Double insurance: the effect of "excess" clauses

In Watford Community Housing Trust v Arthur J Gallagher Insurance Brokers Ltd [2025] EWHC 743 (Comm); [2025] Lloyd's Rep IR 407 David Bailey KC considered the effect of policy "excess" clauses under which cover is deemed to be in excess of that offered by other policies. The court ruled, consistently with authority, that excess clauses are self-cancelling and that the assured is entitled to recover up to the sum insured from each insurer involved.

Watford: the facts