Transcript The phantom menace - Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters
The phantom menace
Claims in the modern supply chain CILA masterclass 1
Agenda
Introduction and tonight’s case study The investigation - Jonathan Clark The business interruption - Harry Roberts Legal issues - Mike Wells (Kennedys)
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The case study and investigation
Jonathan Clark The phantom menace 3
Some issues for tonight
How complex is the supply chain ? What are the interdependencies?
How is a manufacturing process owned and controlled?
What is “pull” or “push” production What are the added risks of single manufacturing and distribution sources Can we move from a supplier if they sustain a loss?
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The case study
The policyholder - Kettleco –
Long established manufacturers of electric goods including kettles
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Used to have an integrated production line on one site
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Now use outsource supply chain and are essentially assemblers of parts made by others
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Hold comprehensive insurance programme including suppliers and customers extensions CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Kettleco’s business
80’s –
“Push” business i.e. they sold to customers with their in-house production pre-planned
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Purchased components from a wide range of suppliers for mouldings and build in-house
90’s –
“Pull” business i.e. now a business with a few major customers who request for production on demand
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Assemblers of components from single source suppliers who manage a “virtual” production line CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Kettleco’s contracts
Suppliers –
Standard terms and conditions:
Specification of supply, price, payment
Usual array of small print
Customers –
Major customers - their specific terms of purchase
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Defines branded product
Other customers - Kettleco trading conditions
Specifies price and product description
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The supply chain mapped
QnB highstreet QnB bigshed Sellitall Wholesaler QnB retailer
Kettleco CILA
Elemental hardware Plasticity moulders Bits n pieces elec supplies
Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Then one day
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The supply chain remapped
QnB highstreet QnB bigshed Sellitall Wholesaler QnB retailer
Kettleco CILA
Elemental hardware Plasticity moulders Bits n pieces elec supplies
Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
After the fire - at Kettleco
Kettleco’s insurers loss adjuster calls to investigate 11
The Sales director’s report
“Well I’ve been up to see the fire at Plasticity and I can report that the tooling for our kettles did not look in too bad shape. The factory is gutted and they won’t be trading for at least 10 months”
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The managing director’s report
“I’ve had QnB on the phone chasing their Christmas order they sent through last week. This could not have come at a worse time for that contract. Still it’s not our fire so Plasticity had just better get it sorted, and we had better make sure we get that tooling to work.”
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The production manager’s report
CILA
“It is our tooling, we have paid for the work on it. We pay by having part of the cost recovered from the jugs they send us. The tooling was made from our plans and designs. The QnB mod was designed by Plasticity but it is still our tooling.” Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The material damage summarised
Plasticity’s plant has been gutted The tooling for moulding kettle jugs can be reclaimed and made available for use within a week - this is four weeks quicker that to re-work A stock of moulded jugs for delivery have been destroyed together with the packaging Food grade plastic is specified by QnB Rigorous QC and supplier approvals apply to the QnB contract
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The business interruption
Harry Roberts 16
The customer position
Evolving partnership - then and now “You will pick up the tab” Tally all the costs and even impose penalties?
“Fines and penalties” –
Excluded or not? - read the policy
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Can these payments be considered as ICW items?
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What does the contract say?
Conundrum
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Kettleco position
What is the supply contract with the customer?
Can “force majeure” be pleaded?
What if this plea is agreed but the customer withdraws their custom?
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Is this a new or intervening cause?
What is reasonable - are we playing a new game?
Where does the supplier’s extension fit?
Who should fund the deductible and who gets the benefit of the policy?
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The supply chain mapped
QnB highstreet QnB bigshed Sellitall Wholesaler QnB retailer
Kettleco CILA
Elemental hardware Plasticity moulders Bits n pieces elec supplies
Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Proximate cause considered
“But for the fire………” The case in favour: –
Established texts - Riley
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Current market practice - e.g. tenant
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The policy wording - losses in consequence of damage CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Proximate cause - some more
Any post insured event legal decisions?
But for - how far can we go?
Insured / uninsured intervening causes What is “the insured cause” - equity and advocacy
“The confidence of the customer is a critical element in mitigating the loss and the “but for” argument needs to be anticipated and pre-empted” CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Adjusters’ summary
Jonathan Clark 22
Getting your money back
Recovery is in name of policyholder - “nominus litus” Not necessarily will the policy payments be recovered –
Reinstatement not always readily available
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No formula for business interruption
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Different evidential requirements litigation v insurance policy
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Economic losses are difficult to recover CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The burning questions
A) Can we take our tooling away from Plasticity and use elsewhere?
