近日，2019年度上海法院金融商事审判十大案例公开，为十个大类金融纠纷起到指导作用。
1.证券虚假陈述民事赔偿责任的司法认定标准
Judicial Recognition Standard of Civil Compensation Liability for Securities False Statement
2.金融机构和投资者应根据各自过错对理财产品投资损失承担相应责任
Financial Institutions and Investors Should Bear Corresponding Liabilities for Investment Losses in Financial Products According to the Degree of Fault
3.保险人应依过错程度对承运人错投货损险赔偿损失
The Insurer Shall Compensate the Carrier for the Cargo Damage According to the Degree of Fault
4.银行对网上银行业务客户资料负有安全保障义务
Banks are Obliged to Ensure the Safety of Customer Information in Online Banking Business
5.保险代理人阻碍投保人履行如实告知义务应视为投保人已履行如实告知义务
If an Insurance Agent Hinders the Policyholder from Making Honest Disclosure, It Shall Be Deemed that Such Honest Disclosure Has Been Completed
6.通过网络低价招揽租车用户应认定为改变车辆用途且导致危险程度显著增加
Soliciting Rental Car Users at a Low Price Through the Network Shall Be Deemed to Have Changed Vehicle Use and Cause Significant Increase in the Risk
7.投资人应对其自行规避监管规定的“绕标”投资行为承担责任
Investors Shall Be Held Liable for Their “Bypassing the Underlying Securities” Investment Behavior that Circumvents Regulatory Provisions
8.以票据转让作为债权转让方式的保理纠纷的司法处理Judicial Settlement on Factoring Disputes over Using Bill Transfer as the Transfer of Creditor’s Rights
9.融资租赁出租人自行收回并处臵租赁物应当遵循公平原则
Judicial Settlement on Financial Lease Lessor to Recover and Dispose the Leased Assets Without Notice
10.人身保险投保人未履行如实告知义务的认定标准
Criteria for Recognition of Life Insurance Insured’s Unfulfilled Duty of Disclosure Criteria of Ascertaining Personal Insurance Applicants’ Unfulfilled Duty of Full and Accurate Disclosure
一、证券虚假陈述民事赔偿责任的司法认定标准
全国首例证券纠纷示范判决潘某等诉方正科技公司
证券虚假陈述责任纠纷案
【裁判要旨】
1.投资者在虚假陈述行为实施日至揭露日期间存在多笔买入卖出交易的，自第一笔有效买入后，以移动加权平均法计算买入均价能够更为客观地反映实际投资成本。证券市场系统风险的扣除可以根据每个投资者的持股期间和交易记录，将同期个股跌幅均值与大盘、行业指数的跌幅同步对比，用相对比例方法确定市场风险对每个投资者损失的影响程度。
2.本案系全国首例证券纠纷示范判决。对于同一虚假陈述行为引发的投资者索赔案件，法院通过示范判决确定案件的共通事实及法律适用标准，后续案件通过委托专业调解组织参照司法裁判标准进行调解，从而公正高效化解纠纷。案件审理中，引入第三方专业机构对证券投资者损失进行核定，使判决结果更具有公信力，同时较好地解决计算难问题。
【基本事实】
被告方正科技公司系在上海证券交易所上市的公司，其公开发行的股票代码为600601。2017年5月5日，中国证监会[2017]43号《行政处罚决定书》对被告方正科技公司、及其他相关责任人作出行政处罚：认为方正科技公司未按照规定披露关联交易，方正科技公司等具有信息披露违法行为。根据《企业会计准则》，方正科技公司与其28家经销商因受方正集团控制而存在关联关系。方正科技公司在各期年报及2015年半年报中未依法披露与经销商的重大关联交易事项。原告据此起诉被告要求承担证券虚假陈述民事赔偿责任。
本案系一审法院在投资者诉方正科技公司证券虚假陈述责任纠纷系列案件中选定的示范案件。经双方当事人共同申请，法院委托中证中小投资者服务中心对本案投资者的投资差额损失、是否存在证券市场系统风险及相应的扣除比例进行了核定。
【裁判结果】
上海金融法院于2019年5月5日作出（2018）沪74民初330号民事判决：被告方正科技公司赔偿潘某等四人268,536.5元。一审判决后，方正科技公司提出上诉。上海市高级人民法院于2019年8月7日作出（2019）沪民终263号民事判决：驳回上诉，维持原判。
【裁判理由】
法院认为，在审查上市公司是否构成证券虚假陈述侵权时并不以其在实施行为时存在欺诈、诱导等主观故意为必要条件，而审查的核心是未披露的信息是否属于“重大事件”，判断的标准应当是“信息披露是否足以影响投资者的投资决策或市场交易价格”。投资人在虚假陈述实施日及以后，至揭露日或者更正日之前买入与虚假陈述直接关联证券的行为应推定均受到了虚假陈述的诱导。投资者存在多笔买入卖出交易的，可采用自第一笔有效买入后的“移动加权平均法”确定证券平均买入价格。此种计算方法考虑了从实施日至揭露日整个期间内投资者每次买入证券的价格和数量，同时剔除了因卖出证券导致的盈亏问题，符合《关于审理证券市场因虚假陈述引发的民事赔偿案件的若干规定》（以下简称“《虚假陈述司法解释》”）的规定精神，能够较为客观、公允地反映投资者持股成本，避免畸高畸低的计算结果，更加被市场各方接受。关于证券市场系统风险因素扣除比例，如果采用统一比例扣除，将无法真实反映不同投资者经历的市场系统风险，导致形式公平而实质不公平的结果。因此，本案根据每个投资者的持股期间和交易记录，将同期个股跌幅均值与大盘、行业指数的跌幅同步对比，用相对比例方法确定市场风险对每个投资者损失的影响程度，所得结果更为公平合理。
【裁判意义】
本案系全国首例实施证券纠纷示范判决机制的案件。本案判决生效后至2020年4月，法院通过与中证中小投资者服务中心合作，以“示范判决+专业调解+司法确认”的方式处理涉方正科技公司虚假陈述系列案件1,300余件，高效化解矛盾纠纷，及时维护投资者权益，取得良好效果。在案件的实体处理上，本案对近年来证券虚假陈述责任纠纷中有关行政处罚与民事侵权的关系、因果关系的认定、投资差额损失的计算方法、证券市场系统风险扣除比例等诸多法律争议问题进行了深入具体的分析论证，明确了行政处罚与民事侵权行为的关系，探索确立了既符合现有法律规定又相对公平合理的投资差额损失计算方法和科学化、精细化、个性化扣除证券市场系统风险的计算方法。本案较好地解决了以往司法实践中在证券市场系统风险的扣除问题上只能以酌情认定统一比例的困扰，引入专业的定量数据分析和第三方专业机构损失核定机制，创造性地构建了精细化的损失计算方法，对同类案件具有较强的示范意义和引领作用。
Judicial Recognition Standard of Civil Compensation Liability for Securities False Statement
- The First Domestic Model Judgment on Securities Disputes: Panetal. v.
