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28 April 2017
Issue: 7743 / Categories: Features , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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Civil way: 28 April 2017

When to tell the insurers; getting police to pay for Green Book loss; mobile home owners celebrate; & new rules, old PD.

TROUBLING INSURERS

‘The insured shall give notice in writing to the insurer as soon as possible after the occurrence of any event likely to give rise to a claim with full particulars thereof. The insured shall also on receiving verbal or written notice of any claim intimated send same or a copy thereof immediately to the insurer and shall give all necessary information and assistance.’ That was the crunch condition in a combined public and products liability policy in Zurich Insurance PLC v Maccaferri Limited [2016] EWCA Civ 1302. Maccaferri was after an indemnity under the policy for damages payable to a third party. Zurich sought to avoid liability on the ground that the condition had been breached. It claimed that notification had been too late—around two years after equipment supplied by Maccaferri had led to an industrial accident.

Zurich argued that the condition meant that, even if notification was well after the event,

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Foot Anstey—Jasmine Olomolaiye

Foot Anstey—Jasmine Olomolaiye

Investigations and corporate crime expert joins as partner

Fieldfisher—Mark Shaw

Fieldfisher—Mark Shaw

Veteran funds specialist joins investment funds team

Taylor Wessing—Stephen Whitfield

Taylor Wessing—Stephen Whitfield

Firm enhances competition practice with London partner hire

NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
For decades, juries have been told to convict only if they are ‘sure’ of guilt. But what does that mean in practice? Writing in NLJ this week, Michael Zander KC, NLJ columnist and emeritus professor at LSE, argues the answer is alarmingly unclear
Secondments, disciplinary procedures and appeal chaos all feature in a quartet of recent rulings. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, examines how established principles are being tested in modern disputes
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