The blanket approach – Green light given to "catch-all" insurance notifications

The English High court's decision in McManus & Ors v European Risk Insurance Co ⁱ indicates that the blanket notification of claims (or of circumstances which might give rise to a claim) is likely to be sufficient to trigger an insurance policy. It also highlights the need for an insured to promptly notify claims or circumstances when they first discover them.

Background

This case concerns an English law firm's (McManus Seddon Runhams) (the "Firm") blanket notification to its professional indemnity insurer of circumstances which might give rise to a claim (the "Notification Letter"). The notification related to of all of the files/matters of another partnership that had recently been acquired by the Firm.