. Martin and Co.
(Contractors) Ltd (1973), 2D5
Sprung v. Royal Insurance (UK) Ltd (1999),
N 8B5
Napier v. Hunter (1993), 10C3C St Paul Fire v. McConnell Dowell
North & South Trust Co. v. Berkeley (1970), Construction (1995), 6B2B
4B6
Cases xxiii

T
Thompson v. Equity Fire Insurance Co.
(1910), 7A5A
Thornton v. Shoe Lane Parking (1971), 3C3A
Tootal Broadhurst Lee Company v. London
and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company
(1908), 8C3
Transco Plc v. Stockport MBC (2004), 2F
Tuberville v. Savage (1669), 2C1A
Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions (UK) Ltd v.
Rolls Royce Motor Cars Ltd (2008), 10D5C

V
Versloot Dredging BV v. HDI Gerling (2016),
8D1C

W
Walker v. Northumberland County Council
(1995), 2D6C
Watteau v. Fenwick (1893): Agency, usual
authority, 4F2A
Wayne Tank and Pump Co. Ltd v. Employers’
Liability Insurance Corporation Ltd (1974),
8C4A, 8C4B
White v. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire
Police (1999), 2D6B
Woolcott v. Sun Alliance & London Insurance
(1978), 6B3B, 7C1, 7C2

Y
Yorkshire Insurance Co. Ltd v. Nisbet
Shipping Co. Ltd (1962): Useful case on
subrogation, 10C3B
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd v. Sun Alliance
and London Insurance plc (1997), 8C3B
Young v. Sun Alliance & London Insurance
(1977), 7A5C, 7A5D
(1977)
xxiv M05/March 2019 Insurance law
 xxv

Legislation
B Fraud Act 2006, 8D1A

Bills of Exchange Act 1882, 1D1C

G
C Gambling Act 2005, 5C2C, 5C3, 5C5
Gaming Act 1845, 5C2C, 5C5, 9A
Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978, 2L6
General Data Protection Regulation, 1G3B
Companies Acts, 1J2, 3B8B, 5A4C
Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and
Representations) Act 2012, 1D1B, 1D1D,
3D8, 4B5, 4B6, 6 intro, 6A1, 6B1A, 6B2D, H
6B5C, 6B6, 6C1C, 6C2, 6C3, 7B1D, appendix Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, 2H2
8.1 Highways Act 1980, 2G
Consumer Protection Act 1987, 1G4, 2D3A, Human Rights Act 1998, 1B6, 1D2C
2J, 2J2
Consumer Rights Act 2015, 3C, 3C2B, 3C3,
3C3B, 3C3C, 3C3D, 7A4, 7A4A, 7A5B, 8C6 I
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, Insurance Act 2015, 1D1B, 1D1D, 3C4, 4B4, 4D,
3G1, 8A, 8A8, 8A9 6 intro, 6B1, 6B1A, 6B2, 6B2B, 6B3, 6B4,
Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, 6B5D, 6B5A, 6B5C, 6B5D, 6B6, 6C1A, 6C1B, 6C1C,
8D2B 6C2, 7B1, 7B1A, 7B1C, 7B1D, 7B3A, 7B4,
7B4A, 7B4B, 7B5, 7B6, 8A5, 8B5, 8D, 8D1A,
8D2A, appendix 8.1
D Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977,
Data Protection Act 2018, 1G3B 1D1A
Deregulation Act 2015, 5A3D Insurance Companies Act 1982, 1G4, 5A4C
Disability Discrimination Act 1995, 6B3B Interpretation Act 1978, 1D2A

