In Tolan v McLaughlin & Greaney Insurances Limited T/A
Future & Zurich Insurance PLC, [2022] IECA 27, the Court
of Appeal upheld the decision of the High Court dismissing the
plaintiff's claim against, Future, his insurance brokers, and
Zurich Insurance plc ("Zurich"), his
insurers, arising from Zurich's decision to withdraw storm
cover retrospectively due to a misrepresentation in the proposal
form.
Background
The plaintiff, Mr Tolan, held an insurance policy with Zurich in
relation to his farm and buildings. The policy had been placed
through Future. In February 2017, Storm Doris damaged the
plaintiff's two cattle sheds, which had been insured with
Zurich since April 2015. Following notification of a claim to
Zurich in relation to storm damage to the sheds, Zurich declined to
indemnify the plaintiff. Zurich did not repudiate the policy,
instead, Zurich withdrew the storm cover retrospectively from
policy inception in relation to the cattle sheds and refunded