Stefan Edwards (Appellant) v Trinre Insurance Company Limited (Respondent) (Trinidad and Tobago)

Permission to Appeal application lodged

Case summary
Permission to Appeal
Previous proceedings

Case summary

Case ID

JCPC/2026/0067

Jurisdiction

Trinidad and Tobago

Parties

Appellant(s)

STEFAN EDWARDS

Respondent(s)

TRINRE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

Issue

Should the High Court have permitted the co-defendant insurer to participate in a final hearing on the assessment of the quantum of damages in a running down action?

Facts

The appellant, Stefan Edwards, brought a claim for personal injury further to a vehicle collision with Derron Perreira. The respondent in this Appeal is Mr Perreira’s insurer, Trinre Insurance Company Limited (“Trinre”). Mr Edwards issued proceedings against Mr Perreira on 6 February 2023, claiming damages, interest and costs against Mr Perreira and seeking to require Trinre to indemnify Mr Perreira. The claim is said to be in the approximate amount of £25,000. Mr Perreira did not attend a preliminary court hearing and so judgment in default was entered against him on 13 March 2023, with damages to be assessed. Mr Edwards thereafter joined Trinre to the claim as a co-defendant, and initially Trinre indicated an intention to defend the claim. However, Trinre subsequently entered into a consent order with Mr Edwards on 2 May 2023, which was approved by the High Court (“the Consent Order”). Under the Consent Order, liability was agreed and the assessment of the outstanding question of quantum was transferred to a Master in the High Court for a final hearing (“the Damages Hearing”). Further to several directions, including a direction for written submissions on the extent to which Mr Perreira and Trinre could participate, the Damages Hearing took place heard on 22 November 2023. At the Damages Hearing, the Master did not permit Mr Perreira to cross-examine Mr Edwards’ witnesses, call evidence, or make submissions on quantum. However, the court did permit Trinre to cross-examine and to make submissions. Mr Edwards appealed against the Master’s decision to permit Trinre’s participation to the Court of Appeal on 29 November 2023, and the procedural appeal was dismissed in a short oral judgment by JA Rajkumar dated 19 February 2024. Mr Edwards then sought permission to appeal to the JCPC by way of a notice of motion to the Court of Appeal and this was refused by a panel of three Justices in a judgment dated 22 May 2026. Mr Edwards now seeks to appeal to the JCPC.