B) Can we break our supply contract with Plasticity?
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If (A) is not possible we will lose at least 6 weeks while we set up new tooling and test it
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If (B) is not possible we must wait till Plasticity arrange alternative supply and manufacturing
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What about the others in the supply chain?
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
The burning questions considered
Mike Wells Kennedys 25
The supply chain mapped
QnB highstreet QnB bigshed Sellitall Wholesaler QnB retailer
Kettleco CILA
Elemental hardware Plasticity moulders Bits n pieces elec supplies
Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Indemnity and insurance
“[Plasticity] shall at all times fully indemnify [Kettleco] against any action, claim, demand, cost, charges, losses or expenses caused to Kettleco, or for which [Kettleco] may be liable to third parties, due to defects in the workmanship or quality of the Goods, together with any claims in respect of death or injury where such death or injury arises out of the performance of the Contract and also any consequential loss or damage sustained by Kettleco or for which Kettleco may be liable as a result of the failure of Plasticity to supply Goods in accordance with the Contract .
Plasticity shall maintain policies of insurance in respect of its liability under the Contract and shall on reasonable notice produce copies of the policies to Kettleco or its authorised agents together with any other information regarding such insurances reasonably requested”.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Cancellation
“[Kettleco] shall have the right by reasonable notice to [Plasticity] to change the nature of any goods or services covered by this contract … If the performance of work under this contact is cancelled in whole or in part by [Kettleco] by notice in writing to [Plasticity], [Kettleco] shall pay [Plasticity] for the performance of work carried out under this contract up to the time of such termination”.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Force majeure
“The performance of all contracts is subject to variation or cancellation by [Kettleco] owing to any act of God, War, strikes, lockouts, fire, flood, drought, tempest, or any other cause beyond the control of [Kettleco] or owing to any inability by [Kettleco] to procure materials or articles required for the performance of the contract and [Kettleco] shall not be held responsible for any inability to deliver caused by any such contingency”.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Tooling -
“DRAWINGS, PATTERNS, DYES, MATERIALS, ETC
All patterns, dyes, moulds, tooling , drawings or materials supplied by Kettleco (or prepared or obtained by [Plasticity]) remain the sole property of Kettleco shall be and . [Plasticity] shall maintain all such materials in good order and condition and insure them against all risks whilst in its custody.
On completion of the contract (or otherwise as directed by Kettleco), Plasticity shall Kettleco return them to in good order and condition, subject to fair wear and tear.
Should Plasticity fail so to return them, Kettleco may either withhold payment until they are so returned or withhold such part of the payment due as may be required to replace them or to restore them to good order and condition, whichever may be the less expensive.
Plasticity shall not copy or use such materials nor authorise nor knowingly permit them to be copied or used by anyone else for, or in connection with, any purpose other than the supply of goods to Kettleco”.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Proximate Cause – Cause of Loss
1.
The event which leads inevitably (or put another way with reasonable certainty to the loss).
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Proximate Cause – The Extent of Loss
2.
If the loss was the inevitable result of a peril then the full extent of that loss will be recoverable and CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Proximate Cause – Extension
3.
In the absence of an applicable exception, in the event that the loss is not inevitable but was nonetheless not unlikely to result or put another way was the natural consequence it is likely to be covered.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Material damage proviso
“Provided that at the time of the happening of the loss, destruction or damage there shall be in force an insurance covering the interest of the Insured in the property at the Premises against such loss, destruction or damage and that payment shall have been made or liability admitted therefore”.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Insurance
“Plasticity shall maintain policies of insurance in respect of its liability under the Contract and shall upon reasonable notice produce copies of the policies to Kettleco or its authorised agents together with any other information regarding such insurances reasonably requested”.
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white
Summary of tonight’s presentations
Jonathan Clark CILA 36
What we have reviewed tonight
How complex is the supply chain ? What are the interdependencies?
How is a manufacturing process owned and controlled?
What is “pull” or “push” production What are the added risks of single manufacturing and distribution sources Can we move from a supplier if they sustain a loss?
CILA Kennedys Legal advice in black and white