The plaintiffs, Dung Truong and Thuan Nguyen, sued their insurer for payment of six pieces of jewellery allegedly stolen in Vietnam.
The insurer denied the claim, arguing the plaintiffs failed to prove ownership, the theft occurred, or the value of the loss, and that the jewellery was contraband.
The court found that the insurance contract did not require re-proving ownership post-loss, and that the plaintiffs had an insurable interest.
The court also found the theft occurred as described and rejected the "contraband" defence.
The court awarded the plaintiffs the insured value of the jewellery and punitive damages, finding the insurer's denial based on an unreasonable interpretation of the contract constituted bad faith.
