Find out how we are seeking legal clarity on business interruption (BI) insurance during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. We’ll update this page with information on what we’ve done and are doing.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to widespread disruption and business closures resulting in substantial financial loss. Many customers have made claims for these losses under their BI insurance policies. There has been widespread concern about the lack of clarity and certainty for some customers making these claims, and the basis on which some firms are making decisions in relation to claims.
The issues surrounding BI policies are complex and have the potential to create ongoing uncertainty for both customers and firms. The variation in the types of cover provided and wordings used mean it can be difficult to determine whether customers have cover and can make a valid claim. There are genuine doubts over the appropriate interpretation of the wording in some cases. This has led to uncertainty and disputes, with many customers who believe they have valid claims having these rejected by their insurer.
We believe the circumstances of the current coronavirus emergency, and its effect on businesses holding BI policies means this uncertainty needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. We have sought court declarations as part of a test case, aimed at resolving the contractual uncertainty around the validity of many BI claims.
What the test case will decide
The result of the test case will be legally binding on the insurers that are parties to the test case in respect of the interpretation of the representative sample of policy wordings considered by the court. It will also provide persuasive guidance for the interpretation of similar policy wordings and claims, that can be taken into account in other court cases including in Scotland and Northern Ireland, by the Financial Ombudsman Service and by the FCA in looking at whether insurers are handling claims fairly.
The test case is not intended to encompass all possible disputes, but to resolve some key contractual uncertainties and ‘causation’ issues to provide clarity for policyholders and insurers. It will not determine how much is payable under individual policies, but will provide the basis for doing so.
We have published guidance setting out our expectation that, following final resolution of the test case (including any appeals), insurers should apply the judgment in (re-)assessing all outstanding or rejected claims and complaints which may be affected by the test case (except complaints that have been referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service). On 15 July, we published an updated list of policies with claims that may be affected.
Whilst the test case will not determine the quantification of any BI claims payments, we have issued a statement on considerations that should be taken into account when applying deductions of government support received by policyholders.
The steps we have taken, latest updates and timetable
The steps we have taken so far are set out in the latest updates section below.
In the last two weeks of July, the trial of the test case took place over eight days in the High Court. Submissions were made by the FCA, the intervenors Hospitality Insurance Group Action and Hiscox Action Group, and the eight Defendants who had agreed to be part of the test case:
- Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd
- Argenta Syndicate Management Ltd
- Ecclesiastical Insurance Office Plc
- MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd
- Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd
- QBE UK Ltd
- Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc
- Zurich Insurance Plc
The exact date of judgment is not known. Lord Justice Flaux expressed a hope that judgment would be available by the middle of September, although he made clear that this was not a binding indication. This page will be updated when the judgment is released.
After judgment, a party may appeal the court’s decision, subject to procedural rules for seeking permission to appeal and making an appeal. If this happens, the parties to the test case have agreed as part of the Framework Agreement that they will seek to have any appeal heard on an expedited basis. This includes exploring the possibility of a ‘leapfrog’ appeal to the Supreme Court (an appeal which would not need to be heard by the Court of Appeal first).
It should be noted that the decision as to whether and where an appeal might take place will be a matter for the court. But the parties’ agreement to seek to expedite any such process is consistent with their mutual objective to achieve the maximum clarity possible for the maximum number of policyholders and their insurers in an expeditious and proportionate way.
Engagement with policyholders and insurance intermediaries
When we initiated the test case, we developed a Policyholder Engagement Statement for policyholders and insurance intermediaries which set out our approach to the test case for BI insurance policies, with the key points as follows:
- The FCA will put forward policyholders’ arguments to their best advantage using a highly experienced counsel team including Colin Edelman QC, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy QC, Richard Coleman QC, and Herbert Smith Freehills.
- The intended action will not prevent policyholders from pursuing issues through negotiated settlement, arbitration, court proceedings as a private party, or taking eligible complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- We wish to ensure that policyholders and insurance intermediaries are properly engaged throughout the test case process.
