Starlight Shipping Company v Allianz Marine And Aviation Versicherungs AG & Ors

Starlight Shipping Company v Allianz Marine And Aviation Versicherungs AG & Ors

Settlement agreements governed by English law released all claims relating to the loss of the vessel, including claims against insurers' servants and agents, by operation of contract construction and the joint tortfeasor rule. Greek proceedings breached settlement agreements and exclusive jurisdiction clauses. Applicants entitled to declaratory relief, specific performance, and damages, including under Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

Parties
Claimant/respondent: Starlight Shipping Company; Third Party/respondent: Overseas Marine Enterprises Inc; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Allianz Marine and Aviation Versicherungs AG; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance PLC; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Assicurazioni Generali SpA; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Rembrandt Insurance Company Limited; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Brit UW Limited; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Nicholas Burkinshaw; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Hiscox Dedicated Corporate Member Ltd; Defendant/applicant: Hill Dickinson LLP; Defendant/applicant: Hill Dickinson International; Defendant/applicant: Michael Francis Mallin; Defendant/applicant: Alexandra Julia Tytheridge; Defendant/applicant: Maria Moisidou; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Daniel McCarthy; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Dave Vale; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Mark Watters; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Simon Langridge; Defendant/applicant/claimant: William Graham Hensman; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Keith Richard Potter; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Stephen Bishop; Defendant/applicant/claimant: Richard Chown; Defendant/applicant: Simon Vincent Stonehouse; Defendant/applicant: Marion Susan Frazer; Defendant/applicant: Daniel Tony Dobisz; Defendant/applicant: Iain James Henstridge; Defendant/applicant: Brendan Allan Flood; Defendant/applicant: Charles Taylor Adjusting Limited; Defendant/applicant: Gordon Elliot; Claimant/applicant: Hellenic Hull Mutual Association PLC; Defendant/applicant: Ilias Tsakiris; Defendant/respondent: Imperial Marine Co; Defendant/respondent: Seagarden Shipping Inc; Defendant/respondent: Wave Navigation Ltd; Defendant/respondent: Cyclone Maritime Co; Defendant/respondent: Bristol Marine Co
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
26 September 2014
Procedural Posture
Commercial Insurance Dispute / Post Appeal, Applications for Declaratory Relief, Specific Performance, Damages, Joinder, and Summary Judgment
Outcome
Applications granted; declaratory relief, specific performance, and damages awarded.
Legal Topics
Settlement Agreements, Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses, Joint Tortfeasor Rule, Specific Performance, Damages, Third Party Rights, Anti Suit Injunctions, Recognition of Foreign Judgments
Contract Law Insurance Law Civil Procedure EU Law Settlement Agreements Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses Joint Tortfeasor Rule Specific Performance +4 more

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Parties

Starlight Shipping Company

Claimant/respondent

Overseas Marine Enterprises Inc

Third Party/respondent

Allianz Marine and Aviation Versicherungs AG

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance PLC

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Assicurazioni Generali SpA

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Rembrandt Insurance Company Limited

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Brit UW Limited

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Nicholas Burkinshaw

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Hiscox Dedicated Corporate Member Ltd

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Hill Dickinson LLP

Defendant/applicant

Hill Dickinson International

Defendant/applicant

Michael Francis Mallin

Defendant/applicant

Alexandra Julia Tytheridge

Defendant/applicant

Maria Moisidou

Defendant/applicant

Daniel McCarthy

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Dave Vale

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Mark Watters

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Simon Langridge

Defendant/applicant/claimant

William Graham Hensman

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Keith Richard Potter

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Stephen Bishop

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Richard Chown

Defendant/applicant/claimant

Simon Vincent Stonehouse

Defendant/applicant

Marion Susan Frazer

Defendant/applicant

Daniel Tony Dobisz

Defendant/applicant

Iain James Henstridge

Defendant/applicant

Brendan Allan Flood

Defendant/applicant

Charles Taylor Adjusting Limited

Defendant/applicant

Gordon Elliot

Defendant/applicant

Hellenic Hull Mutual Association PLC

Claimant/applicant

Ilias Tsakiris

Defendant/applicant

Imperial Marine Co

Defendant/respondent

Seagarden Shipping Inc

Defendant/respondent

Wave Navigation Ltd

Defendant/respondent

Cyclone Maritime Co

Defendant/respondent

Bristol Marine Co

Defendant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Commercial Insurance Dispute / Post Appeal, Applications for Declaratory Relief, Specific Performance, Damages, Joinder, and Summary Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Greek proceedings breached settlement agreements and exclusive jurisdiction clauses
  2. 2 Whether settlement agreements released claims against insurers' servants and agents
  3. 3 Whether joint tortfeasor rule applies to settlement agreements

Ratio Decidendi

Settlement agreements governed by English law released all claims relating to the loss of the vessel, including claims against insurers' servants and agents, by operation of contract construction and the joint tortfeasor rule. Greek proceedings breached settlement agreements and exclusive jurisdiction clauses. Applicants entitled to declaratory relief, specific performance, and damages, including under Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

Court Disposition

Applications granted; declaratory relief, specific performance, and damages awarded.

Orders

  • Declaratory relief that Greek proceedings breached settlement agreements and exclusive jurisdiction clauses.
  • Decree of specific performance requiring Starlight and OME to execute documents and do all things necessary to carry settlement agreements into effect.