Legal experts are divided over the impact of a ruling by the United Kingdom's highest court that insurers must pay a claim despite a policyholder's false statement supporting that claim.

Peter Halprin, an attorney with Anderson Kill P.C. in New York, noted that the high court rendered the decision just before the Insurance Act takes effect Aug. 1, which makes it harder for insurers to deny claims.

“England, which is traditionally considered a pretty harsh environment for policyholders, including U.S. policyholders, is moving in a more favorable direction,” he said. “English law which has kind of a draconian reputation is trying to move away from that and inject some proportionality into insurance disputes.”

To read the article: Truth suffers collateral damage