Founder Technology Corporation over Securities False Statement Liability Dispute
[Gist]
1.Where there were a number of buying and selling transactions during the period between the false statement date and the disclosure date, as of the first effective purchase, the average price of the purchase calculated by the moving weighted average method can more objectively reflect the actual investment cost. According to the holding period and trading records of each investor, the deduction of systematic risks in the securities market can be calculated by synchronously comparing the average decline of individual stocks with the decline of the market and the industry index at the same period. The impact of market risks on the loss of each investor can be determined by this relative proportion method.
2.This case is the first domestic model judgment on securities disputes. For cases caused by the same false statement in which investors claim compensation, the court determines the common facts and standards of applying the law through this model judgment. Subsequent cases are mediated by professional mediation organizations according to the judicial judgment standards, so as to resolve disputes fairly and efficiently. In the trial process, a third-party professional institution was introduced to verify the losses of securities investors, which makes the judgment more credible and simultaneously solves the problem of calculation difficulty in a better way.
[Facts]
The defendant Founder Technology Company is a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and its publicly issued stock code is 600601. On May 5, 2017, Decision for Administrative Penalty [2017] No.43 issued by China Securities Regulatory Commission imposed an administrative penalty on the defendant Founder Technology Company and other responsible persons. It’s believed that the Founder Technology Company failed in disclosing related transaction in accordance with the relevant provisions and it had information disclosure violations. According to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises, Founder Technology Company and its 28 distributors are affiliates subject to the control of Founder Group. Founder Technology Company failed to disclose such material related transactions with distributors in its annual reports and semi-annual report in 2015. The plaintiff accordingly sued the defendant for civil liability for securities false statement.
This case is a model case selected by the court of first instance in a series of disputes about liability of false statement in securities filed by investors against Founder Technology Company. Upon the joint application of both parties, the court entrusted the ISC (China Securities Investor Service Center) to verify the investor’s investment difference losses, the existence of securities market systematic risks, and the corresponding deduction ratio.
[Judgement]
On May 5, 2019, the Shanghai Financial Court rendered a civil judgement ([2018] Hu 74 Min Chu No.330), ordering the defendant Founder Technology Company to pay RMB268,536.5 to Pan and three others. After the first-instance judgment, Founder Technology Company appealed. On August 7, 2019, The Shanghai Higher People’s Court rendered a civil judgement ([2019] Hu Min Zhong No.263) to dismiss the appeal and uphold the original judgment.
[Reasoning]
The court held that, when reviewing whether a listed company constituted securities false statement tort or not, the existence of subjective intention, such as fraud and inducement at the time of conduct, is not essential. The core of the review is whether the undisclosed information is a “material event”, and the criterion for judgment should be “whether the information disclosure will be sufficient to affect investors’ investment decisions or market trading prices.” The act of buying securities directly related to the false statement is construed to be induced by the false statement on or after the false statement date, until the disclosure date or the correction date. If there are multiple buying and selling transactions of investors, after the first effective purchase, the “moving weighted average method” can be used to determine the average purchase price of securities. This calculation method takes into account the price and quantity of securities purchased by investors every time during the period from the implementation date to the disclosure date, and at the same time eliminates the profit and loss problems caused by selling
securities, which is in line with the spirit of the Several Provisions Concerning the Trial of Civil Compensation Cases of False statement in the Security Market (hereinafter referred to as Judicial Interpretation of Falsestatement)andcanmoreobjectively andfairlyreflectthe shareholding costs of investors. This avoids abnormally high and low calculation results and is more accepted by all parties in the market. Regarding the proportion of the risk factors of the securities market system, if a uniform proportional deduction is adopted, it will not be able to truly reflect the market system risks experienced by different investors, and will lead to fairness in form but not in substance. Therefore, in this case, based on the holding period and trading records of each investor, the average stock decline during the same period was synchronously compared with the decline of the market and the industry index, and the relative proportion method was used to determine the impact of market risk on the loss of each investor. The result is fairer and more reasonable.
[Significance]
This case is the first case in China to implement a model judgment mechanism of securities disputes. In this case, from effective date of the judgment to April 2020, the court, through the cooperation with the ISC (China Securities Investor Service Center), dealt with more than 1,300 false statement cases involving Founder Technology Company in the form of “model judgment + professional mediation + judicial confirmation”, thus effectively resolved conflicts and disputes, timely safeguarded investors’ rights and interests, and achieved good results. In terms of the substantive handling of the case, this case makes in-depth and concrete analysis and discussion on legal disputes, such as the relationship between administrative penalty and civil torts, the determination of causation, the calculation method of investment difference losses, and the proportion of systematic risk deduction in the securities market in recent years, clarifying the relationship between administrative penalty and civil torts, exploring and establishing the calculation method of investment difference loss which is not only in accordance with the existing law but also relatively fair and reasonable, and exploring and establishing a scientific, refined and personalized calculation method for deducting the securities market systematic risk. This case solved the problem of the past judicial practice, where the systematic risk deduction of the securities market could only be determined by the uniform proportion, introducing the professional quantitative data analysis and a third-party professional institution’s loss verification mechanism, and creatively constructing the refined loss calculation method. Therefore, this case is of strong demonstration and guiding ignificance for similar cases.
