Apsara Restaurants (Barbados) Ltd v Guardian General Insurance Ltd

• Jurisdiction: Caribbean States
• Judge: Saunders P,Barrow J,Anderson J,Burgess J,Rajnauth-Lee J,Jamadar J
• Judgment Date: 22 January 2024
• Docket Number: CCJ Appeal No BBCV2022/002
• Court: Caribbean Court of Justice

BETWEEN

Apsara Restaurants (Barbados) Limited

Appellant

and

Guardian General Insurance Limited

Respondent

[2024] CCJ 3 (AJ) BB

Before:

Mr Justice Saunders, President

Mr Justice Wit

Mr Justice Anderson

Mme Justice Rajnauth-Lee

Mr Justice Barrow

Mr Justice Burgess

Mr Justice Jamadar

CCJ Appeal No BBCV2022/002

BB Civil Appeal No 15 of 2008

IN THE CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE

APPELLATE JURISDICTION

ON APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEAL OF BARBADOS

Insurance — Uberrimae fidei — Material nondisclosure — Primary facts — Inferences drawn from primary facts — Test for interfering with concurrent findings of primary fact — Test for interfering with concurrent findings based on inferences from primary fact — Delay in issuing written judgment — Arson — Breach of policy of insurance — Extension of time — Decisive influence test — Actual influence test — Inducement — Effect of relevant circumstance on the mind of prudent insurer weighing risk — Marine insurance Act, Cap 292.

Cases referred to:

