Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Insurance
-
May 07, 2024
Climate Cases Haven't Hurt Oil, Gas Credit Quality, S&P Says
Climate change litigation has skyrocketed over the past 10 years, increasing climate litigation risk, but the credit quality of the oil and gas sector has remained unaffected, S&P Global Ratings concluded in a report published Tuesday.
-
May 07, 2024
AIG Insurers Near Deal With Foam Co. Over MDL Coverage
Firefighting foam company Tyco Fire Products LP and a group of AIG insurers have reached a tentative settlement that would resolve a dispute over coverage of multidistrict litigation involving Tyco over so-called forever chemicals, according to a notice filed Tuesday in South Carolina federal court.
-
May 07, 2024
Insurer Cites Discovery Law In Info Bid For Accident Claim
A Canadian government-backed insurer is urging an Arizona court to force the state's Department of Transportation to provide documents or testimony in an arbitration stemming from an ex-professional soccer player's claim for damages after he was injured in a hit-and-run accident in Scottsdale in 2016.
-
May 07, 2024
Cashless Pay Co., Axis Toss Securities Action Coverage Row
An electronic payments company and Axis Insurance Co. voluntarily tossed their dispute Tuesday over coverage for a consolidated securities action and other claims alleging that certain company executives breached their fiduciary duties through financial reporting and accounting failures.
-
May 07, 2024
Cigna Escapes Post-Judgment Accounting Bid In ERISA Row
A federal judge in Connecticut has denied a bid by a class of 25,000 Cigna Corp. workers for post-judgment discovery in an ERISA feud that has stretched on for 23 years, shutting down claims that the insurer violated court orders by improperly calculating award payments to class members.
-
May 07, 2024
Insurer Seeks Hearing Cancellation In Arbitrator Bias Dispute
An insurer seeking the removal of an arbitrator in a Bermuda reinsurance coverage dispute told the Second Circuit on Tuesday that a hearing on the issue should be canceled as an award was issued in the arbitration, rendering the dispute moot.
-
May 07, 2024
Organic Grocery Chain Settles COBRA Notice Suit For $400K
An organic grocery store chain will pay $400,000 to close a proposed class action claiming it regularly failed to alert workers that they could extend their health insurance benefits if their coverage ended after losing their jobs, according to a Pennsylvania federal court filing.
-
May 07, 2024
Contract's 1-Year Limit Doesn't Block NC Mold Claims
A North Carolina appeals court on Tuesday reinstated a couple's suit against a contractor they say failed to remediate water and mold damage in their house, saying the trial court was wrong to find that the contract's one-year limitation on claims applied to the state's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
-
May 07, 2024
Policy Dispute Should Be Heard In Wash., Colo. Judge Says
A Colorado federal court has tossed an insurer's suit seeking a declaration that it doesn't owe $4 million in coverage to a climbing equipment manufacturer and its primary insurer, finding that a related case in Washington state court provides a better opportunity to resolve the parties' dispute.
-
May 07, 2024
Title Insurer Gets Partial Win Against Lender In Lien Dispute
A lender seeking coverage from its title insurer for mechanic's lien claims after the owner of a senior living community defaulted on its $26 million construction loan can only potentially get coverage under a disbursement endorsement in its policy, a Colorado federal court ruled, finding an exclusion applicable.
-
May 07, 2024
Margolis Edelstein Gets Rehearing In Del. Malpractice Case
Delaware's Supreme Court has granted Margolis Edelstein's bid for a rehearing by the full five-justice court of an April ruling that revived an insurer's malpractice suit claiming its incompetence caused the insurer to have to settle a case for $1.2 million.
-
May 06, 2024
Colo. Court Order Smashes Atty-Client Privilege, Insurer Says
The Colorado Supreme Court has agreed to take up an appeal of a Denver trial court order in a construction insurance case that an insurer warns would "eviscerate privilege protection for the vast majority of attorney-client privileged communications in society."
-
May 06, 2024
NOLA Can't Arbitrate $51M Airport Defect Row With Insurers
A Louisiana federal judge granted a group of insurers a preliminary injunction Monday, relieving them from forced arbitration in a dispute over alleged design defects at a new $1 billion terminal of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
-
May 06, 2024
Ga. Insurance Agency Hit With Suit Over 'Unwanted Calls'
A Georgia-based insurance agency was hit with a proposed class action Monday alleging it makes "aggressive" telemarketing calls to seniors advertising final expense and life insurance products, even when the seniors are on the national do-not-call list or ask that the calls stop.
-
May 06, 2024
Party Co.'s Trackless Train Claims Not Covered, Judge Says
An underwriter doesn't owe coverage to a Las Vegas-based party rental business for claims stemming from an overturned trackless train at a birthday party, a Nevada federal court has ruled, saying the company failed to maintain its business license at the time of the accident as required by the policy.
-
May 06, 2024
Margolis Edelstein Wants Redo Of Malpractice Ruling In Del.
Margolis Edelstein wants the Delaware Supreme Court to reconsider its decision reviving an insurer's malpractice suit claiming its incompetence caused the insurer to have to settle a case for $1.2 million, and is asking the full court to rehear the matter.
-
May 06, 2024
Meet The Attys For NC Insurance Mogul Facing Bribery Retrial
Nearly two years after the Fourth Circuit exonerated Greg E. Lindberg on bribery and wire fraud charges, a team of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP partners with prosecution experience has joined forces with prominent white collar defense lawyer James F. Wyatt lll in hopes of staving off a second conviction for the embattled insurance tycoon.