二、金融机构和投资者应根据各自过错对理财产品
投资损失承担相应责任
胡某诉甲银行、乙基金公司财产损害赔偿纠纷
【裁判要旨】
金融机构向客户销售金融产品时应当遵守投资者适当性原则，如果其未全面履行风险评级、风险提示以及推介符合客户风险承受能力的金融产品等义务，造成投资者损失的，应当承担相应责任。具有一定投资经验的投资者在明知投资风险并承诺自担投资风险的情况下，自主选择超过其风险承受能力的理财产品发生亏损的，亦应自担相应投资风险。
【基本案情】
2011年3月，胡某在甲银行处认购乙基金公司为管理人的100万元开放式基金，约定投资范围为A股、股指期货、基金、债券、权证等，胡某在交易凭条上签字确认，签名下方记载：“本人充分知晓投资开放式基金的风险，自愿办理甲银行代理的基金业务，自担投资风险”；胡某在交易凭条背面的《风险提示函》下方签字。胡某风险承受能力评级及适合购买的产品为稳健型。同日，胡某提交的《个人产品理财业务交易信息确认表》记载：“根据贵行为本人进行的风险评估结果显示，本人不适宜购买本产品。但本人认为，本人已经充分了解并清楚知晓本产品的风险，愿意承担相关风险，并有足够的风险
承受能力和投资分辨能力购买该产品。现特别声明此次投资的决定和实施是本人自愿选择，其投资结果引致风险由本人自行承担。”涉案合同文本后附《股指期货交易风险提示函》中资产委托人落款处为空白。另查明，胡某曾于2010年购买100万元与本案理财产品结构类似的基金并盈利，且担任某公司股东。再查明，2015年起，胡某开始从事股权投资，投资金额较高。之后，因涉案理财产品发生亏损，胡某以甲银行主动推介高于其风险承受能力的理财产品为由，起诉要求甲银行赔偿投资损失180,642.62元及利息。
【裁判结果】
上海市高级人民法院于2019年10月8日作出（2016）沪民再31号民事判决：甲银行赔偿胡某损失72,142.95元，驳回胡某的其余诉讼请求。
【裁判理由】
法院认为，涉案理财产品的损失分担应结合双方的过错责任的大小予以综合考量。首先，根据风险评估结果，胡某系稳健型投资者，其风险承受能力高于“保护本金不受损失和保持资产的流动性为首要目标”的保守型投资者。胡某作为具备通常认知能力的自然人，在甲银行履行风险提示义务的情况下，对其从事的交易行为的风险与上述书面承诺可能的法律后果应属明知。从胡某的投资经验来看，在购买本案系争理财产品之前，其曾经购买与本案系争理财产品风险等级相当的理财产品，并获得盈利，结合胡某曾担任某公司股东及之后从事股权投资等风险较高投资行为等情形综合考量，胡某应系具备一定经验的金融投资者，因此对系争理财产品发生亏损的风险应有所预期。在胡某书面承诺愿意自担风险，在无证据证明甲银行存在主动推介行为的情况下，按照“卖者尽责、买者自负”原则，胡某应自担涉案理财产品本金损失的主要责任。其次，甲银行在销售系争理财产品过程中风险提示手续不完备，未充分、完整地履行理财产品的风险提示义务，存在过错，应对本金损失承担相应赔偿责任，鉴于胡某本人对本金损失承担主要责任，甲银行承担的赔偿责任可以适当减轻，应承担40的赔偿责任。
【裁判意义】
近年来，金融消费者权益保护的理念不断深化，金融消费者保护机制日趋健全，金融机构的投资者适当性管理义务受到社会的广泛关注。金融机构对于金融产品的交易模式以及金融市场风险的认知能力显著高于普通金融投资者。在理财产品销售活动中，金融机构应按照监管规定的要求，做好投资者风险等级评估，在充分了解投资者的认知水平与风险承受能力的基础上，合理引导投资者从事与其认知水平与风险承受能力相适应的金融交易。法院在审理涉及金融机构投资者适当性管理义务的民事赔偿纠纷案件中，应遵循“卖者尽责、买者自负”的裁判理念与价值取向，合理界定投资者与金融机构的权利义务边界。本案中，法院在综合考量双方过错的基础上，确立了投资者与金融机构之间应按照各自的过错程度分担损失的裁判规则，体现了司法裁判在确立金融交易规则与倡导正确投资理念上的价值引领功能。
Financial Institutions and Investors Should Bear Corresponding Liabilities for Investment Losses in Financial Products According to the Degree of Fault
- Hu v. Bank A, Fund Company B on Disputes over Property Damage Compensation
[Gist]
Financial institutions should abide by the Investors Suitability Doctrine when selling financial products to clients. If they fail to fully fulfill their obligations, such as risk ratings, risk warnings, and recommending financial products that meet the customer’s risk tolerance, and cause losses to investors, they should bear corresponding liabilities. Investors with certain investment experience, knowing the investment risks and committing to assume the investment risks themselves, should also bear the corresponding investment risks if they choose financial products that exceed their risk tolerance and suffer losses.
[Facts]
In March 2011, Hu subscribed for an open-end fund of 1 million yuan from Bank A with Fund Company B as the manager, and agreed to invest in A shares, stock index futures, funds, bonds, share warrants, etc. Hu signed on the transaction receipt and stated below his signature that, “I am fully aware of the risks in investing open-end funds, voluntarily handling the fund business represented by Bank A, and bearing the investment risk”; Hu signed the Risk Reminder Letter on the back of the transaction receipt. Hu’s risk tolerance rating and suitability for purchasing products is moderate. On the same day, Hu submitted the Personal Product Financial Business Transaction Information Confirmation Form, which records “According to your risk assessment for me, I am not suitable to buy this product. However, I believe that I fully understand and clearly know the risks of this product, so I am willing to bear the relevant risks, and have adequate risk tolerance and investment resolution to purchase this product. I hereby specifically declare that the decision and implementation of this investment is my voluntary choice, and the risks arising from investment results shall be borne by myself.” Attached to the contract involved is the Stock Index Futures Trading Risk Reminder Letter, where the asset trustee’s deposit is blank. It was also found that Hu had brought RMB 1,000,000 worth of funds with a similar structure of financial products of this case in 2010 and made a profit, and he was once a shareholder of a company. It was further ascertained that since 2015, Hu began to engage in equity investment, and the investment amount was relatively high. Afterwards, due to the loss of the financial products involved in the case, Hu sued Bank A for compensation for investment losses of RMB 180,642.62 and interest on the grounds that Bank A actively promoted financial products higher than his risk tolerance.
[Judgement]
On October 8, 2019, the Shanghai High People’s Court rendered a Civil Retrial Judgment ([2016] Hu Min Zai No.31), awarding Hu damages of RMB 72,142.95 to be paid by Bank A and rejecting other claims of Hu.
[Reasoning]
The court held that the loss-sharing of the financial products involved in the case should be comprehensively considered on the basis of both parties’ fault liability. First of all, according to the outcome of the risk assessment, Hu is a moderate investor whose risk tolerance is higher than the conservative investor who “protects principal from loss and maintains the liquidity of assets as the primary goal.” As a natural person with ordinary cognitive abilities, Hu should be aware of the risks of the transactions he engaged in and the possible legal consequences of the above written commitments when Bank A fulfilled its risk warning obligations. From Hu’s investment experience, before buying the disputed wealth management product in this case, he once bought a wealth management product with the same risk level as the disputed wealth management product in this case, and made a profit. Considering the situation that Hu once served as a shareholder of a company and later engaged in risky investment such as equity investment, Hu should be a financial investor with certain experience, so the risk of loss of financial products should be expected. In the case that Hu promised in writing that he was willing to bear the risk and there was no evidence to prove that Bank A had taken active actions to recommend, Hu should bear the main responsibility for the principal loss of the financial products involved in accordance with the principle of “caveat vendor first and then caveat emptor”. Secondly, In the process of selling financial products in dispute, Bank A does not complete the procedures of risk warning, thus the risk warning obligations of financial products have not been fully and completely fulfilled. Bank A is at fault and it shall bear corresponding compensation liability for the principal loss. In view of Hu’s main responsibility for the principal loss, Bank A’s liability for compensation can be appropriately reduced, and it should bear 40% of the liability.
