International Entertainment Holdings Ltd & Ors v Allianz Insurance Plc [2024] EWCA Civ 1281 (28 October 2024)

International Entertainment Holdings Ltd & Ors v Allianz Insurance Plc [2024] EWCA Civ 1281 (28 October 2024)

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is not a 'policing authority' within the meaning of the NDDA clause; therefore, the claimants' claims under the policy fail. Even if the Secretary of State were a policing authority, the incident must occur within the one-mile radius, and the policy limit applies per premises, not per insured or in the aggregate.

Citation
[2024] EWCA Civ 1281
Parties
Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: International Entertainment Holdings Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: ATG London Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Glasgow Theatres Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Milton Keynes Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Playhouse Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Richmond Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Savoy Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Stoke-on-Trent Theatres Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: The Ambassador Theatre Group (Venues) Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: The Duke of York's Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: The New Wimbledon Theatre Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Theatre Management Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Theatre Royal Brighton Limited; Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent: Woking Turnstyle Limited; Defendant/respondent and Cross Appellant: Allianz Insurance PLC
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
28 October 2024
Procedural Posture
Appeal (civil) / Court of Appeal Judgment on Appeal From High Court (commercial Court)
Outcome
Appeal dismissed; cross-appeal dismissed.
Legal Topics
Business Interruption Insurance, Policy Interpretation, Non Damage Denial of Access, COVID 19 Pandemic, Limits of Indemnity

Case Brief

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Parties

International Entertainment Holdings Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

ATG London Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Glasgow Theatres Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Milton Keynes Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Playhouse Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Richmond Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Savoy Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Stoke-on-Trent Theatres Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

The Ambassador Theatre Group (Venues) Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

The Duke of York's Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

The New Wimbledon Theatre Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Theatre Management Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Theatre Royal Brighton Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Woking Turnstyle Limited

Claimant/appellant and Cross Respondent

Allianz Insurance PLC

Defendant/respondent and Cross Appellant

Procedural Posture

Appeal (civil) / Court of Appeal Judgment on Appeal From High Court (commercial Court)

  1. 1 Whether the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is a 'policing authority' under the NDDA clause
  2. 2 Whether a case of Covid-19 amounts to an 'incident likely to endanger human life' within the meaning of the clause
  3. 3 Whether the incident must occur within the one-mile radius specified in the policy

Ratio Decidendi

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is not a 'policing authority' within the meaning of the NDDA clause; therefore, the claimants' claims under the policy fail. Even if the Secretary of State were a policing authority, the incident must occur within the one-mile radius, and the policy limit applies per premises, not per insured or in the aggregate.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed; cross-appeal dismissed.

Orders

  • Declaration that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is not a policing authority within the meaning of clause S/30/1 of the policy.
  • Claims under the NDDA clause dismissed.