Moves to halt earthquake insurance claims class action

NBR NZ Property Investor

Insurer Southern Response is attempting to have court action against it over earthquake claims stopped as a class action.

Christchurch-based GCA Lawyers’ legal strategist, Grant Cameron, filed court proceedings in the High Court in August on behalf of 47 claimants seeking the full entitlements under their policies and $25,000 each in damages for emotional stress, rental costs and interest on mortgages.

International consortium Litigation Lending Services is funding the class action and is paying the costs, including engineering and other expert evidence.

Mr Cameron says the funder will provide independent experts to tell the court about the “real value” of Cantabrian’s claims and press for damages. He is expecting other Southern Response (previously AMI) policyholders to join the action. At the end of March Southern Response reportedly had more than 2000 over-cap claims still to settle.