General Liability
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December 13, 2024
Insurer Argo Beats Investor Suit Over Reserve Estimate Risks
A New York federal judge has dismissed a proposed investor class action against Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. and its executives, finding that the insurance firm adequately disclosed the risks and uncertainties in its reserve estimations and that a 2017 review of underwriting guidelines did not contradict its reserve management statements.
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December 13, 2024
NC Justices Topple Insurer Victory In COVID Coverage Battle
The North Carolina Supreme Court handed policyholders a rare win Friday in their bid to get property insurance coverage for their pandemic-related business interruption losses, unanimously finding that the insuring phrase "direct physical loss" included the loss of use of property due to COVID-19 public health orders.
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December 12, 2024
BakerHostetler Can't Ditch RICO Claims In Bankruptcy Fight
A Texas bankruptcy judge Wednesday trimmed fraud and legal malpractice claims alleging BakerHostetler aided a $100 million insurance fraud scheme, but he refused to throw out civil racketeering claims, finding that the allegations are "well-pleaded," and he must assume, for now, that they're true.
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December 12, 2024
Call To Scrap Insurance Monitor Raises Issue Of Federal Role
A recent call from North Carolina's insurance chief to eliminate the U.S. Department of the Treasury's insurance monitor could portend trouble for the office and federal initiatives to better understand climate risks to consumers, but experts say the monitor is already limited in power.
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December 12, 2024
Insurer Owes Defense In Faulty Landscaping Row, Court Told
A contractor facing claims it did faulty irrigation and landscaping work told a Florida federal court that its commercial general liability insurer must defend it, saying while the insurer declined additional insured coverage to the underlying claimant, it still hasn't communicated a coverage position with the contractor.
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December 12, 2024
Insurer Must Defend Texas Oilfield Against Burned Worker
An insurer must continue to defend an oilfield services company in a suit brought by a severely burned worker seeking over $1 million for his injuries, a Texas federal court ruled, finding nothing in his short complaint triggered exclusions.
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December 12, 2024
Insurer Seeks Exit From $1.35M Wire Loss Dispute
A broker accused of negligently causing a buyer to lose roughly $1.35 million in a business acquisition because of a wrong email address should receive no coverage, its insurer told an Arizona federal court, citing three separate exclusions in the broker's business owners liability policy.
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December 12, 2024
Insurance Litigation Week In Review
Sherwin-Williams was denied lead paint abatement coverage, a tribal court will hear its first COVID-19 loss case, a tree chop in Georgia isn't insurable and Regal Cinemas can't get coverage for its pandemic-related losses. Here, Law360 takes a look at the past week's top insurance news.
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December 12, 2024
Hartford Needn't Defend Contractor In Workplace Injury Suit
A Hartford unit has no duty to defend an electrical contractor against an employee's workplace injury suit, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Thursday, saying the underlying negligence- and intent-based claims don't fall within the scope of a workers' compensation and employers' liability policy.
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December 12, 2024
Recent M&A Surge Signals Boon In Reps & Warranties Market
An expected surge in mergers and acquisitions under President-elect Donald Trump's business-friendly agenda points to a positive outlook for an evolving representations and warranties insurance market, experts say, bringing welcome growth following a recent slump in M&A activity.
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December 11, 2024
Dutch Duo Beats Insurer's Claims Of Poor Greenhouse Design
Neither a Dutch greenhouse builder nor designer were responsible for the failure of a Michigan produce farm's $14.1 million greenhouse, a federal judge ruled, granting an early win to the pair in an insurer's subrogation suit seeking coverage for a storm loss.
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December 10, 2024
Ohio Justices Undo Paint-Maker's Lead Paint Coverage Win
Insurers for Sherwin-Williams Co. don't have to cover the paint-maker's portion of a $305 million settlement to abate lead paint in California homes, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, finding the payment does not qualify as damages under its commercial general liability policies.
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December 10, 2024
NC Law Firm, Insurer Drop Phishing Coverage Row
A law firm specializing in real estate transactions and its cyber insurer told a North Carolina federal court Tuesday they've agreed to settle their dispute over coverage for a phishing scam the firm said caused it to unwittingly wire roughly $647,000 to the hacker's bank account.
