Chan Kum Fook and Others v Welfare Insurance Company Ltd

• Jurisdiction: Singapore
• Judge: Tan Ah Tah J
• Judgment Date: 20 September 1975
• Neutral Citation: [1975] SGHC 11
• Citation: [1975] SGHC 11
• Date: 20 September 1975
• Published date: 19 September 2003
• Plaintiff Counsel: Karuppan Chettiar (Murphy & Dunbar)
• Docket Number: Civil Suit No 1737 of 1972
• Defendant Counsel: M Coomaraswamy (Rodyk & Davidson)
• Court: High Court (Singapore)
• Year: 1975

In this case the first and second plaintiffs were employees of the Century Engineering Co (the company). The company was the owner of a motor van No SGB 2099 which was being driven by one Yong Chan Seng, a driver employed by the company. The first and second plaintiffs were by reason of or in pursuance of a contract of employment with the company travelling as passengers in the motor van which was being driven by Yong Chan Seng from the premises of the company, which was their employer, to a worksite where they were to carry on work as employees of the company. Owing to the negligence of Yong Chan Seng the motor van ran off the road and crashed into a tree resulting in the first and second plaintiffs sustaining bodily injuries. The third plaintiff who was the father of the second plaintiff was put to loss and expense.

The three plaintiffs commenced two separate proceedings claiming damages against the owner of the motor van and Yong Chan Seng. The two actions were consolidated and eventually judgment for damages was obtained by all three plaintiffs against the owner of the motor van and Yong Chan Seng.

The motor van was insured under a policy issued by the defendants and the present action has been brought by the three plaintiffs who are relying, inter alia, on s 4(3) and s 8(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act (Cap 88, 1970 Ed) (the Act).

It is submitted by counsel for the defendants that because of the wording of exception (ii) to s II of the policy the defendants are not liable to make any payment to the plaintiffs.

Exceptions (ii) and (iii) to s 11 read as follows:

The Company shall not be liable in respect of

(i) ...

(ii) death of or bodily injury to any person in the employment of the Insured arising out of...