Commercial Sense in Policy Wording Interpretation: A Review of Recent Court Judgments

Event Overview

In recent years, the courts have increasingly emphasised the principle of "commercial sense" when interpreting ambiguous or disputed terms. But what does this really mean for underwriters, claims professionals and brokers? In this webinar, we’ll explore recent court judgments that highlight the evolving approach to policy interpretation, with a focus on the application of commercial common sense. You’ll gain insight into how the courts are balancing literal wording with broader commercial context, and what this means for drafting policies and negotiating claims.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• identify key judicial trends in the interpretation of policy wording through recent case law
• understand how courts balance the literal meaning of contractual terms with the overarching commercial purpose of the contract
• implement a strategy to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of policy wording in light of current legal expectations and customer understanding

Speaker Bio

Jeff Heasman worked as a litigation executive and senior liability adjuster before branching out into language and psychology. Jeff holds both a bachelors and a masters of law degree, is a qualified language instructor and also a certified practitioner member of the Academy of Modern Applied Psychology as well as a member of the Association of Business Psychology. He delivers courses across the globe, either face-to-face or online. Jeff maintains a close connection to the industry by regularly providing consultancy in areas such as law and communication and he provides consultations with individuals and teams regarding cognitive skills, such as decision-making and problem-solving.

In 2020, Jeff graduated top of the class from the Yale School of Management Executive Education programme in negotiation strategies with a score of 100% across all modules and he is recognised as an expert in the field of negotiations within the insurance industry. Other areas of specialist expertise include insurance fraud, claims handling and the synergy between product design, brand promises, marketing messages and customer expectations. Jeff is currently completing a doctoral thesis with a Swiss business school, focusing on human v automated decision-making in insurance claims and its potential impact on customer trust.

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