A version of this article was first published in The Law Society Gazette and Prime Resi.
Key Points
- Trustees in bankruptcy entitled to more than return of shares wrongfully transferred by bankrupt
- Trustees also entitled to recover loss in the value of shares
- Appropriate basis of valuation was fair value (not market value)
The Facts
A key question in any litigation is whether the defendant can satisfy a judgment. Where the defendant is both insolvent and insured a further issue is whether the claimant can ultimately recover payment from the insurer. This may be possible under the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930 ("1930 Act") but there are a number of significant hurdles for a third party to overcome before it can benefit from the application of the1930 Act.
The question of who is entitled to payment of compensation for PPI where a debtor has been discharged from his/her Protected Trust Deed (PTD) has given rise to conflicting judicial decisions in Scotland. In our previous article, we highlighted the uncertainty created following the decision of Sheriff Reid in the case of Donnelly v The Royal Bank of Scotland and the decision of Lord Jones in Dooneen Limited, t/a Mcginnes Associates and Douglas Davidson v David Mond.
The 1st August 2016 sees the coming into force of the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010. The 2010 Act will replace the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930, and will hopefully make it easier for claimants who have claims against insolvent defendants to bring in the defendant’s insurer.
The 1930 Act
Summary
Third parties associated with an employer may find themselves liable to contribute to the employer's occupational pension scheme. Where a pension scheme is in deficit, the Pensions Regulator has powers - so-called 'moral hazard' powers - that can require a third party to give financial support or a specific payment to the pension scheme.
Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010: in force from 1 August 2016
In August 2016 significant changes to English insurance law will take effect.
On 1 August 2016 the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) will come into force. The 2010 Act will be swiftly followed by the Insurance Act 2015, which will come into force on 12 August 2016.
Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers Act) 2010
The English Court refused an application by Liquidators to stay English proceedings pending the outcome of similar proceedings in the US.
The Joint Liquidators of a Luxembourg company ("the Company") applied to stay English proceedings that they had brought against private equity investors ("the Defendants") until similar proceedings in the US had been resolved, or for three months to enable the Liquidators to raise finance for the litigation.
The English Court has recently considered who can be recognised as “foreign representatives” under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (CBIR) in the case of Re 19 Entertainment Limited, about a US company in Chapter 11. The Re 19 Entertainment judgment appears to be the first English case where directors of a company in Chapter 11 proceedings were recognised as “foreign representatives.”
Introduction
The government has commenced a consultation exercise on its proposals to introduce procedures for further education and sixth-form colleges which become insolvent.
The proposed regime would include a Special Administration Regime, aimed at protecting learners from disruption to their courses, helping the rehabilitation of a college where this is possible or providing an orderly wind-up procedure.