E J
Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Judicature Acts 1873–75, 1C2
Act 1969, 2H3, 8D2A
Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance)
Regulations 1998, 7B7B L
Enterprise Act 2016, 8B5 Latent Damage Act 1986, 2M
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, Law Commission Act 1965, 1D1D
2H2 Law of Property Act 1925, 3H1A, 3H4B,
Equality Act 2010, 6B3B 3H4D, 8A3, 8A6
European Communities Act 1972, 1D2D, 1G3F Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act
European Parliament and Council Directive 1945, 2L5
2009/103/EC, 1D1C Law Reform (Husband and Wife) Act 1962,
1J1D
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of
F Offenders Act 2012, 6B4
Family Law Reform Act 1969, 3B7A Life Assurance Act 1774, 3D1A, 5A3D, 5C2A,
Financial Services Act 1986, 5A4C 5C4, 5C5, 5C6, 5C7
Financial Services Act 2012, 5A4C, 6C2 Limitation Act 1980, 2M, 2M1, 3F5
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, Lloyd’s Act 1982, 1D1A, 1D1B
1G4, 4B5, 4B6, 5A4C, 6 intro, 6C2
Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774, 8A3,
8A7, 9D2A
xxvi M05/March 2019 Insurance law

M Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977,

2C2A
Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999, 2H2
Marine Insurance Act 1906, 1D1C, 3C2B, 3D1A,
3H, 3H4C, 4C5, 5A3B, 5C1, 5C2B, 5C6, 5D5, U
6 intro, 6B1, 6B3, 6B5C, 6B5D, 6C, 6C2, Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, 3C3B, 3C3D,
7A5E, 7B1A, 7B1C, 7B1D, 7B4, 7B4A, 8C, 6B, 7A4, 7A4A
8C1, 9B4, 9C1C, 9C2D, 9E1A, 9F1 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts
Marine Insurance (Gambling Policies) Act Regulations 1999, 3C3C, 7A4, 7A4A
1909, 5C5
Married Women’s Property Act 1882, 5D1A,
8A3
Mental Health Acts, 1J1B
Minors’ Contracts Act 1987, 3B7A
Misrepresentation Act 1967, 3D6A

O
Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, 2G, 2I1, 2L4
Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984, 2G, 2I3

P
Partnership Act 1890, 1D1C
Policies of Assurance Act 1867, 3H, 3H4D
Prescription Act 1832, 2E2E
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, 8D2D

R
Race Relations Act 1976, 6B3B
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, 6B4
Riot Compensation Act 2016, 10C2A, 10D3
Riot Damages Act 1886, 10D3
Road Traffic Act 1930, 3D3C
Road Traffic Act 1988, 1D1C, 2L4, 5A3D, 6B6,
7B7A, 8A3, 8A4, 9C1A

S
Sale of Goods Act 1893, 1D1C
Sale of Goods Act 1979, 1D1C, 3C, 3C2B, 3C4,
6B
Sex Discrimination Act 1975, 6B3B

T
Theft Acts, 1D1A
Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act
1930, 8A5
Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act
2010, 8A3, 8A5, 8B1, 8B5
Third Parties (Rights against Insurers)
Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/570), 8A5
 xxvii