[Significance]
In recent years, the concept of protecting the rights and interests of financial consumers has been continuously deepened, the financial consumer protection mechanism has been gradually improved, and the investor suitability management obligation of financial institutions has been widely concerned by the society. Financial institutions have significantly higher cognitive abilities on the trading patterns of financial products and risks in financial markets than ordinary financial investors. In the sales of financial products, financial institutions should evaluate investors’ risk levels in accordance with the regulatory requirements, and reasonably guide investors to engage in financial transactions that are appropriate to their cognitive level and risk tolerance on the basis of fully understanding their cognitive level and risk tolerance. The court should follow the judgment idea and value orientation of “caveat vendor first and then caveat emptor”, and reasonably define the boundary of rights and obligations between the investor and the financial institution. In this case, on the basis of comprehensive consideration of the fault of both parties, the court established the judgment rule that investors and financial institutions should share losses according to their fault, which reflected the value guiding function of judicial judgment in establishing financial transaction rules and advocating correct investment ideas.
三、保险人应依过错程度对承运人错投货损险赔偿损失
——甲物流公司诉乙保险公司保险合同纠纷案
【裁判要旨】
保险人在与物流运输企业缔结货物运输保险合同过程中，应基于诚实信用原则，就货物运输险和物流责任险在险种、费率、保险责任、追偿等影响投保人投保的要素事项上进行告知和说明。保险人因告知披露不充分而致物流运输企业权益受损的，应承担损失赔偿责任，赔偿范围以信赖利益为限。
【基本事实】
原告甲物流公司为运输企业，就其运输货物向被告乙保险公司进行投保，乙保险公司在保险合同缔约过程中，未就货物运输险之权利义务，特别是保险利益归属向甲物流公司进行告知和说明。乙保险公司出具的物流货物保险单载明投保人为甲物流公司，被保险人为甲物流公司之货主，条款第五条“特别约定”载明：“保险人不放弃该保单项下对于事故责任人的追偿权益，仅当甲物流公司为被保货物的实际承运人的情况除外。”后甲物流公司受货主丙公司委托，运输一批橡胶货物。甲物流公司承运过程中发生交通事故，造成货物损失。甲物流公司在向丙公司赔偿完毕后，依据保险合同请求乙保险公司承担保险责任，乙保险公司以甲物流公司并非被保险人，缺乏保险利益为由拒赔。甲物流公司遂提起诉讼，请求判令乙保险公司赔偿损失208,672.56元。
【裁判结果】
上海市虹口区人民法院于2019年1月11日作出（2018）沪0109民初9552号判决：乙保险公司赔偿甲物流公司损失125,203.54元。判决后，双方当事人均未上诉，判决已发生法律效力。
【裁判理由】
法院认为，甲物流公司对于其承运的货物不享有货主的所有人利益，故其投保货物运输险自始不具有保险利益，与其利益匹配的应为物流责任险。乙保险公司作为专业保险机构，完全有能力区分两险种在保险利益归属及投保人利益保护上的不同，其在向投保人推介保险产品时应当进行如实告知和说明。结合物流货物保险单有关免于追偿条款的约定，法院有理由确信甲物流公司订立合同目的在于转移责任风险，而并非纯为第三人即货主利益投保。现甲物流公司在向货主赔偿完毕后，因欠缺保险利益而无法自其投保的货物运输险中得到赔偿，其损失发生与乙保险公司未尽告知和说明义务存在因果关系。现乙保险公司未举证证明其已就险种性质、区别及追偿风险进行告知和说明，法院认定其在承保过程中存在过错。甲物流公司在缔约时未审慎合理了解保险产品、履约中存在违约行为，亦应适用过失相抵原则，自担部分损失。综上，法院判令乙保险公司赔偿甲物流公司60％的货物损失，即125,203.54元。
【裁判意义】
货物运输险和物流责任险在保险标的、代位追偿权和保险费率上均有不同。实践中，两者的保险费率差距可达几倍甚至十几倍。部分运输企业出于节省保费考虑，选择投保货物运输险以规避运输责任风险，少数保险公司对该错投险种方式亦为明知，但仍予放任。事故发生后，承运人因无保险利益不能得到保险金赔偿，但全部损失由其自行承担亦有失公平合理，应当针对具体案情，根据双方在投保过程中的过错行为及与损害结果之间的因果关系等综合认定。本案的处理对于破解这一难题提出了一种衡平保护的思路，对于类案司法裁判提供了指引和向导，有助于引导物流保险市场有序良性发展。
The Insurer Shall Compensate the Carrier for the Cargo Damage According to the Degree of Fault
- Logistics Company A v. Insurance Company B on Dispute over Insurance Contract
[Gist]
In the process of concluding a cargo transportation insurance contract with a logistics enterprise, the insurer shall inform and explain the factors that affect the policyholder to insure, such as the types of insurance, rates, insurance liabilities, recovery of cargo transportation insurance and logistics liability insurance based on the principle of good faith. The insurer shall be liable for damages due to insufficient disclosure resulting in damage to the rights and interests of the logistics enterprise, and the scope of compensation shall be limited to reliance interests.
[Facts]
The plaintiff，logistics company A was a transportation company, which insured its transportation cargo with the defendant，insurance company B. During the signing of insurance contract, the insurance company failed to inform and explain to the logistics company A of the rights and obligations of the cargo transportation insurance, especially the ownership of insurance benefits. The insurance policy for logistics goods issued by Insurance Company B stated that applicant was logistics company A and the insured was the owner of the logistics company A’s goods. Article 5 “Special Agreement” stated：“The insurer shall not waive the recovery of equity of the person responsible for the accident under this policy, except when the logistics company A is the actual carrier of the insured goods.” Later，the logistics company A was entrusted by the cargo owner C to transport a batch of rubber goods. Logistics company A was caught in a traffic accident during the transportation process, causing loss of goods. After paying compensation to the company C, logistics company A requested the insurance company B to bear the insurance liability according to the insurance contract. The insurance company B refused the compensation on the ground that the logistics company A was not the insured and lacked insurance interests. The logistics company A then filed a lawsuit, requesting that the insurance company B be ordered to compensate the loss of RMB 208,672.56.
