General Secretariat of the Committees for Resolution of Insurance Disputes and Violations has announced the launch of Center for Settlement of Lawsuits at the Secretariat General for resolution of lawsuits filed by individuals against insurance companies, Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The center will deal with the cases of disputes arising from insurance contracts on vehicles owned by individuals. According to the rules specified in the procedures for reaching settlements, the compensation claim should not exceed SR50,000. In its statement, the Secretariat General for Committees said that the Center has started receiving applications for settlement via the Secretariat General's website www.idc.gov.sa as of April 24, 2019 (corresponding to Shaban 19, 1440H). It further said that this service is deemed one of the alternative means for the amicable settlement of insurance disputes. The Secretariat General for Committees had signed agreements with the licensed insurance companies working in the Kingdom to ensure that they comply with the suggestions in the settlement of insurance lawsuits. The Center has experienced and qualified conciliators to work independently and impartially to study insurance disputes and suggest a settlement to the service seeker. This service does not prevent individuals from availing of their right to resort to the specialist insurance committees, if they reject the settlement proposal by the conciliator. The Secretariat General for Committees said that the most prominent privileges provided by the Center include receiving all the applications for a settlement from all parts of the Kingdom electronically. The applications will be processed without the need for the litigants' presence or visiting the offices of the Secretariat General for Committees. Individuals have the right to accept or reject the settlement proposals or request to resort to the insurance committees. After approval by the service seeker and attestation by the insurance committee, the settlement minutes will be considered to be a final document ending the dispute. It cannot be appealed against before any judicial authority. The Secretariat General for Committees said that there are several conditions for availing these services. They include the fact that the lawsuit should be filed by an individual against insurance companies that have signed a membership agreement with the Settlement Center. The dispute should have arisen from an insurance contract for vehicles owned by individuals. The compensation claim should not exceed SR50,000. The application should have been submitted within one year from the date of eligibility for compensation. The applications for compensation should not be related to blood money or physical harm. — SG