Index
A authority
actual authority, 4F
abandonment, see salvage and
apparent authority, 4F
abandonment
average clauses, 9C1C
acceptance, 3B1A, 3B2, 5A1
accounting for monies received
agent, 4C5
actions in tort, 4G3B B
actual authority, 4F, 4F1 bailees, 5D2
express, 4F1A bankrupts, 1J1C
implied, 4F1B barristers, 1I2
additional insureds, 8A8 basis of the contract clauses, 7B1D
administrative law, 1A1B battery, 2C1B
Admiralty Court, 1E1 beneficial contracts, 5A4A
adversarial system, 1B5 bilateral contracts, 3A2
affirmation, 3D6A binding precedent, 1E3
after the event cover, 1H3 breach of
agency, 4 condition, 7B4
by agreement, 4A2 contract, 1H, 2A2
by necessity, 4A4 copyright, 2B1
by ratification, 4A3 duty of care, 2D2
claims, 8A2 patent design, 2B1
creation of, 4A1 pre-contractual information duty, 6C
law of, 4A statutory duty, 2G
termination of, 4H warranty, 4G3A, 7B4
agent buildings, 9B1B
accounting for monies received, 4C5 burden of proof, 8B2, 8C6
authority of, 4F fraud, 8D1B
contract made by, 4G business relationships
duties of, 4C insurable interest, 5D1B
duty of disclosure, 6B1A
principal of insurance, 4B
remedies for breach of duty, 4C6 C
rights of, 4E cancellation, 5A2B
aggravated damages, 2N1B capacity, 1J1, 5A4, 5A4C
agreed value cover, 9C2C care
agreement, 3B1 and skill, 4C2
discharge by, 3E4 duty of, 2D1
ambiguity, 7A5D case law, 1E
apparent authority, 4F, 4F2 causation, 8C
restricted, 4F2A of damage, 2D3A
assault, 2C1A caveat emptor, 6B
assignment, 3H chain of events, 8C3
claims, 8A1 Chancery Division, 1E1
insurance contracts, 3H4 chose in action, 3H4B
of benefit of contract, 3H4B civil courts, 1E1, 1E5A
of contract, 3H4C civil procedure, 1H
of subject matter, 3H4A Rules, 1H1
transfer of rights, 3H1 Part 36, 1H2
association claim
unincorporated, 1J3 agency, 8A2
authorisation, 5A4C assignment, 8A1
xxviii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

effect of payments on cover, 9F discharge of, 3E

fraudulent, 6B5D form of, 3B6
making, 8 formal requirements, 5A3
trusts, 8A3 formation of, 3B, 5A
clauses interpretation of insurance, 7A3
average, 9C1C law of, 3
basis of the contract, 7B1D made by an agent, 4G
describing the risk, 7B3A made by minors, 3B7A
escape, 10G1A privity of, 3G, 8A, 8A3, 8A4, 8A5
exception, 7B3 remedies in, 3F
‘more specific insurance’, 10G1C restraint of
non-contribution, 10G1B employment, 3D1C
rateable proportion, 10G1D trade, 3D1C
codification of English law, 1B2 subrogation rights, 10D2
codifying Acts, 1D1C terms of, 3C, 7A
collateral conditions, 7B2C types of, 3A
Commercial Court, 1E1 under seal, 3A1, 3B4, 3B6A
Commission of the European Union, 1G2 unilateral, 3A2
common law, 1C contractual
rules, 1D2B capacity, 3B7, 5A4C
company intention, 5A2
registered, 3B8B contribution, 10, 10E
composite insurance, 7C, 8B3 at common law, 10G
subrogation, 10D5C basis of, 10H
compulsory insurance common law rules on when it arises, 10F
breach of warranty or condition, 7B7 conditions, 10G1
duty of disclosure, 6B6 contributory negligence, 2L5
concurrent causes, 8C4 conversion, 2C2A
perils, 8C4B convictions spent, 6B4
condition, 3C4, 7B2 copyright, breach of, 2B1
breach of, 7B4 corporations, 3B8
collateral, 7B2C aggregate, 1J2
compulsory insurance, 7B7 chartered, 3B8A
contribution, 10G1 sole, 1J2
mere, 7B2C Council of the European Union, 1G2
precedent to liability, 7B2B County Court, 1E1, 1E5A
precedent to the contract, 7B2A Court
suspensive, 7B3A Admiralty, 1E1
consent, 2L4 Appeal, of
consideration, 3B4, 5A2A Civil Division, 1E1, 1E5A
consolidating Acts, 1D1C Criminal Division, 1E5B
constitution, non-written, 1B6 Civil, 1E1
constitutional law, 1A1A Commercial, 1E1
Constructive Total Loss, 9E1A County, 1E1, 1E5A
contemptuous damages, 2N1E Crown, 1E2, 1E5B
context, 7A5C High, 1E1, 1E5A
contra proferentem, 7A5D Magistrates, 1E2
contract Magistrates’, 1E5B
assignment, 3H Supreme, 1E5B
beneficial, 5A4A Court of Appeal
bilateral, 3A2 Civil Division, 1E1, 1E5A
breach of, 1H, 3E2, 3F1 Criminal Division, 1E5B
capacity to, 5A4 crimes and torts, 2A1
contrary to law, 3D1A criminal
contrary to public policy, 3D1B acts, 6B3B
defective, 3D courts, 1E2, 1E5B
Index xxix