[Judgement]
On January11, 2019, the Shanghai Hongkou District People’s Court delivered a judgment ([2018]Hu 0109 Min Chu No.9552) : Insurance Company B should compensate Logistics Company A for the loss of RMB 125,203.54. Neither party appealed, and the judgment has become into force.
[Reasoning]
The court held that the logistics company A did not enjoy the owner’s interest in the goods which it carried, so its cargo transportation insurance did not have insurable interest from the beginning, and the logistics liability insurance should be matched with its interests. As a professional insurance institution, Insurance Company B is fully capable of distinguishing the differences in the ownership of insurance interests and the protection of the interests of policyholders, and it should inform and explain truthfully when introducing insurance products to policyholders. Combined with the agreement on the exemption of recovery clause in the logistics cargo insurance policy, the court has reason to believe that the purpose of the contract entered by the logistics company A is to transfer the risk of liability, and not to insure the interests of the third party, that is, the owner of the cargo. Now, after the compensation to the cargo owner, the logistics company A is unable to get compensation from the cargo transportation insurance it has insured due to lack of insurance benefits, and there is a causal relationship between that loss and the failure of the insurance company B to inform and explain the obligation. Now Insurance Company B has not provided evidence to prove that it has informed and explained the nature, difference and recovery risk of the insurance types, so the court held that it was at fault during the underwriting process. When logistics company A did not carefully and reasonably understand the insurance products and breach of contract in the performance of the contract, it should also apply the principle of negligence offset and bear part of its owner losses. To sum up, the court ordered the insurance company B to compensate the logistics company A for 60% of the cargo losses, i.e, 125,203.54 RMB.
[Significance]
There are some differences in subject matter, subrogation right and premium rate between cargo transportation insurance and logistics liability insurance. In practice, one premium rate may be several times or even more than ten times higher than the other. In consideration of saving premiums, some transportation companies choose to insure cargo transportation insurance to avoid the risk of transportation liability, and some insurance companies simply turn a blind eye to this although they are aware of the differences involved here. After the accident, the carrier cannot receive insurance compensation because there is no insurance benefits, but it is also unfair and unreasonable for the carrier to bear all the losses by itself. It should be comprehensively determined according to the fault behaviors of both parties in the insurance process and the causal relationship in the damage results in specific case. The handling of this case not only put forward an idea of equitable protection for solving this problem and provided guidance for judicial judgments of similar cases but also promoted the orderly and sound development of the logistics insurance market.
四、银行对网上银行业务客户资料负有安全保障义务
——丁某诉甲银行储蓄存款合同纠纷案
【裁判要旨】
涉银行卡网络盗刷案件中，生效刑事判决确定案涉交易系犯罪分子采用新型犯罪手法盗取账户资金的非授权交易，在无证据证明持卡人有可归责事由的情况下，银行未尽安全保障义务的，应对被盗刷的款项承担赔偿责任。
【基本案情】
2011年4月24日，原告丁某在被告甲银行处开立储蓄账户并领取储蓄卡。2015年9月16日7时29分至7时35分，原告账户使用短信验证码转账功能共向户名为章某的他行账户转账104,750元，同日7时49分许原告口头挂失该卡，并至上海市公安局黄浦分局经侦支队报警。经刑事案件调查，网银账户资金系犯罪分子通过非法渠道获取大量包含公民个人信息的数据，采取“撞号”手法，利用扫号软件批量尝试登陆他人网银账户，试出正确相匹配的登录名及密码。然后通过变号软件拨打通讯运营商客服电话，为他人手机开通短信过滤、短信保管等功能，再登录其网银，输入截取的银行转账验证码将其账户中的钱款转走。原告认为被告对网上银行交易的安全保障存在严重疏漏，应对原告的资金损失承担赔偿责任。被告辩称不存在违约行为，其是在验证转账所需安全要素后才进行的划款，已尽安全保障义务，原告违反信息保管义务，被告不应承担赔偿责任。
【裁判结果】
上海市黄浦区人民法院于2019年1月8日作出（2018）沪0101民初1312号民事判决：被告甲银行应赔偿原告丁某资金损失及相应利息损失。宣判后，被告甲银行提出上诉。上海金融法院于2019年5月17日做出（2019）沪74民终200号民事判决：驳回上诉，维持原判。
【裁判理由】
法院认为，甲银行向冒名者的付款行为不能产生清偿效果。在储蓄存款合同关系中，发卡行负有向持卡人提供安全用卡环境的义务，持卡人则负有妥善保管银行卡卡号、密码等银行卡信息的义务。即便丁某在其他网站使用了与案涉银行卡相同的用户名和密码，亦不能即得出丁某未尽到妥善保管自己银行卡信息的义务。被告未提供相应的证据证明丁某未尽到适当注意义务导致银行卡信息泄露，应承担举证不能的后果。根据《中华人民共和国商业银行法》第六条及《电子银行业务管理办法》第三十八条规定，被告作为专业金融机构，具有保障账户资金安全的法定义务。被告作为借记卡的发行者及相关技术、设备和交易平台的提供者，应对交易机具、交易场所、交易平台加强安全管理，并对各项软硬件设施及时更新升级，最大限度地防范资金交易安全漏洞。从双方利益衡量的角度，商业银行作为电子交易系统的开发、设计、维护者，也是从电子交易的风险中获得经济利益的一方，相较于持卡人而言,应当也更有能力采取更为严格的技术保障措施，以防范有关违法犯罪行为。
【裁判意义】
不同于物理卡交易模式，网上银行业务通常是通过持卡人预留信息的一致性来核实客户身份，但如今数据信息泄露已成为互联网领域关注的焦点，金融市场交易主体在享受互联网金融高效、便捷的同时，亦应警惕其伴随的交易风险。本案正是因犯罪分子利用非法获取的个人信息数据通过“撞库”等新型犯罪手段，盗刷网银引发的储蓄存款合同纠纷案件。银行作为电子交易平台的提供者，亦是电子交易方式的获利者，有能力且有必要采取严格的技术保障措施保障账户资金安全。本案判决明确了持卡人通过刑事判决证明系争交易为非授权交易，且在无证据证明持卡人有可归责事由的情况下，银行应承担赔偿责任，有利于督促行业提高电子交易安全保障，规范金融交易行为。当然，如银行能举证证明持卡人对上述损害有过错的，可主张减免其赔偿责任。
Banks are Obliged to Ensure the Safety of Customer Information in Online Banking Business
- Ding v. Bank A on Savings Deposit Contract Disputes
[Gist]
In the case of bank card embezzlement online, the effective criminal judgment confirmed that the transaction involved is an unauthorized one in which criminals used new criminal methods to steal account funds. In the absence of evidence to prove that the cardholder has attributable reasons, if the bank fails to fulfill its security obligations, it shall be liable for compensation for the stolen funds.
