Admiral Insurance and HF have secured a judgment against Inderjit Singh and her son, Simerjit Singh, in a case involving a fraudulent claim valued at more than £2 million.
The two now face paying costs and damages exceeding £200,000 after the court found they conspired to exaggerate the extent of Inderjit Singh’s injuries.
Inderjit Singh was involved in a minor accident with a policyholder insured by Admiral. While it was accepted that she sustained some injury, the scale of her subsequent claim was found to be inconsistent with the incident.
She claimed to have suffered a significant head injury, cognitive impairment, and a need for constant care, stating she could not walk unaided, drive, or manage her own basic needs. The total value of her claim exceeded £2 million.
Her son, a Chartered Accountant, supported the claim by providing evidence to medical experts, submitting a witness statement, and helping to prepare a detailed schedule of care and assistance.
Investigations by Admiral and HF revealed that Mrs Singh was not receiving round-the-clock care and was able to walk unaided and drive. Surveillance evidence showed that in the three years following the accident, she drove an average of 10,000 miles per year. Medical experts supported Admiral’s position, and the company launched a counter-claim against both Mrs Singh and her son, alleging conspiracy to bring a fraudulent claim.
HHJ Hellman delivered his judgment, finding that Mrs Singh had brought a dishonest claim and that both she and her son had conspired against Admiral. The court dismissed her claim and awarded damages to Admiral totalling just under £55,000, including £10,000 in exemplary damages against each of the Singhs. Both are jointly responsible for Admiral’s costs and were ordered to make an initial payment of £150,000.
The judge determined that Simerjit Singh was aware of his mother’s true capabilities and actively participated in overstating them. The court described the counter-claim as a model example of a case meriting exemplary damages, noting that the genuine claim was worth around £9,500 but had been dishonestly inflated to over £2 million.
Alex Wilkinson (pictured above), partner and head of HF’s Large Loss Fraud team, said, “Claimants who dishonestly exaggerate their otherwise genuine claims should already be wary given the power the court has to dismiss claims. This case helps demonstrate that they, and anyone who helps them commit fraud, should also consider what other sanctions they could face.”
Stuart Cook, head of technical claims at Admiral, commented, “Admiral is committed to treating all customers and claimants fairly, while taking proportionate action when fraud is uncovered. We hope this outcome sends a clear message – honesty is not optional, and fraudulent behaviour will be met with decisive action.”
Across Europe, insurers are facing a rise in collective action lawsuits and class actions. The implementation of the EU’s Representative Actions Directive has led to an increase in group claims and litigation funding, changing the legal landscape for insurance providers.
The number of class action claims filed across Europe has risen sharply, with 133 claims in 2023 – a 93% increase since 2019. This trend is expected to continue as legal reforms broaden definitions of liability and disclosure requirements.
Third-party litigation funding is also expanding, with nearly 300 active funders in the EU and investment in this area projected to rise to €7 billion by 2032. This development is increasing the complexity and frequency of insurance litigation.
In June, the UK Civil Justice Council called for tighter regulation of litigation funding, highlighting the need for transparency and mandatory legal advice for claimants.
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