law, 1A1C codification of, 1B2

Crown Court, 1E2, 1E5B development of, 1C
current interest, 5B2C sources of, 1D
equitable assignment, 3H1B
equitable remedy, 2N2
D equity, 1C
damages, 2A3, 2D3, 2E2B, 2N1, 3D6A, 3F2 escape clause, 10G1A
causation and remoteness of, 2D3A, 3F2E European Union
late payment, 8B5 Commission of, 1G2
liquidated, 3F2D Community law, 1G
dangerous premises, 2I examples of, 1G4
death, 3B1A, 3E3E sources of, 1G3
deductible, 9C1D Council, 1G2
defamation, 2B1, 2K Court of Justice, 1G2
defamatory statement, 2K1 Decisions, 1G3D
defective Directives, 1G3C
premises, 2I institutions, 1G2
products, 2J Parliament, 1G2
delegated legislation, 1D1F recommendations and opinions, 1G3E
disapproving, 1E5D referendum, 1G4
discharge of contracts, 3E regulations, 1G3B
disclosed principal, 4G1 Treaties, 1G1, 1G3A
disclosure, duty of, 6B ex gratia payments, 10C4
agent, 6B1A exception clauses, 7B3
compulsory insurance, 6B6 excess, 9C1D
consumer insurance, 6B2D excluded perils, 8C1, 8C4A
continuing, 6B5C exclusions, 7B3
duration of, 6B5 exemplary damages, 2N1C
matters not needed to be disclosed, 6B4 exemption clauses, 3C3
matters to be disclosed, 6B3 express
positive, 6B1 authority, 4F1A
renewal, 6B5B terms, 3C2A
distinguishing, 1E5D warranties, 7B1D
domestic agreements, 3B3B
double insurance, 10E1
drunken persons, 3B7C, 5A4B F
duress, 3D4A fair presentation of the risk, 6B5A, 6C1A
duty contracting out, 6C1B
breach of statutory, 2G remedies for breach, 6C1A
of an agent, 4C false imprisonment, 2C1C
of care, 2D1 Family Division, 1E1
breach of, 2D2 family relationships, insurable interests in,
of disclosure, 6B 5D1A
of fair presentation in insurance contracts, farming stock, 9B1F
3D8 fast track cases, 1H1I
of fair presentation of the risk, 6C1A financial
interest, 5B2B
loss, 2D5
E Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 5A4C
economic fortuitous loss, 8B3
interest, 5B2B franchise, 9C1E
loss, 2D5 fraud, 8D
employers’ liability, 2H burden of proof, 8D1B
warranties or conditions, 7B7B defining, 8D1A
English law devices, 8D1C
characteristics of, 1B first party claims, 8D2A
xxx M05/March 2019 Insurance law

