论英美保险法之禁止反言规则

The Estoppel Rule in Anglo-American Insurance Law

禁止反言是指保险人在先的作为或不作为导致被保险人相信其不会行使解除权或抗辩权,则法官不应支持保险人此后解除合同或抗辩的规则。禁止反言要求保险人"外观知晓",并要求被保险人存在对保险人行为的信赖和对被保险人造成损害。禁止反言也要求保险人具有明确的行为,这些行为包括保险人交付保单时,明知合同存在无效仍然收取保费、交付保单;保险代理人就合同有关问题错误解释或对投保单作假;保险人依被保险人请求或依协议应为一定行为,其未为却告知被保险人已为;保险人提出保险建议等。

Estoppel refers to the rule according to which, if an insurer has, through a previous action or inaction, led an insured to believe that he will not exercise the right of cancellation or the right of defense, the judge shall not allow the insurer to exercise such rights later. The estoppel rule requires the insurer＇ s ＂ap- pearance of knowledge＂, the insured＇ s trust on the insurer＇ s act, and damage to the interest of the insured as the precondition for its application. It also requires explicit act on the part of the insurer. The article also makes a distinction between abstention and estoppel.