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December 10, 2024
NY AG Refuses To Drop $489M Fraud Case Against Trump
The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced it won't drop its civil financial fraud case against President-elect Donald Trump, two of his sons, his companies and their executives, saying his upcoming inauguration has no bearing on litigating his appeal of the $489 million judgment.
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December 10, 2024
School Board, Zurich Agree To End Sex Abuse Coverage Suit
A New Jersey school board has reached a deal with Zurich to resolve a dispute over coverage for three underlying suits alleging sexual abuse by a teacher in the 1960s and 1970s, according to a notice filed in federal court.
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December 10, 2024
Insurer QBE Settles Suit Over Failed $18M Wind Support Deal
Belgium-based insurer QBE Europe has settled a lawsuit accusing it of wasting available policy limits on pointless litigation rather than make a reasonable offer in a separate $18 million dispute over a failed wind support vessel deal, according to a Tuesday filing.
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December 09, 2024
Insurer Sues Golf Cart Seller Over Injury Suit Coverage
The insurer to a golf cart manufacturer and seller is asking a Florida federal court to declare that it does not have to defend the company from claims it contributed to a collision that seriously injured a minor.
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December 09, 2024
Insurer Asks 7th Circ. To Review Faulty Work Coverage Ruling
An insurer urged the Seventh Circuit on Monday to review a ruling requiring it to defend an architectural design firm and its owner against faulty work claims seeking more than $3.4 million in damages, saying the ruling is contrary to an Illinois Supreme Court decision involving the same issues.
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December 09, 2024
Justices Won't Hear Case Over Medical Cost Reasonability
The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it will not hear an appeal from a State Farm policyholder challenging what she's maintained is an ambiguous "reasonableness" standard for coverage of medical expenses under her auto policy, letting stand an Eleventh Circuit decision affirming the dismissal of her proposed class action.
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December 06, 2024
Judge Denies Publix Bid To Appeal Opioid Coverage Ruling
A Florida federal judge on Friday rejected Publix's request for a judgment that would have allowed it to immediately appeal a decision that said seven of its insurance policies didn't provide coverage for opioid lawsuits the grocery chain is facing.
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December 06, 2024
Two Firms To Rep CVS Investors In Benefit Unit Losses Suit
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP and Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP will co-lead a proposed class of investors in consolidated litigation alleging CVS Health Corp. hurt investors as it announced its benefit unit's unanticipated losses.
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December 05, 2024
Premium Concerns Centered In Calif. Reinsurance Hearing
California insurance regulators heard consumer concerns over high premiums during a public hearing Thursday as advocacy groups and insurance industry lobbyists offered thoughts on a proposal to allow insurers to pass down the cost of their own disaster coverage.
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December 05, 2024
UN Insurer Climate Risk Report Is Light On Details, Pros Say
A recent United Nations guide advising insurers on how they should plan for the risks associated with climate change offers a broad-level view of ways carriers can support net-zero goals, but experts say more detail is warranted for forthcoming reports.
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December 05, 2024
Insurance Litigation Week In Review
The Delaware Supreme Court will review 3M's bid for coverage in multidistrict litigation over defective earplugs, a California state appeals court relieved an insurer of covering a spa owner in an underlying sex abuse lawsuit, and a group of Hartford units said Proctor & Gamble isn't covered for underlying environmental lawsuits.
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December 05, 2024
Insurer Says Fake Adjuster Cost It $800K
An insurer told a Puerto Rico federal court that a lying and unlicensed adjuster and his company illegally stepped into a dispute with its insured, costing the carrier at least $800,000 while trying to compensate the territory's highway and transportation system for hurricane damages.
BIPA Ruling Split Muddies Policyholders' Hopes For Relief
Two opposing district court decisions on the application of a law limiting damages under an Illinois biometric privacy law marked a setback for policyholders searching for relief from an avalanche of litigation that has posed a challenge to coverage.
Insurance Pros Are Grateful For These CGL Rulings This Year
Policyholder and insurer attorneys are thankful this holiday season for favorable rulings in a variety of commercial general liability disputes ranging from construction defect litigation to biometric privacy litigation, as well as for the opportunity to teach budding attorneys.
