https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/widow-given-more-time-court-pursue-406k-insurance-claims-chubb-insurance-singapore-4194956
A general view of the Supreme Court from across the Singapore River on Sep 23, 2022. (File photo: CNA/Try Sutrisno Foo)
SINGAPORE: A widow who sought accidental death benefits from the company that insured her late husband was awarded more time by the court to press her claim on Thursday (Mar 14).
Mr Teng Boon Thye, 58, had died after riding his bicycle into a drain in 2021.
However, Chubb Insurance Singapore disputed the claims of about S$406,000 (US$305,000) from the two policies her late husband was insured under.
Madam Lee Hui Chin, 60, submitted claims to the insurer, but the company obtained a report listing causes of death that it used to reject the claims, saying the man had died from sickness, which was not covered under the policies.
Mdm Lee's daughter, Ms Rachel Teng, consulted lawyers and later filed notices of arbitration with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) over the two polices.
But the insurer made further objections including that Ms Teng was not the policy holder and could not commence arbitration proceedings.
Mdm Lee, who holds the policies for her husband, applied to the High Court under the Arbitration Act to extend the time fixed to refer disputes to arbitration.
In a judgment issued on Thursday, Justice Chua Lee Ming allowed her application.
Mr Teng fell while riding his bicycle on Apr 2, 2021 and was found unconscious in an uncovered drain.
He was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and did not regain consciousness. He was removed from life support a week later and died.
According to his daughter, 25-year-old Ms Teng, the treating doctors at the hospital had said Mr Teng died as a consequence of the injuries sustained in the accident.
An MRI scan on Apr 4, 2021 showed a spinal cord injury and the MRI report also referenced changes in Mr Teng's lungs, chest fractures and cardiac arrest.