- Information provided by policyholders in response to our requests will be treated as confidential and covered by the FCA’s litigation privilege.
- We will consult policyholders and insurance intermediaries at key stages in the test case.
- We expect to make public all the 'pleadings' in the test case, and will update this webpage regularly and be available for discussion with action groups and policyholders and their legal representatives.
- See the latest updates section below for how you can comment at each stage of the case
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Latest updates |
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| 3 August 2020 |
Publication of draft transcript and Supplementary NotesWe have published:
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| 31 July 2020 |
Conclusion of the trialThe trial has now concluded and judgment is awaited. We have amended this page above, including with information about what happens next. Publication of draft transcriptWe have published the draft transcript of day 7 of the trial. |
| 30 July 2020 |
Publication of draft transcriptWe have published the draft transcript of day 6 of the trial. |
| 29 July 2020 |
Publication of draft transcriptWe have published the draft transcript of day 5 of the trial. |
| 27 July 2020 |
Publication of draft transcriptWe have published the draft transcript of day 4 of the trial. |
| 24 July 2020 |
Publication of draft transcript and Agreed Facts 3We have published the draft transcript of day 3 of the trial. We have also published Agreed Facts 3 – Prevalence of Covid-19. |
| 23 July 2020 |
Publication of draft transcriptWe have published the draft transcript of day 2 of the trial. |
| 22 July 2020 |
Publication of draft transcriptWe have published the draft transcript of day 1 of the trial. |
| 17 July 2020 |
Publication of further documents for trialWe have published below a number of other documents which will be used as part of the trial commencing on Monday 20 July. The Agreed List of Issues and Common Ground summarises what is and is not in dispute between the parties. This supersedes the Questions for Determination. The Agreed Facts are sets of facts, with supporting evidence, which the parties have now agreed and which are necessary to resolve the issues in dispute:
The new Assumed Facts document contains factual scenarios which some parties will use in the trial to illustrate their views as to how coverage is triggered. These have developed out of the previous Assumed Facts document, as a result of discussion and agreement between the parties. |
| 15 July 2020 |
Publication of Defendants’ skeleton argumentsWe have published the Defendants’ skeleton arguments (written submissions) for trial:
We have also published the Defendants’ joint skeleton argument on the principles of contractual construction (interpretation) and Defendants’ joint skeleton argument on causation (of loss). Trial to commence Monday 20 JulyThose who wish to view the trial are reminded that it is to take place over 8 days, on 20-23 July and 27-30 July. The starting time can be checked on the final court listing after 4.30pm on the day before each day’s sitting. We have published the trial timetable. In order to view the trial live:
Publication of court orderFollowing the Case Management Conference on 26 June, we have published the sealed court order made. List of affected insurers and policiesOn 17 June 2020 we published Finalised Guidance for insurers in relation to the test case. We asked insurers to review relevant non-damage business interruption policies to determine whether the outcome on claims generally (including questions of causation of loss) may be affected by the final resolution of the test case. We asked insurers to provide us with their findings. We have published the list of affected insurers and policies that were submitted to the FCA as part of this process. The policies listed cover approximately 370,000 policyholders. Insurers have been requested to update the FCA as the case develops on the outcome of this review. We will update the list to reflect any updated reviews as appropriate. |
| 13 July 2020 |
Publication of skeleton argumentsWe have published the FCA’s and Intervenors’ skeleton arguments (written submissions) for trial commencing on 20 July:
Other publicationsWe have also published:
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| 3 July 2020 |
Publication of ReplyThe FCA has now served its Reply, which sets out its response to the Defences. Since 24 June we have received more than 90 detailed submissions from policyholders and other stakeholders on the Defences. We considered these when drafting the Reply. We also conducted numerous meetings with policyholders and other stakeholders as part of this process. Other publicationsWe have also published:
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| 30 June 2020 |
Order from second Case Management Conference on 26 JuneAt this hearing, Lord Justice Flaux and Mr Justice Butcher gave various directions relating to how the test case is to proceed, including that:
We have published a draft, provisional transcript for the hearing, and will publish the final approved transcript as well as the court order when they are available. Transcript of first Case Management Conference on 16 JuneWe have published the final approved transcript of this hearing. |