4 Federal Agencies Insurance Attys Must Watch Under Trump
As President-elect Donald Trump continues to build a cabinet for his second term in office, federal agencies are preparing for a transition to an administration that will de-emphasize regulation, which could result in fewer claims for insurers and more transactions for corporate policyholders, experts say. Here, Law360 takes a look at four federal agencies ripe for change that may have a ripple effect on insurance.
Expert Analysis
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California's New AV Law May Steer Policy Nationwide
California's new law establishing various requirements for autonomous vehicles is something other states should pay close attention to — especially because the Golden State's policies may become a de facto mandate for manufacturers due to its market size, says Vineet Dubey at Custodio Dubey.
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How Attorneys Can Master The Art Of Eye Contact At Trial
As a growing body of research confirms that eye contact facilitates communication and influences others, attorneys should follow a few pointers to maximize the power of eye contact during voir dire, witness preparation, direct examination and cross-examination, says trial consultant Noelle Nelson.
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Hawaii Climate Insurance Case Is Good News For Energy Cos.
The Hawaii Supreme Court's recent ruling in a dispute between an oil company and its insurers, holding that reckless conduct in the context of activities that can cause climate harms is covered by liability policies, will likely be viewed by energy companies as a positive development, say attorneys at Fenchurch Law.
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Teaching Your Witness To Beat The Freeze/Appease Response
In addition to fight-or-flight, witnesses may experience the freeze/appease response at trial or deposition — where they become a deer in headlights, agreeing with opposing counsel’s questions and damaging their credibility in the process — but certain strategies can help, says Bill Kanasky at Courtroom Sciences.
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What Insurers Need To Know About OFAC's Expanded FAQs
The Office of Foreign Assets Control's recently expanded insurance FAQs clarify how OFAC views insurance policies in a number of specific circumstances involving sanctioned parties, and make plain that sanctions compliance is the responsibility of all participants in the insurance ecosystem, including underwriters, brokers and agents, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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Nevada Justices Could Expand Scope Of Subrogation Claims
The Nevada Supreme Court's recent decision to hear North River Insurance v. James River Insurance could expand the scope of equitable subrogation claims in the state by aligning with the California standard, which doesn't require excess insurers to demonstrate damages, says Daniel Heidtke at Duane Morris.
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8 Tech Tips For Stress-Free Remote Depositions
Court reporter Kelly D’Amico shares practical strategies for attorneys to conduct remote depositions with ease and troubleshoot any issues that arise, as it seems deposition-by-Zoom is here to stay after the pandemic.
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4 Ways Attorneys Can Emotionally Prepare For Trial
In the course of litigation, trial lawyers face a number of scenarios that can incite an emotional response, but formulating a mental game plan in advance of trial can help attorneys stay cool, calm and collected in the moment, says Rachel Lary at Lightfoot Franklin.
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Presidential Campaign Errors Provide Lessons For Trial Attys
Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign employed numerous strategies that evidently didn’t land, and trial attorneys should take note, because voters and jurors are both decision-makers who are listening for how one’s case presentation would affect them personally, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
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3 Policyholder Lessons From NY Bad Faith Ruling
A New York appellate court's recent decision finding that Rockefeller University alleged viable bad faith claims against its insurers reinforces the principle that insurers may not elevate their own economic interests over those of their insureds, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.
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Notable Q3 Updates In Insurance Class Actions
Total loss valuation cases and labor depreciation cases dominated the past quarter of insurance class actions, with courts continuing to reject challenges to condition adjustments in the former, and a pro-insured trend persisting in the latter, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.
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Consider The Impact Of Election Stress On Potential Jurors
For at least the next few months, potential jurors may be working through anger and distrust stemming from the presidential election, and trial attorneys will need to assess whether those jurors are able to leave their political concerns at the door, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
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NC Ruling Takes Practical Approach To Duty-To-Defend Costs
In Murphy-Brown v. Ace American Insurance, a case of first impression, the North Carolina Business Court adopted the commonsense rationale of many state courts in holding that policyholders' defense costs should be deemed presumtively reasonable when a insurer breaches its duty to defend, say attorneys at McGuireWoods.