JAMES Hird has brought $640,000 Supreme Court proceedings against Essendon's insurer, demanding that it pay his legal costs arising out of the club's supplements saga.

Hird filed court documents last week seeking that Chubb Insurance cover the cost of: 

• His failed Federal Court application last year – $573,588.
• His failed Federal Court appeal – $68,552.
• The AFL's expenses in providing him with subpoenaed documents pursuant to his Federal Court application – $32,470.

Hird's latest legal action comes after Chubb earlier this year refused to pay the above costs.

The insurer argued that Essendon's policy only covered club executives for legal costs incurred as defendants and not as claimants.

Hird and Essendon launched Federal Court proceedings last June, seeking to have the joint AFL-Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation into the club's 2011-12 supplements program declared illegal.

When Justice John Middleton ruled against Hird and the Bombers, Hird appealed on his own last October to the Full Federal Court.

The Full Federal Court dismissed Hird's appeal and the Bombers coach subsequently declined to take his case to the High Court.

Hird is suing Chubb for breaching its insurance contract with Essendon.