-
May 06, 2024
AIG Unit Will Arbitrate $20M Botched Tunnel Project Claims
An AIG unit agreed to go to arbitration with a Michigan county's water resources agency and sewage disposal system over their claims they incurred more than $20 million in damages due to a design contractor's faulty work on a tunnel project.
-
May 06, 2024
Cheese Supplier, Chubb Unit Settle Salad Recall Coverage Suit
A New York federal court tossed a cheese supplier's suit seeking coverage from a Chubb unit for costs associated with the recall of tainted salad kits sold to Sam's Club, saying the parties have settled all claims.
-
May 03, 2024
Boeing Can't Avoid Pre-Conception Toxic Birth Defect Claims
A Washington state judge said Friday that the child of two Boeing factory workers can sue the aerospace giant for negligence based on harm he allegedly suffered before he was conceived, allowing him to accuse the company of failing to warn his parents about toxic chemicals they were exposed to on the job.
-
May 03, 2024
Freddie Mac, Insurer Settle $32M SEC Probe Coverage Dispute
Government-backed lender Freddie Mac told a Washington, D.C., federal court Friday that it has settled with an insurer in a $32 million coverage suit stemming from civil actions and federal probes around its collapse during the 2008 global financial crisis.
-
May 03, 2024
Mich. Justices Reject Agency's 'Secret' Meeting Settlement
The Michigan Supreme Court said Friday that a county road commission's settlement with three of its insurers over a coverage dispute was not binding because the commission — a public body — never voted to approve it in a public meeting.
-
May 03, 2024
How Big IP Judgment Winners Are Insuring 'Nuclear Verdicts'
Until a few years ago, intellectual property plaintiffs who scored large monetary awards — often referred to as "nuclear verdicts" — had to wait out a lengthy appellate process before knowing how much money they would end up with. But a relatively new type of insurance policy is allowing plaintiffs to insure part of their judgment in case it gets reduced or wiped out on appeal.
-
May 03, 2024
Colo. Justices' Med Mal Cap Ruling A Win For Patients
The Colorado Supreme Court's recent decision prohibiting trial courts from considering an injured patient's insurance liabilities before imposing the state's $1 million medical malpractice damages cap was the right call, experts say, and prevents an unfair windfall for negligent health care providers.
-
May 03, 2024
Berkshire Hathaway Countersuit Tossed From Contractor Spat
A California federal judge tossed Berkshire Hathaway's counterclaims in a $17 million coverage dispute with a fiber optic network developer over an unfinished project, ruling that the insurer failed to meet heightened standards after claiming the developer conspired to prevent the contractor from performing its work.
Expert Analysis
-
Breaking Down 4th Circ. Pendent Appellate Jurisdiction Ruling
As illustrated by the Fourth Circuit's recent decision in Elegant Massage v. State Farm, denying class certification and granting a motion to dismiss, federal appellate courts continue to struggle with defining the scope of pendent appellate jurisdiction — or jurisdiction over nonfinal orders below, says Joan Steinman at the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
-
Notable Q1 Updates In Insurance Class Actions
Mark Johnson and Mathew Drocton at BakerHostetler discuss notable insurance class action decisions from the first quarter of the year ranging from salvage vehicle titling to rate discrimination based on premium-setting software.
-
6th Circ. Bias Ruling Shows Job Evaluations Are Key Defense
In Wehrly v. Allstate, the Sixth Circuit recently declined to revive a terminated employee’s federal and state religious discrimination and retaliation claims, illustrating that an employer’s strongest defense in such cases is a documented employment evaluation history that justifies an adverse action, says Michael Luchsinger at Segal Mccambridge.
-
FDIC Bank Disclosure Rules Raise Important Questions
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s new rules mandating disclosures for nonbanks offering deposit products leave traditional financial institutions in a no-man's land between fintech-oriented requirements and the reality of personal service demanded by customers, say Paul Clark and Casey Jennings at Seward & Kissel.
-
Why RWI Insurers Should Consider Excluding PFAS
As regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances escalates, carriers providing representations and warranties insurance should reconsider providing PFAS coverage on a case-by-case basis, say Dave Bartoletti and Ina Avalon at Taft Stettinius.
-
Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert
As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
-
Series
Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
-
Parsing Insurance Issues After Mass Shooting 'Occurrences'
A Florida district court’s recent decision in Tony v. Evanston Insurance, which held that the 2018 Parkland High School mass shooting was a single "occurrence" under the town's commercial general liability policy, sheds light on how other courts may make this determination following other mass shooting events, says Elan Kandel at Bailey Cavalieri.
-
Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic
Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
-
The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals
Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.
-
Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: April Lessons
In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses three notable circuit court decisions on topics from the Class Action Fairness Act to consumer fraud — and provides key takeaways for counsel on issues including CAFA’s local controversy exception and Article III standing to seek injunctive relief.
-
Series
Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.
-
Top 10 Queries For Insurers Entering Surplus Lines Market
John Emmanuel at Locke Lord discusses what insurers should understand before entering into the surplus lines market, a growing, state-regulated area, subject to much variation in application and enforcement.
-
Considering CGL Defense For Social Media Addiction Claims
A recent lawsuit filed in California state court against Meta seeks damages from technology companies for the costs of treating children allegedly suffering from social media addiction, but the prospects of defense coverage under commercial general liability insurance policies for a potential new wave of claims look promising, say Craig Hirsch and Tae Andrews at Pasich.
-
4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.