Auckland
On Wednesday, 18 June Crossley Gates of Phillips Fox presented to the Auckland branch on Proposed Insurance Law changes - Duty of disclosure and agency.  Click here for a copy of his presentation.

Thursday, 11 September Tom Pasley and Glenn Nadworny from TPA discussed loss adjusting issues, factual and legal.  For details of the presentation contact Craig Langstone (craig.langstone@jonesfee.com).

Wellington
On 17 June 2009 members gathered in Wellington at DLA Phillips Fox, who kindly lent their premises for the occasion. 

Paul Michalik chaired the discussion, which involved three presentations, one by a member of each of the main interest groups in the NZILA, lawyers, adjusters, and insurers. 

Peter Leman of DLA Phillips Fox spoke about the implications of the recession for clients of law firms and their changing needs for legal services.  Among other things Peter highlighted the likely increased need for insolvency and disputes-related services, and the expectation that creditors would watch closely for options for recovery against company officers or for undoing completed transactions in the event of a liquidation.  These might well include liability insurance claims paid to 3rd parties if the insured's insolvency follows within the statutory period. 

Leon Briggs of Cunningham Lindsay (which was GAB Robins until recently) spoke next about lessons to be learned from the Gisbourne earthquake.  Local authority requirements for improvements before they will give consent to reconstruction have created problems, as insurance is intended only to cover the costs of rebuilding what was there before.  Long time periods required to plan and carry out works have challenged the normal indemnity periods of 6 or 12 months in business interruption cover.  

Myles Noble of Crombie Lockwood and John Archer of NZI discussed the current claims environment - offering perspectives from the point of view of broker/insured and insurer respectively.  Both agreed the current environment sees an increase in insured's expectations of their insurer and broker, at the same time as it presents a growth in numbers of potentially questionable claims.  

The presentations were interesting and stimulated questions and discussion, before the meeting adjourned to partake of refreshments provided courtesy of the NZILA.   

Christchurch
On 12 October Melissa Borcoski of Kennedys-Law presented a session on the findings of Arrow International v. QBE Insurance dealing with latent water damge and liability insurance.

Our last session for the year will be held on Monday, 23 November. The Insurance Team of Wynn Williams and Co will be presenting 2009 case law update.