| 24 June 2020 |
Publication of court orderFollowing the Case Management Conference on 16 June, we have published the sealed court order made. Publication of DefencesThe Defendants to the test case have now served their Defences. These state each Defendant’s written case, in response to the FCA’s Particulars of Claim. We have published each Defence below:
Invitation to comment on the DefencesThe FCA’s Reply, which is the written response to the Defences above, is due on 3 July. The FCA’s skeleton argument (written submissions) for the final hearing is due after that. We are inviting policyholders, their insurance intermediaries, other stakeholders and their legal advisers to provide comments on the Defences, which we will consider when drafting our Reply and skeleton argument. What we are asking for:
The earlier you can send your comments the better. We will consider comments provided to us by 3pm on Monday 29 June. Please email: [email protected] stating only the word ‘Defences’ in the subject line of the email. Where you are a member of an action group pursuing action against an insurer or of a relevant trade body, please could you also identify this clearly in the body of the email. We will contact you if we have any queries in relation to the comments raised, but we will not be able to respond individually to all emails sent to this email address. Invitation to speak to our legal teamOur legal team has set aside time on 30 June and 1 July to speak directly with as many policyholders and intermediaries and their legal advisers as reasonably possible, given the time constraints. We will consider meeting requests made to us by 5pm on Friday 26 June. Please email: [email protected] stating only the word 'Meeting' in the subject line of the email and stating your availability in the body of the email. |
| 17 June 2020 |
Order from first Case Management Conference on 16 JuneAt this hearing, Mr Justice Butcher made an order relating to how the test case is to proceed, including that:
We will publish a copy of the court order and transcript for the hearing once they are available. Link to live-stream future hearingsThe court has agreed to live-stream the second Case Management Conference on 26 June and the final hearing starting on 20 July. The starting time for these hearings can be checked on the final court listing after 4.30pm on the day before each hearing. In order to view these hearings live:
Notice to non-parties in the test caseIn accordance with the order of Mr Justice Butcher on 16 June, notice is given that any non-party wishing to make an application under paragraph 2.5 of Practice Direction 51M should make any such application by 5pm on 24 June 2020 on notice to all parties to the litigation, any such application to be returnable at the Second CMC. View Practice Direction 51M, a part of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998. 'Returnable at the Second CMC' means that any such application will be heard at the second Case Management Conference on 26 June 2020. Finalised Guidance and Feedback Statement publishedWe have published Finalised Guidance setting out our expectations for insurers and insurance intermediaries when handling claims and complaints for business interruption policies during the test case brought by the FCA. We have also published a Feedback Statement summarising the feedback received on our draft guidance published on 1 June 2020. |
| 15 June 2020 |
Details of first Case Management Conference on 16 JuneThe first Case Management Conference before a Judge is now confirmed to take place on 16 June from 10.00am (or 10.30am depending on final court listing which can be checked after 4.30pm on 15 June 2020 by clicking here) to 4pm. At this hearing, the Judge will be invited to consider our application for expedition and admission to the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme, fix the timetable for the case (including the date for the court hearing in the second half of July) and deal with other procedural matters. The court has agreed to live-stream this hearing. In order to view the hearing live:
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| 10 June 2020 |
Start of proceedings in the High CourtWe have started proceedings in the High Court and published the court documents related to this:
We have updated the initial list of affected insurers and the policy wordings they use to reflect the changes to the Representative Sample of Policy Wordings. Read a tracked changes version so that you can see how this document has developed to date from the proposal published on 1 June 2020 (which is also available below). As stated in the 1 June 2020 update , this list is not exhaustive, and our expectation remains to publish a list of all the relevant insurers and wordings that may be impacted by the test case in early July. How we have engaged with stakeholders since 1 JuneSince 1 June we have received more than 270 submissions from policyholders and other stakeholders on our proposed Questions for Determination and other documents relating to the scope of the test case that we published on 1 June. We and our advisers, Herbert Smith Freehills, have also conducted more than 45 consultations with policyholders and other stakeholders. We have taken account of the comments we received in formulating our Particulars of Claim and the other documents we published today. In particular:
