Motor vehicle insurance - Credit hire

(Clark v Ardington, Denard v Plant, Sen v Steelform Engineering Co and Lagden v O'Connor, Oxford County Court, 14 September 2001)

The decision of Judge Charles Harris QC in four joined cases Clark v Ardington, Denard v Plant, Sen v Steelform Engineering Co and Lagden v O’Connor , Oxford County Court, 14 September 2001 (to be reported in [2002] Lloyd’s Rep IR), is the latest and perhaps most significant step in determining the future of credit hire since the ruling of the House of Lords in Dimond v Lovell [2000] 2 WLR 1121. The decision deals with the validity of credit hire agreements, and whether credit hire companies are entitled to exercise subrogation rights against the insurers of motor vehicles. The issues are numerous and contentious, and seem to be fated to be appealed to the highest court in the land.