A-G v Joseph [2006] CCJ 3 (AJ) (BB), (2006) 69 WIR 104; Akalazu v State (2022) LLJR- SC; Al Sadik v Investcorp Bank BSC [2018] UKPC 15, KY 2018 PC 2 (CARILAW); Ali v Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Co Ltd (2001) 65 WIR 186 (GY HC), (2007) 71 WIR 227 (GY CA); Anderson v City of Bessemer 470 US 564 (1985); Apsara Restaurants (Barbados) Ltd v Guardian General Insurance Ltd (BB CA, 31 December 2014); Assicurazioni Generali SpA v ARIG (BSC) [2003] Lloyd's Rep IR 131; B (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Threshold Criteria), Re [2013] 1 WLR 1911; B (Children), Re [2009] AC 11; Baffsky v Brewis (1976) 51 ALJR 170; Barbados Rediffusion Services Ltd v Merchandani (No 1) [2005] 1 CCJ (AJ) (BB), (2005) 69 WIR 35; Barclay Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd v British National Insurance Co Ltd (1987) 8 NSWLR 514; Bater v Bater [1951] P 35; Beacon Insurance Co Ltd v Maharaj Bookstore Ltd [2014] 4 All ER 418; Beaudoin-Daigneault v Richard [1984] 1 SCR 2; Benmax v Austin Motor Co Ltd [1955] AC 370; Biogen Inc v Medeva plc [1998] 1 LRC 21, [1977] RPC 1; Bluewater Energy Services BV v Mercon Steel Structures BV [2014] EWHC 2132 (TCC); Blyth v Blyth [1966] AC 643; Bond v Dunster Properties Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 455; Boodoo v A-G of Trinidad and Tobago [2004] UKPC 17, (2004) 64 WIR 370; Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd [2015] 1 WLR 1661; Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; Brotherton v Aseguradora Colseguros SA [2003] EWCA Civ 705, [2003] Lloyd's Rep IR 746; Browne v Griffith [2013] CCJ 6 (AJ) (BB), (2013) 83 WIR 62; Campbell v Narine [2016] CCJ 7 (GY), (2016) 88 WIR 319; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce v Gypsy International Ltd [2015] CCJ 16 (AJ) (BB), (2015) 88 WIR 23; Carter v Boehm (1766) 3 Burr 1905, 97 ER 1162; Central Bank of Ecuador v Conticorp SA [2015] UKPC 11, [2016] 2 LRC 46 (BS); Chinachem Charitable Foundation v Chan Chun Chuen (2011) 14 HKCFAR 798; Chung v Colonial Fire and General Insurance Co Ltd (TT CA, 23 July 1991); Clarke v Edinburgh Tramways Co [1919] SC (HL) 35; Cobham v Frett (2000) 59 WIR 161 (VG PC); Container Transport International Inc v Oceanus Mutual Underwriting Association (Bermuda) Ltd [1984] 1 Lloyd's Rep 476; 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Hicks v Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police [1992] UKHL 9, [1992] 2 All ER 65; Higgins v J & C M Smith (Whiteinch) Ltd 1990 SC (HL) 63; Hornal v Neuberger Products Ltd [1957] 1 QB 247; Housen v Nikolaisen [2002] 2 SCR 235; Howard v R [1994] 2 SCR 299; Ingles v Tutkaluk Construction Ltd [2000] 1 SCR 298; Ionides v Pender (1874) LR 9 QB 531; Issais v Marine Insurance Co Ltd [1923] 15 LI L Rep 186; JEB Fasteners Ltd v Marks Bloom & Co [1983] 1 All ER 583; Joseph v Clico International General Insurance Co Ltd (2006) 71 WIR 31 (BB CA); Juman v A-G of Trinidad and Tobago [2017] UKPC 3, [2017] 2 LRC 610 (TT); Khawaja v Secretary of State for the Home Office [1984] AC 74; Kimathi v The Foreign and Commonwealth Office [2018] EWCH 2066 (QB); Knox v Deane [2021] CCJ 5 (AJ) (BB), (2021) 102 WIR 94; Konowsky v Pacific Marine Insurance Co [1923] 2 DLR 1198; Lachana v Arjune [2008] CCJ 12 (AJ) (GY); Lambert v Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd [1975] 2 Lloyd's Rep 485; Leriche v Cherry [2008] UKPC 35, LC 2008 PC 4 (CARILAW); 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National Justice Cia Naviera SA v Prudential Assurance Co Ltd ( The Ikarian Reefer) [1995] Lloyd's Rep 455; Natwest Markets Plc v Bilta (UK) Ltd (in Liquidation) [2021] EWCA Civ 680; North Star Shipping Ltd v Sphere Drake Insurance Plc [2006] EWCA Civ 378; NV Bocimar SA v Century Insurance Co of Canada [1987] 1 SCR 1247; Onassis v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyd's Rep 403; Ontario (Attorney General) v Bear Island Foundation [1991] 2 SCR 570; P Caland v Glamorgan Steamship Co Ltd [1893] AC 207; Pan Atlantic Insurance Co Ltd v Pine Top Insurance Co Ltd [1994] 3 WLR 677; Panday v Gordon [2005] UKPC 36, (2005) 67 WIR 290 (TT PC); Persaud v Mongroo [2023] CCJ 16 (AJ) GY; Piglowska v Piglowski [1999] 1 WLR 1360; Pompey v DPP [2020] CCJ 7 (AJ) GY, GY 2020 CCJ 2 (CARILAW); Pratt v Renz [2014] CCJ 7 (AJ) (GY); Quebec (Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions) v Jodoin [2017] 1 SCR 478; R v D [2013] 9 WLUK 348, [2013] Eq LR 1034; R v NS [2012] 3 SCR 726; Ramcharran v DPP [2022] CCJ 4 (AJ) GY; Ramdehol v Ramdehol [2017] CCJ 14 (AJ) (GY); Ramlagan v Singh [2014] CCJ 5 (AJ) (GY), GY 2014 CCJ 2 (CARILAW); Ramlagan v Singh [2015] CCJ 7 (AJ) (GY), (2015) 86 WIR 332; Raso v NRMA Insurance Ltd (Supreme Court of New South Wales Court of Appeal, 14 December 1992); Refjek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517; Reid v Charles [1989] UKPC 24 (TT); Reid v Reid [2008] CCJ 8 (AJ) (BB), (2008) 73 WIR 56; Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; Ryan v Victoria (City) [1999] 1 SCR 201; Sancus Financial Holdings Ltd v Holm [2022] 1 WLR 5181 (VG PC); Sandy Lane Hotel v Cato [2022] CCJ 8 (AJ) BB; Sea Havens Inc v Dyrud [2011] CCJ 13 (AJ) (BB), (2011) 79 WIR 132; Shillingford v Andrew [2020] CCJ 2 (AJ), DM 2020 CCJ 1 (CARILAW); Sir Robert Peel, The (1880) 4 Asp MLC 321, 43 LT 364; Smith v Chadwick (1884) 9 App Cas 187, [1881-85] All ER Rep 242; Socimer International Bank Ltd v Standard Bank London Ltd [2008] Bus LR 1304; Solomon Ghany Oil Engineering Ltd NEM (West Indies) Insurance Ltd (TT HC, 19 May 2000); Southern Cross Assurance Co Ltd v Australian Provincial Assurance Association Ltd (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 174; SS Hontestroom (Owners) v SS Sagaporack (Owners) [1927] AC 37; St Paul Fire & Marine v McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd [1996] 1 All ER 96; Stein v The Ship ‘Kathy K’ [1976] 2 SCR 802; Tex Services Ltd v Shibani Knitting Co Ltd [2016] UKPC 31; Thompson v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (Supreme Court of New South Wales Commercial Division, 15 June 1994); Traille Caribbean Ltd v Cable and Wireless (Jamaica) Ltd [2023] UKPC 19, JM 2023 PC 3 (CARILAW); Ville de Montréal v Lonardi [2018] 1 SCR 104; Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387; Ward v Walsh BB 2012 CA 14 (CARILAW), (28 November 2012); Watt or Thomas v Thomas [1947] AC 484; Wealth Duke Ltd v Bank of China Ltd (2011) 14 HKCFAR 863; Wheat v E Lacon & Co Ltd [1966] AC 552; Whitehouse v Jordan [1981] 1 WLR 246; Zurich General Accident and Liability Insurance Co Ltd v Morrison [1942] 1 All ER 529.

Legislation referred to:

Australia - Insurance Contracts Act 1984; Barbados - Companies Act, Cap 308, Constitution of Barbados 1966, Marine Insurance Act, Cap 292, Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Cap 117; Canada - Ontario Insurance Act RSO 1990, c I.8; United Kingdom - Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, Insurance Act 2015, Marine Insurance Act 1906 (8 Edw 7 c 41).

Other Sources referred to:

Anderson W, ‘The Duty to Disclose Material...