[Facts]
On April 24, 2011, plaintiff Ding opened a savings account and received a savings card at defendant A’s bank. From 7:29 to 7:35 on September 16, 2015, the plaintiff’s account transferred RMB 104,750 to a bank account from another bank with the user name of Zhang through the SMS verification code transfer function. Later at 7:49, the plaintiff was allowed to report the loss of the card orally and report to the economic investigation detachment of Huangpu Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau. According to the investigation of criminal cases, criminals obtained a large amount of data containing citizens’ personal information through illegal channels. By combining this data randomly, they tried to log in to other people’s online banking accounts in batches using number scanning software and tried out the correct matching login name and password. Using the number-changing software to call the customer service of the communication operator, they opened SMS filtering and SMS storage function for others’ mobile phones, and logged in to the online banking, then entered the intercepted bank transfer verification code to transfer the money. The plaintiff claimed that the defendant had serious negligence in the security of online banking transactions, and shall be liable for compensating the plaintiff’s financial losses. The defendant argued that there was no breach of contract. It was a transfer made after verifying the required security elements. The defendant had fulfilled the security obligations. The plaintiff violated the obligation of information safekeeping and the defendant should not be liable for compensation.
[Judgement]
On January 1, 2019, the Shanghai Huangpu District People’s Court delivered a civil judgement ([2018]) Hu 0101 Min Chu No.1312) ordering Defendant Bank A shall compensate plaintiff Ding for capital and corresponding interest losses. The defendant Bank A appealed afterwards. On May 17, 2019, the Shanghai Financial Court delivered the final Judgement ([2019]) Hu74 Min Zhong No. 200) to dismiss the appeal and uphold the original judgment.
[Reasoning]
The court held that Bank A’s payment to the imposter did not have an effect of settlement. In the relationship of savings and deposit contracts, the issuing bank is obliged to provide a safe environment for card using, while the cardholder has the obligation to properly keep bank card information such as bank card numbers and passwords. Even if Ding used the same user-name and password as the bank card involved in the case on other websites, it cannot be concluded that Ding did not fulfill his obligation to properly keep his bank card information. The defendant failed to provide corresponding evidence to prove that Ding’s failure to fulfill due diligence obligations resulted in the disclosure of bank card information, and should bear the consequences of failure to provide evidence. According to Article 6 of the Commercial Bank Law of the People’s Republic of China and Article 38 of the Administrative Measures for Electronic Banking Business, the defendant, as a professional financial institution, has the legal obligation to guarantee the safety of account funds. The defendant, as the issuer of the debit card and the provider of related technology, equipment and trading platform, should strengthen the security management of the trading equipment, places and platform, and update and upgrade the various hardware and software facilities timely to prevent the security breach in capital transactions to the greatest possible extent. From the perspective of the interests of both parties, commercial banks are the parties that obtain economic benefits from the risks of electronic transactions as the developers, designers, and maintainers of electronic transaction systems. Compared with cardholders, they should also be more capable of taking more strict technical safeguard measures to prevent related illegal and criminal acts.
[Significance]
Different from the physical card transaction model, online banking business usually verifies the identity of customers through the consistency of the cardholder’s reserved information. But now disclosure of data information has become the focus in the Internet field. While enjoying the high efficiency and convenience of Internet finance, the transaction subjects in the financial market should also be alert to the accompanying transaction risks. This case is about the savings deposit contract dispute caused by criminals using illegally obtained personal information data to steal funds in online banking through new criminal means such as “hitting the database”. As a provider of electronic trading platforms and a profitee of electronic trading methods, banks are capable and necessary to take strict technical safeguards to ensure the safety of account funds. The judgment in this case has made it clear that the cardholder should prove the disputed transaction to be unauthorized through criminal judgement, and if there is no evidence to prove that the cardholder has a cause of liability, the bank should bear the liability for compensation. This is conducive to urging the industry to improve the security of electronic transactions and standardize financial transactions. Of course, if the bank can provide evidence to prove that the cardholder is at fault for the above-mentioned damages, it can claim relief from its liability for compensation.
五、保险代理人阻碍投保人履行如实告知义务
应视为投保人已履行如实告知义务
丁某诉甲保险公司人身保险合同纠纷案
【裁判要旨】
签订人身保险合同过程中，保险代理人不按照投保人真实意思表示代填保险单证的，属于保险代理人阻碍投保人履行如实告知义务，应视为投保人已经履行如实告知义务，保险公司应予以理赔。
【基本事实】
2016年6月29日，丁某经过体检发现患有右侧甲状腺结节。2016年8月21日，张某（系丁某之配偶）作为投保人，丁某作为被保险人及受益人，向甲保险公司投保人身保险。张某投保时向保险代理人黄某出示了丁某的上述体检报告，并口头告知黄某，被保险人丁某经过体检发现有甲状腺结节。保险代理人黄某在投保书上代张某和丁某打勾，在询问事项“甲状腺或甲状旁腺疾病”位臵勾选“否”。张某和丁某在《人身保险投保书》（电子版）、《人身保险（个险渠道）投保提示书》上签字。涉案保险合同于2016年9月1日成立并生效。
投保险种中包括附加重疾险，保险期间为终身，基本保险金额为30万元等。2018年4月13日，丁某在某医院手术，确诊为右侧甲状腺恶性肿瘤。嗣后，丁某向甲保险公司申请理赔。2018年8月5日，甲保险公司出具《理赔决定通知书》，载明解除保险合同并不退还保费，不予理赔。甲保险公司将上述《理赔决定通知书》送达张某和丁某。丁某不同意上述通知，遂诉至法院要求甲保险公司支付保险金30万元。
【裁判结果】
上海市静安区人民法院于2019年1月21日作出（2018）沪0106民初33085号民事判决:甲保险公司支付丁某保险金30万元。判决后，甲保险公司提起上诉。上海金融法院于2019年6月27日作出（2019）沪74民终373号民事判决：驳回上诉，维持原判。
【裁判理由】
本案争议焦点在于甲保险公司能否以投保人未尽如实告知义务而解除合同并予以拒赔。涉案《人身保险投保书》（电子版）、《人身保险（个险渠道）投保提示书》上张某和丁某的签字均系本人所签，但上述保险单证上打勾均为保险代理人黄某代为填写。涉案保险合同签订时，投保人张某向保险代理人黄某出示了丁某的体检报告，该体检报告载明丁某患有甲状腺结节。保险代理人黄某在明知丁某患有甲状腺结节的情况下，仍代张某和丁某在投保书询问事项“甲状腺或甲状旁腺疾病”中勾选“否”，该行为系属阻碍投保人履行如实告知义务，故保险代理人黄某上述代为填写的内容不能视为投保人张某的真实意思表示，应视为张某在投保时已经履行了如实告知义务，甲保险公司应当向受益人丁某支付保险金30万元。
【裁判意义】
保险合同的射幸性决定了保险合同的签订是双方对风险认识的博弈。由于保险人和投保人自身利益的不同，掌握信息的不对称，决定了在保险活动中诚信原则至关重要。保险代理人的诚信执业，是保险人与投保人之间沟通顺畅的重要保障。保险代理人的不规范、不诚信执业，影响了被保险人的切身利益，阻碍了整个保险行业的健康发展。人身保险合同签订过程中，多有保险代理人代填保险单证的行为，如保险代理人明知被保险人患有甲状腺结节，却仍在相应位臵勾选“否”，该种不诚信执业行为系属阻碍投保人履行如实告知义务，应视为投保人已经履行了如实告知义务，保险公司应当予以理赔。本案的裁判结果从法律层面对保险代理业的诚信缺失问题进行了有效规制，维护了保险市场的诚信基石，有利于人身保险行业的持续良性发展。此外，保险代理人行为导致保险人承保“带病”保险标的发生损失的，保险人亦有权追究保险代理人的相应责任，从而遏制保险代理人不法执业的乱象。
If an Insurance Agent Hinders the Policyholder from Making Honest Disclosure, It Shall Be Deemed that Such Honest Disclosure Has Been Completed
- Ding V. Insurance Company A over Life Insurance Contract Dispute
[Case Summary]
During the execution of life insurance contract, if the insurance agent does not fill in the insurance policy according to the policyholder’s intent it shall be deemed that the policyholder has made honest disclosure and the insurance company shall pay accordingly.
