QCR Spring 2017: Gilding the lily: will a collateral lie invalidate an insurance claim?

Versloot Dredging BV v HDI Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG [2016] UKSC 45.

For over 150 years, the common law has protected insurers against paying fraudulent claims. This position is founded on a clear public policy decision to deter fraud. Should the law take the same view, however, where the insured tells a lie to his insurer which bears no relevance to the underlying validity of the claim? This is the issue which came before the Supreme Court.

Read the UK Defence Club's Soundings here.