projets
ATA/201/1995 ΓÇó Expert costs charged to insurer for reckless conduct
ATA/201/1995Cour de justice / Chambre administrative11 avr. 1995Partially Granted
The dispute concerned the allocation of expert costs in an accident insurance matter. The insurer had appointed a super-expert but then refused to follow that expert's opinion. The court held that this conduct was, at minimum, careless within the meaning of Art. 108(1)(a) LAA. As a result, the expert costs were charged to the insurer.
Art. 108 al. 1 lit. a LAA; allocation of expert costs in accident insurance proceedings. A party that, after having itself appointed a super-expert, disregards that expert’s opinion acts at least carelessly within the meaning of the provision. Such conduct justifies charging the expert costs to that party, even if its behaviour cannot be qualified as outright reckless. The decisive factor is the objectively negligent disregard of the expert assessment; the statutory cost-shifting mechanism applies where the party’s conduct has occasioned unnecessary expert proceedings (consid. not stated).
Descripteurs
ASSURANCE SOCIALE; ACCIDENT; AA; FRAIS DE LA PROCEDURE; EXPERTISE
Normes
LAA.108
Résumé
En refusant de suivre l'avis du surexpert qu'elle avait elle-même désignée, l'intimée a agi, sinon témérairement, mais du moins à la légère au sens de l'art.108 al.1 litt.a LA. En conséquence, les frais d'expertise ont été mis à sa charge.