personal injury, 8D2B financial, 5B2B

remedies for insurers, 8D2 gambling, 5C2C
requirements to establish, 8D1 insurance of profits, 5D3
tort of deceit, 8D2C liability insurance, 5D4
fraudulent life insurance, 5C2, 5D1
claims, 6B5D, 8D marine insurance, 5C1
devices, 8D1C other insurances, 5C5
frustration, 3E3, 4H policies on goods, 5C2B
funding litigation, 1H3 policies without, 5C4
property insurance, 5D2
reform of, 5C7
G reinsurance, 5D5
gambling, 5C2C the law, 5C
general damages, 2N1A waiver of, 5C6
gifts, 10C1B insurance contracts
golden rule, 1D2B assignment, 3H4
good faith, 4C4 interpretation of, 7A3
in claims process, 6B5D common law rules, 7A5
legal meaning, 7A5B
ordinary meaning, 7A5A
H statutory rules, 7A4
technical meaning, 7A5B
health and safety at work, 2H2
terms, 7A
High Court, 1E1, 1E5A, 1E5B
insurance fraud, 8D
House of Lords, 1E1, 1E5A, 1E5B
burden of proof, 8D1B
defining, 8D1A
first party claims, 8D2A
I fraudulent devices, 8D1C
ICOBS, see Insurance: Conduct of Business
personal injury, 8D2B
(ICOBS) rules
remedies, 8D2
illegal contracts, 3D1
requirements to establish, 8D1
insurance contracts, 3D3
tort of deceit, 8D2C
life insurance, 3D3A
Insurance: Conduct of Business (ICOBS)
motor and liability insurance, 3D3C
rules, 6C3
implied
breach of warranty or condition, 7B5
authority, 4F1B
claims, 8B4
terms, 3C2B
insured perils, 8C1, 8C4A
warranties, 7B1D
intentional tort, 2B3A
improper pressure, 3D4
imputed knowledge, 4D
inconsistencies, 7A5E
indemnity, 5C3
J
joint insurance, 7C
agent, 4E2
subrogation, 10D5C
limit of, 9C1A
judge-made law, 1B3
meaning of, 9A
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council,
measure of, 9B
1E5B
methods of providing, 9D
judiciary, independence of, 1B4
policies, 10B1
juristic persons, 1J2
variations in the principle of, 9C
corporations aggregate, 1J2
independent liability method, 10H2
corporations sole, 1J2
inducement test, 6B2B
injunctions, 2N2, 3F3
mandatory, 2N2
insurable interest, 5B L
application of, 5D latent
creation of, 5B4 bodily injuries, 2M1A
current, 5B2C property damage, 2M1B
Index xxxi

law manufacturers’ stock, 9B1D

classification of, 1A marine insurance
criminal, 1A1C assignment, 3H4C
of agency, 4A indemnity, 9B4
reports, 1E7 law on insurable interest, 5C1
Law Commission, 1D1D, 6C3 salvage and abandonment, 9E1
legal market agreements, 10D5A, 10I
profession, 1I married persons, 1J1D
relations, creating, 3B3 material circumstances, 6B3
legal expenses insurance products, 1H3 material facts, 6A, 6B2
legal interest, 5B2D maximum liability method, 10H1
legal personality mental disability, 5A4B
juristic persons, 1J mental health condition, 3B7B
natural persons, 1J, 1J1A minors, 1J1A, 3B7A
legislation, 1D1 contracts made by, 5A4A
delegated, 1D1F mischief rule, 1D2B
retroactive, 1D1E misrepresentation, 3D6, 6A
retrospective, 1D1E consumer insurance, 6C1C
legislative process, 1D1A examples in insurance, 6A2
liability fraudulent, 6A1
defective or dangerous premises, 2I innocent, 6A1
employers’, 2H non-consumer insurance, 6C1A
in negligence at common law, 2H1 qualifying, 6B6, 6C1C
insurance, 5D4, 9B3, 10H4 remedies for, 3D6A
assignment, 3H4C mistake
limit of, 9C1A in contract, 3D5
occupiers’, 2I moral hazard, 5B3A, 6B3B
reduction of, 2L6 mortgages, 5D2
strict, 2B3C motive, 2B4
vicarious, 2H3 motor insurance, 7B7A
lien, 4E3 illegal contracts, 3D3C
life insurance, 5D1 multi-track cases, 1H1J
assignment, 3H4D
illegal contracts, 3D3A
law on insurable interest, 5C2 N
limit of natural persons, 1J1
indemnity, 9C1A bankrupts, 1J1C
liability, 9C1A lacking mental capacity, 1J1B
limitation of actions, 2M, 3F5 married, 1J1D
liquidated damages, 3F2D minors, 1J1A
Lisbon Treaty, 1G1 necessaries, contracts for, 5A4A
literal rule, 1D2B necessity, 2L2
litigation, funding, 1H3 negligence, 2B1, 2D, 2H1, 2J1
local custom, 1F contributory, 2L5
loss negligent misstatement, 2D4
measuring the, 3F2B nervous shock, 2D6B
mitigation of, 3F2C new for old cover, 9C2B
types of, 3F2A nexus, 6B2C
nominal damages, 2N1D
non-disclosure, 3D7, 6B2B, 6C1A
M non-written constitution, 1B6
Maastricht Treaty, 1G1 notice, 8B
machinery and equipment, 9B1C notification, time limits for, 8B1
Magistrates’ Courts, 1E2, 1E5B novation, 3E4A
malice, 2B4 nuisance, 2E
mandatory injunction, 2N2 and insurance, 2E2F
xxxii M05/March 2019 Insurance law