[Facts]
On June 29, 2016, Ding was found to have a right thyroid nodule after health examination. On August 21, 2016, Zhang, Ding’s spouse, who was the policyholder, and Ding as the insured and the beneficiary, bought a life insurance from Huang, who was an insurance company agent. When signing the insurance contract, the policyholder showed the agent a health examination report and told that the insured was found to have thyroid nodules. On behalf of the policyholder and the beneficiary, the agent ticked a “No” for “thyroid or parathyroid diseases” in the insurance policy’s disclosure checklist. They then signed on the Life Insurance Policy (electronic version) and Reminders for Life Insurance (through personal insurance channels). The insurance contract involved in the case was established and came into force on September 1, 2016. This insurance policy also covers an additional critical illness insurance, provides life-long coverage and insures a total amount of RMB300,000. On April 13, 2018, the beneficiary received a surgery in a hospital and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the right side. Later, the beneficiary filed insurance claims. On August 5, 2018, the insurance company issued a Decision of Insurance Claims Payment, stating that they would terminate the insurance contract and not refund the premium or pay the claims. It delivered the Decision of Insurance Claims Payment to both the policyholder and the beneficiary. But the beneficiary refused to accept the decision and then filed this lawsuit, asking the insurance company to pay the insured RMB300,000.
[Judgement]
On January 21, 2019, Shanghai Jing’an District People’s Court delivered a civil judgement (No. 33085, First Instance Civil [2018], Jing’an [0106], Shanghai) which ordered the insurance company to pay RMB 300,000 to the beneficiary. The insurance company appealed. On June 27, 2019, the Shanghai Financial Court delivered the final judgement (No.373 Final Civil Case [2019], Financial Court (74), Shanghai) to dismiss the appeal and uphold the original judgment.
[Reasoning]
The central issue of this case lies in whether the insurance company could terminate the contract and refuse to pay compensation on the condition that the policyholder does not make honest disclosure.The signatures of the policyholder and the beneficiary in the Life Insurance Policy and the Reminder for Life Insurance involved in this case were all made by themselves, but the ticking of items on the insurance policy was completed by the agent. When executing the insurance contract, the policyholder offered a health report to the agent, which indicated that beneficiary had a thyroid nodule. Even if informed, the agent still ticked “No” on the questionnaire checklist on their behalf. The agent’s behavior prevented the policyholder from making honest disclosure, so what was ticked in the policy was not the policyholder’s intention. It should be deemed that the policyholder has already made honest disclosure. Therefore, the insurance company should pay 300,000 RMB to the beneficiary.
[Significance]
As a kind of aleatory contract, the insurance policy is a gambling of the two parties on the understanding of risks. Good faith is essentially important for insurance because the insurer and the insured have different expectations for interests and their information are asymmetric. Meanwhile, the agent’s honesty is an important guarantee for the smooth communication between both parties. The dishonesty and unregulated activities of insurance agents affect the vital interests of the insured and hinders the healthy development of the entire insurance industry. In executing a life insurance policy, the agents tend to fill in the policy on the parties’ behalf, which also gives rise to many dishonest behaviors as is shown in this case. The judgment of this case will help address the dishonesty issues in the insurance agency sector, preserve honesty as the cornerstone of the insurance market, and promote the healthy development of the life insurance industry. The insurance company also has the right to hold the agents accountable for the losses caused by “sick” insurance, which will help curb the illegal practices of the insurance agents.
