Indie trial: Clarkson gives third day of testimony

Patricia Clarkson, former Independent group claims manager, took to the witness stand for a third day.

She faced cross examination from counsel for both ex-chairman Michael Bright and former deputy managing director Philip Condon.

Bright’s counsel Ian Winter QC turned the courts attention to a particular list of claims that appeared on Independents famous whiteboards.

Clarkson confirmed that the information contained on the whiteboard lists included the circumstances and value of the claim, the reason it hadn’t been registered onto the system proper and the date it was up for review.

Winter used a particular claim related to a Mont Blanc tunnel fire as a reference point. There was an estimate of $800,000 placed on this claim.

It had already emerged earlier in the trial that in major international cases part of the information needed to assess claims was provided by media coverage.

Winter also asserted that the practice of recording claims on the whiteboard, keeping them there until all the relevant information was obtained, and finally registering them and removing them from the whiteboard, was a normal way of processing claims.

Next to cross examine Clarkson was Gareth Rees QC, Condon’s defence counsel.

Rees began by telling the jury that Condon was supportive of Clarkson’s career and even recommended her for a position at the Motor Insurance Bureau.

In response to a question about the level of pressure concerning a block on any reserve increases, Clarkson said between 1997 and 2001 she was under constant pressure at varying degrees.

Towards the end of the day, Judge Rivlin asked Clarkson to confirm if during her time at Independent there was any significant period when she wasn’t in contact with Condon. She said there was not.