private, 2B1, 2E2 premiums

public, 2E1 collecting, 4B3
payment of, 5A2A
return of, 5A2B
O presumptions, 1D2B
obedience, 4C1 prevention costs, 8C3B
obiter dicta, 1E4B principal
occupiers’ liability, 2I disclosed, 4G1
offer, 3B1A, 5A1 of an insurance agent, 4B
duration of, 3B1A undisclosed, 4G2
Orders in Council, 1D1F private
ostensible authority, 4F2 law, 1A2
overruling, 1E5C nuisance, 2B1, 2E2
privity of contract, 3G, 8A, 8A3, 8A4, 8A5
Privy Council Judicial Committee, 1E5B
P profits, insurance of, 5D3
promissory estoppel, 3B5
Part 36 offers and payments, 1H2
proof of loss, 8B
partial losses, 9C2D
property insurance
partners, 5D1B
basis of contribution, 10H3
patent design, breach of, 2B1
illegal contracts, 3D3B
payment
insurable interest, 5D2
made through an agent, 4G4
measure of indemnity, 9B1
of money (indemnity), 9D1
proposal form, 4B4
pecuniary insurances, 9B2
proximate cause, 8C2, 8C5
performance, 3E1, 4H
prudent insurer, 6B2A
perils, 8C1
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA),
personal
5A4C
incapacity, 3E3E
psychiatric illness, 2D6
performance, 4C3
public
persons
bills, 1D1B
juristic, 1J2
law, 1A1
lacking mental capacity, 1J1B
nuisance, 2E1
married, 1J1D
policy, subrogation rights, 10D5D
minors, 1J1A
punitive damages, 2N1C
natural, 1J1
persuasive precedents and authorities, 1E5E
physical hazard, 6B3A
policies on goods Q
law on insurable interest, 5C2B qualifying misrepresentations, 6C1C
without insurable interest, 5C4 Queen’s Bench Division (QBD), 1E1
posting rule, 3B2C
power to strike out, 1H1G
pre-action protocols, 1H1A R
pre-contractual information duty, 6 rateable proportion clause, 10G1D
pre-contractual information duty, breach ratification, 4A1, 4A3
of, 6C ratio decidendi, 1E4A
by the insurer, 6C2 recovery, 10C3
consumer insurance, 6C1C refusal of further performance, 3D6A
non-consumer insurance, 6C1A registered company, 3B8B
precedent, 1E, 1E6 reinstatement, 9C2A, 9D2
binding, 1E5 statutory, 9D2A
history of, 1E3 reinsurance, 5D5
nature of, 1E4 remedies
premises breach of duties of an agent, 4C6
defective or dangerous, 2I breach of the duty of fair presentation of
the risk, 6C1A
Index xxxiii

