Ce Heath Casualty and General Insurance Ltd v Grey

In *CE Heath Casualty and General Insurance Ltd v Grey and Ors*, the New South Wales Court of Appeal considered a dispute concerning an insurance policy. The appellant, CE Heath Casualty and General Insurance Ltd, appealed a decision that had found in favour of the respondents, Grey and others.

The central legal issue before the Court of Appeal was the interpretation of a professional indemnity insurance policy and whether the policy covered the claims made against the respondents. Specifically, the court had to determine if the claims constituted "civil liability" as defined within the policy and if certain exclusions applied to negate coverage.

The Court of Appeal analysed the terms of the insurance policy, focusing on the definitions of "civil liability" and the scope of the indemnity provided. It considered the nature of the claims brought against the respondents and whether they fell within the ambit of professional services as contemplated by the policy. The court applied principles of contractual interpretation, aiming to give effect to the plain meaning of the policy wording while also considering the commercial context in which such policies are typically issued. The court ultimately found that the claims were covered by the policy, and the exclusions did not operate to deny indemnity.