Application for expeditionWe have also published the documents relating to our application that the test case be heard urgently, and as part of the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme (which is a scheme for financial claims raising issues of general importance that require immediate court guidance):
First case management conferenceThe first Case Management Conference before a Judge is expected to take place on 16 June (TBC) . The Judge will be invited to consider our application for expedition and admission to the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme, fix the timetable for the case (including the date for the court hearing in the second half of July) and deal with other procedural matters. We intend to ask the Judge to agree to live-stream this hearing, and will provide a further update on this as soon as we can. Next invitation to provide comments – c.23 JuneWe expect to issue a further invitation to policyholders and other stakeholders to provide us with comments shortly after 23 June, when the insurer parties in the test case file their Defences. This will help us ensure that stakeholder comments are reflected in our Reply and skeleton arguments (written submissions) prepared for the final court hearing. Update to our Policyholder Engagement StatementWe have updated our Policyholder Engagement Statement, including to refer to our privacy notice for information on how and why we handle any personal data sent to us. |
| 1 June 2020 |
We announced that we have identified the representative sample of policy wordings to be examined in the test case, insurers that use those wordings, and which of those insurers we have invited, and have agreed, to participate in the proceedings. The initial list of insurers and the policy wordings they use is not exhaustive, and we published a short consultation on draft guidance asking all insurers to check their policy wordings against those we intend to test to see if theirs will be impacted by the outcome of the case. We said our expectation was to publish a list of all the relevant insurers and wordings that may have impacted policies in early July. The consultation on draft guidance also set out the FCA’s expectations of all firms handling BI claims and any related complaints between now and the court decision. We also published 4 key documents, which we intend to invite the Court to consider and would therefore form the basis of the test case:
Invitation to comment on our documentsWe invited policyholders, their insurance intermediaries, insurers, other stakeholders and their legal advisers to provide their comments on these documents by 3pm on Friday 5 June. We also invited comments on these documents from the insurers who will be the parties to the test case. Invitation to speak to our legal advisersWe invited policyholders and intermediaries to have consultations with our legal team at Herbert Smith Freehills on 3 and 4 June. |
| 15 May 2020 |
We invited policyholders of BI insurance who are in dispute with their insurers over the terms of their policies to send us their arguments by 20 May 2020 if they wished us to take them into account as part of the test case. In particular, we asked for:
We needed policyholders’ arguments urgently in line with the FCA’s intention to seek the court’s view on relevant policies as soon as possible, and we said we would consider all arguments and information raised to us by 20 May 2020. We are taking those arguments into account as part of the test case. We also provided a link to sign up to receive email updates. |
| 1 May 2020 |
We issued a statement setting out our intention to obtain court declarations aimed at resolving the contractual uncertainty around the validity of many BI claims. We explained we are intending to take this action in the public interest to advance our consumer protection and market integrity objectives, with the aim of obtaining legal guidance more quickly and at lower cost to policyholders than would be the case if they took their own actions. Alongside our statement, we asked insurance companies for information on their BI policies and wordings, and their intentions and decisions in relation to claims on these policies by 15 May 2020. We are using this information to consider, with external counsel, which policies we will seek to achieve a declaratory judgement on through the courts. We want a representative sample of wordings to give as much clarity as possible, whilst recognising that the need for an expedited court process means we can’t achieve clarity on every different wording. We are not yet in a position to definitively identify which policy wordings, or indeed firms, may be included in proceedings. |
| 15 April 2020 |
We wrote to all chief executives of insurance firms. This Dear CEO letter outlined our expectations of firms with regard to the settlement of BI claims and the need to assess and settle claims quickly. |
| 19 March 2020 |
We set out our expectations for insurance firms. This outlined our expectation that firms should consider very carefully the needs of their customers and show flexibility in their treatment of them. |