West of England Shipowners Mutual Insurance Association (Luxembourg) v Cristal Ltd: ComC 25 Jan 1995

cw Contract – contractual rights – fulfilment of conditions – freedom to fulfil bargain – court action precluded – ouster clauses – arbitration – term – construction – one party sole arbitrator of construction – contrary to public policy – exceptions – international contract – public policy – application
The parties disputed a contract providing compensation for oil pollution losses. It was between oil companies who contributed to the fund and its administrators, Cristal. It provided that Cristal was to ‘be the sole judge in accordance with these terms of the validity of any claim made hereunder’. The claimant association made a claim which Cristal rejected. It was accepted that the association was to be treated as a party to the contract.

Judges:

Waller J

Citations:

[1995] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 560, Lloyd’s List March 15 1995

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Reversed on AppealWest of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association (Luxembourg) v Cristal Ltd (The Glacier Bay) CA 26-Oct-1995
An agreement giving to a ‘sole judge’ the power to make a final decision was effective, and there was no appeal from his decision. The defendant’s decision in his capacity as Convention administrator was as a final arbiter and was unreviewable.

Cited by:

Appeal fromWest of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association (Luxembourg) v Cristal Ltd (The Glacier Bay) CA 26-Oct-1995
An agreement giving to a ‘sole judge’ the power to make a final decision was effective, and there was no appeal from his decision. The defendant’s decision in his capacity as Convention administrator was as a final arbiter and was unreviewable.
Appeal fromWest of England Shipowners Mutual Insurance Association (Luxembourg) v Cristal Ltd CA 1996
A contract had been set up to provide compensation for oil pollution losses. It was between oil companies who contributed to the fund and its administrators, Cristalwho was to ‘be the sole judge in accordance with these terms of the validity of any . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Contract, Arbitration

Updated: 29 April 2022; Ref: scu.182568