六、通过网络低价招揽租车用户应认定为改变车辆用途且
导致危险程度显著增加
郑某诉甲财产保险公司财产保险合同纠纷案
【裁判要旨】
本案被保险车辆由承租人通过网络向不特定用户低价招揽用户，以致发生保险事故，符合法律关于保险人因保险标的用途改变可以拒赔的构成要件，保险人可以拒赔。
【基本案情】
某沪牌小型轿车为原告郑某所有。原告为该车向被告甲财产保险公司投保机动车综合商业保险，保险期间自2018年8月10日至2019
年8月9日止；《机动车综合商业保险保险单》使用性质一栏注明“非营业个人”；重要提示一栏注明“被保险机动车因改装、加装、改变使用性质等导致危险程度显著增加,应书面通知保险人并办理变更手续。”原告将上述车辆租赁给案外人宋某（微信名）。2018年12月23日，宋某将该车租赁给于某，并收取租金及押金共计3,100元。于某将该车交由肖某驾驶。2018年12月23日23时40分许，肖某驾驶该车时因避让动物导致车辆与山体相撞,造成车辆损坏的事故。某市公安局交警大队认定肖某负全部责任。宋某在其微信朋友圈发布各款汽车图片，并配有相关招揽租车的广告文字。
【裁判结果】
上海市闵行区人民法院于2020年1月24日作出（2019）沪0112民初18496号民事判决：驳回郑某的诉讼请求。判决后，双方当事人均未上诉，判决已发生法律效力。
【裁判理由】
法院认为：被告应否在本案中承担赔偿责任，需要明确以下问题：1.被保险车辆的用途是否改变；2.如果被保险车辆的用途改变，是否因此导致危险程度显著增加；3.危险程度虽然增加，但是否属于保险人预见或应当预见的保险合同承保范围。关于被保险车辆的用途是否改变的问题，原告投保时双方约定系争车辆的用途为“非营业个人”。从行业规范来看，公安部发布的《中华人民共和国公共安全行业标准机动车类型术语和定义》中明确“非营运机动车是指个人或者单位不以获取利润为目的而使用的机动车”，该规范所附的《机动车使用性质细类表》中列明营运类机动车包括租赁。系争车辆出租于案外人宋某，宋某又将系争车辆转租于次承租人，使用性质已经不同于原、被告双方约定的“非营业个人”，而是转变为以获取租金收益为目的的商业性使用。关于被保险车辆的用途改变是否导致危险程度显著增加且超出保险人应当预见范围的问题。本案中，系争车辆危险程度的增加体现在以下方面：首先，宋某通过网络发布广告，向不特定人员低价招揽租车用户的方式客观上大幅提高了车辆的出行频率、扩大了出行范围，车辆在运行过程中出险的几率也相应大幅提高。其次，系争车辆用途的改变同时伴随着车辆管理人与使用人的改变。无证据证明宋某对次承租人进行风险管控。因此，系争车辆管理人的改变也足以导致危险机率的提高，而原告与宋某对危险几率的提高均采取了放任的态度。在此情况下，系争车辆危险程度的增加完全超出了保险人可预见的范围，如果由保险人来承担风险，将违反财产保险合同中对价平衡的原则，不利于保险业的健康长久稳定发展。
【裁判意义】
本案确立了对保险人能否因保险标的用途改变而拒赔的精细化的裁判标准。首先，明确了保险人在此情况下拒绝赔偿的构成要件是：1.被保险车辆的用途改变；2.被保险车辆用途的改变导致危险程度显著增加；3.增加的危险超出保险人预见或者应当预见的保险合同承保范围。其次，明确了衡量被保险车辆用途改变的方法是：对照保险合同的约定检验实际用途，并结合相关的行业规范运用法律解释学的方法，以动态发展的眼光作精细化地评判。
Soliciting Rental Car Users at a Low Price Through the Network Shall Be Deemed to Have Changed Vehicle Use and Cause Significant Increase in the Risk
-Zheng A v. Property Insurance Company A on Dispute over Property Insurance Contract
[Gist]
In this case, the lessee of the insured vehicle solicited users at a low price from unspecified users through the network, resulting in an insurance accident, which complies with the constitutive elements of the law that the insurer can refuse to pay compensation due to the change of the use of the interests insured, and the insurer may refuse to pay compensation.
[Facts]
A small car of Shanghai license plate is owned by the plaintiff Zheng A. The plaintiff insured the motor vehicle comprehensive commercial insurance with the defendant Property Insurance Company A, covering the period from August 10, 2018 to August 9, 2019. The column of use character of Motor Vehicle Comprehensive Commercial Insurance Policy indicates “non-business personal”. The column of important notice indicates that “if the risk level of the insured motor vehicle increases significantly due to modification, retrofitting, change of use character, etc., the policyholder shall inform the insurer in writing and apply for a change.” The plaintiff leased the aforesaid vehicle to a third party, a person other than those directly involved in the case, named Song A (WeChat name). On December 23, 2018, Song leased the car to Yu A and collected the rent and deposit totaling CNY 3,100 yuan. Then Xiao A drove off in the car. At about 11:40p.m. on December 23, 2018, the vehicle collided with the side of a hill in an attempt to to avoid animals, resulting in an accident of damage to the vehicle. The traffic police brigade of a city public security bureau held Xiao fully liable.Song posted pictures of various cars in his WeChat Moments, along with relevant advertising words for soliciting rental cars users.
[Judgement]
On January 24, 2020, Shanghai Minhang District People’s Court rendered a civil judgement ([2019] Hu 0112 Min Chu No. 18496) rejecting the claim of Zheng A. Neither party appealed, and the Judgement has come into force.
[Reasoning]
The Court held that, to determine whether the defendant shall bear the liability for compensation in this case, the following issues need to be clarified: 1. Whether the use of the insured vehicle has been changed; 2. If the use of the insured vehicle has been changed, whether it results in a significant increase of the risk; 3. Although the risk increases, whether it is covered by the insurance contract that the insurer foresees or shall have foreseen. Regarding whether the use of the insured vehicle has been changed, the parties agreed that the use of the disputed vehicle shall be “non-business individual” at the time of insurance. From the perspective of industry standards, The People’s Republic of China Public Safety Industry Standard for Types of Motor Vehicle – Terms and Definitions
issued by the Ministry of Public Security clearly states that “non-business motor vehicles” refer to the motor vehicles that individuals or units do not use for obtaining profits”, the Detailed List of Motor Vehicle Utility Nature attached to the specification specifies that the operating motor vehicles include rental. The dispute vehicle was rented to the outsider Song, who subleased the dispute vehicle to the sublessee. The utility nature of the vehicle changed from the “non-business individual” agreed by the plaintiff and the defendant into commercial use to obtain rental income.The change in the use of the insured vehicle caused a significant increase in the risk and exceeded what insurer should have foreseen. In this case, the additional risk of the disputed vehicle has been reflected in the following aspects: Firstly, Song advertised through the network to solicit car rental users at a low price towards general people which has objectively and significantly increased the driving frequency and expanded the range, as a result, the probability of a vehicle in risk during operation was also greatly increased. Secondly, as the vehicle use changed, the custodian and operator also changed. No evidence prove that Song has ever done the risk control on the sublessee. Therefore, the change of the disputed vehicle custodian is enough to lead to the increase in the risk, and both the plaintiff and Song treated the increase of the risk in a laissez-faire way. Under this circumstance, the increase in the risk of the disputed vehicle completely goes beyond the provision of the insurer. To let the insurer bear the risk will violate the principle of balance of consideration in property insurance contract, which is not conducive for the insurance industry to develop healthily for a long time.
[Significance]
This case sets the detailed standard of judgement for whether the insurer can refuse compensation for the change of the use of the subject-matter insured. Firstly, it clarifies the factor of liability about insurer’s refusal for compensation under such a circumstance: 1. Insured vehicles are used for a different purpose; 2. Danger level of the insured vehicle significantly increased due to the change of its use; 3. The additional risk goes beyond the coverage of the insurance contract that the insurer foresees or shall foresee. Secondly, it clarifies the method of assessing the change of the use of insured vehicles: check the practical us
