A high-profile insurance dispute between actor and director Til Schweiger and specialty insurer Hiscox has reached a preliminary conclusion at the Munich I Regional Court. The court awarded Schweiger approximately €386,000. With interest, the amount has now grown to around €480,000. The verdict is not yet final (Case No: 23 O 18729/19).
The case originated from two consecutive damage events at Schweiger's secondary residence in Berlin. In July 2014, a pipe burst caused water to penetrate the building structure. Months later, in March 2015, a fire broke out when the heating system was restarted, causing further damage to inventory and the building.
Several insurance policies with Hiscox covered the property, including a policy for building fixtures with a sum insured of €300,000, as well as household contents and valuables insurance. The household contents insurance paid out in 2016. But the case wasn't closed there.
Schweiger subsequently claimed extensive additional costs he attributed to the two damage events. These included expenses for floor construction, electrical and plumbing work, interior design, and architect and planning fees. In total, the claims amounted to over €540,000. Hiscox, however, argued that the damage had already been fully settled, that the claim was time-barred, and that pre-existing damage had to be considered.
The Munich I Regional Court largely followed Schweiger's argumentation. The submitted invoices were "largely plausible," the judges stated. A key point was that the claimed costs significantly exceeded the agreed sum insured for building fixtures.
The awarded sum of €386,929.57 primarily results from additional ancillary construction costs, which the court ruled the insurer must also bear. However, individual items were not recognized. A significant part of the judgment deals with the detailed examination of individual cost items. The contractually agreed deductible of €1,000 was also deducted from the total amount.
On the central dispute over the statute of limitations, the court also did not follow the insurer's argument. The three-year limitation period only began at the end of 2016, when the household contents insurance paid out. The lawsuit filed on December 30, 2019, was therefore within the deadline.
For you as a policyholder, this case offers important lessons. First, document everything meticulously—Schweiger's detailed invoices and cost breakdowns were key to his success. Second, understand that a single insurance policy may not cover all types of damage from complex events like a pipe burst followed by a fire. Third, don't assume that an initial payout closes the case; you may be entitled to additional compensation for ancillary costs. Finally, be aware of limitation periods—they don't always start when you think they do. If you have a complex claim, professional legal advice can make a significant difference in securing the full compensation you're entitled to.