Owners Fail To Set Aside Summary Judgment Against Them In Respect Of Costs Of Additional Damages Proceedings In Greece

In Starlight Shipping Co v Allianz Marine & Aviation Versicherungs AG (The Alexandros T) [2014] EWCA Civ 1010, Owners appealed against a summary judgment awarded against them in favour of the Respondent Insurers.

Owners' vessel had been a total loss and the Insurers had disputed liability. The claims as between Owners and the Insurers were settled, and the settlement agreements contained exclusive English law and High Court jurisdiction clauses. Several years later, Owners commenced proceedings against the Insurers in Greece claiming inter alia, loss of hire and loss of opportunity. The Insurers brought claims for damages in England, and sought declarations that Owners had breached the settlement agreements.

At first instance, the Insurers were awarded summary judgment. Owners appealed.

The Court of Appeal found that the Greek proceedings fell within the settlement provisions, and the exclusive jurisdiction clauses incorporated into the settlement agreements. The Greek proceedings should have been brought in England. The Insurers had been fully entitled to bring proceedings for damages for breach of the settlement agreements.

The Insurers had incurred, and continued to...