Southern Response loses bid to negotiate individually with claimants

Southern Response loses bid to negotiate individually with claimants
A spokeswoman for Southern Response said it was still working out the implications of the High Court ruling.
Victoria Young
A High Court judge has decided Southern Response cannot negotiate with individual claimants as it attempts to settle legal claims with affected Christchurch homeowners.After years of litigation, the government-owned company said in December 2020 it would approve a package to eligible policyholders who settled with the insurer before 2014. It is estimated the total payout for 3000 claimants will exceed $300 million.The class action claimants, led by Brendan and Colleen Ross, say Southern Response gave them incomplete information about the cost o...