UCL - Insurance Law

[DROP2022]

[30h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Vincent Callewaert, Vincent Callewaert(supplée Bernard Dubuisson), Bernard Dubuisson

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

By the end of the class, the student must be able to:
- Master the legal and regulatory framework related to the contract of insurance as well as the particular features thereof,
- Understand and explain the specific rules governing this contract, from the angle of the respective obligations of the contracting parties
- Understand the relationship between these particular rules and the general law of contracts,
- Read and understand the clauses of a contract of insurance in order to deliver an appreciation on their clarity and validity

This course is part of a consistent optional bloc made up of three courses. The professors form a teaching team: they confer with each other on both the content and the methods of each class so as to ensure the courses complement each other. The course relies on participating educational methods (project or case studies, case law analysis, comments of articles, debates with guests, etc.) enabling the student to develop by himself a critical, prospective and creative look. The students are encouraged to actively participate to the class and to involve themselves into the learning process, which combines both a collective and an individual dimension. At this prospect, the professors in the different optional blocs confer with each other within the law faculty about the pedagogic measures carried out.

Main themes

The course begins by an introduction which consists of a brief historical overview of insurance and a set of reflections on the economic and social function of insurance and on the control of insurance business. Thereafter, the course systematically examines the general rules applicable to the contract of insurance, such as they are set forth in the Contract of Insurance Act of 25 June 1992.
Rules commonly applicable to all insurance contracts will be examined first (duty of disclosure, premiums, filing of accident claim, benefits and end of the contract). Then, the course goes on with the study of the rules related to some particular types of insurance (lump sum insurance or indemnity insurance and property-casualty insurance or personal insurance).

Within the category of property-casualty insurance, a particular attention will be paid to property insurance and liability insurance.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

As a prerequisite, the course assumes the knowledge of the general law of contracts and torts, such as they are taught in the baccalaureate.

Given that the course of insurance law ensures the basic training in insurance, the course will be taught in the form of lectures, which does not prevent students from actively participate by way of questions & answers.

There is no specific syllabus attached to the course. A bundle of document is available to the students though. This bundle contains a set of documents used in the daily practice (notice of expiration, receipt) in addition to insurance policies.