first party claims, 8D2A subject matter, 5B2A

fraud, 8D2 subrogation, 10A, 10B, 10C
fraudulent claims, 6B5D action against third party, 10C2
in contract, 3F co-insurance, 10D5C
in tort, 2N modification or denial of rights, 10D5
personal injury, 8D2B public policy, 10D5D
qualifying misrepresentations, 6C1C recovering for the same loss twice, 10C1
tort of deceit, 8D2C salvage and abandonment, 10D4
remote cause, 8C2 sharing the recovery, 10C3
remoteness of damage, 2D3A source of rights, 10D
remuneration, 4E1 waiver of, 10D5B
renewal, 5A1E successive partial losses, 9F1
duty of disclosure, 6B5B suspensive condition, 7B3A
repair, 9D3
replacement, 9D4
rescission, 3D6A T
restitution, 3B7A termination, 3F1
retail stock, 9B1E of agency, 4H
retroactive legislation, 1D1E of authority, 4F2C
retrospective legislation, 1D1E of policy
reversing, 1E5C by destruction of subject matter, 9F2B
revocation, 3B1A by payment, 9F2A
rule in event of total loss, 9F2C
common law, 1D2B terms
golden rule, 1D2B certainty of, 3C1
literal rule, 1D2B classification of, 3C2
mischief rule, 1D2B common law rules, 3C3A
of law, 1B7 express, 3C2A
implied, 3C2B
insurance contracts, 7A2
S minor, in insurance policies, 7B2C
salvage and abandonment, 9E non-insurance contracts, 7A1
subrogation, 10D4 not relevant to the actual loss, 7B4B
self-defence, 2L1 of a contract, 3C
simple contracts, 3A1 standard, 3C3
small claims track, 1H1H unfair, 3C3B
solicitors, 1I1 third parties, noting interest of, 8A9
special damages, 2N1A tort, 2
specific performance, 3F3 and breach of contract, 2A2
spent convictions, 6B4 and crimes, 2A1
standard terms, 3C3 claims, 1H
stare decisis, 1E3 classification of, 2B
status, 1J1 general defences, 2L
statute intentional, 2B3A
interpretation of, 1D2 nature of, 2A
subrogation rights, 10D3 remedies in, 2N
statutory remedy of damages, 2A3
aids, 1D2A subrogation rights, 10D1
assignment, 3H1A total losses, 9F2
authority, 2L3 transfer of obligations, 3H3
corporations, 3B8B transfer of rights, 3H1
duty, breach of, 2G equitable assignment, 3H1B
instruments, 1D1F statutory assignment, 3H1A
rules, 7A4 Treaty of Rome 1957, 1G1
stay to attempt settlement, 1H1F Treaty of the European Union, 1G1
strict liabilities, 2B3C
xxxiv M05/March 2019 Insurance law

Treaty on the Functioning of the European

Union, 1G1
trespass, 2C
and insurance, 2C4
to goods, 2C2
to land, 2B1, 2C3
to the person, 2B1, 2C1
trespassers, 2I2
trusts, 8A3

U
underinsurance, 9C1C, 9E2A
undisclosed principal, 4G2
undue influence, 3D4B
unilateral contracts, 3A2
unincorporated associations, 1J3
uninsured perils, 8C1, 8C4B
unlicensed insurers, 5A4C

V
valued policies, 9B4, 9C2D
vicarious liability, 2H3
void contracts, 3A3
insurance, 3D3
voidable contracts, 3A3
volenti non fit injuria, 2L4

W
wagering, 5B3B
waiver of insurable interest, 5C6
warranties, 3C4, 7B1
breach of, 7B4
compulsory insurance, 7B7
continuing, 7B1B
exact compliance, 7B1C
express, 7B1D
implied, 7B1D
irrelevant terms, 7B4B
waiver of breach, 7B4A
wholesale and retail stock, 9B1E
Woolf report, 1H1
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