Insurance

  • April 02, 2025

    Insurer Cites Exclusion To Avoid Covering Co.'s Silica Suits

    An insurance company has sued in California federal court to avoid covering any legal fees or potential settlements a Georgia-based countertop manufacturer might face from the more than 100 lawsuits filed by workers who claim to have suffered lung scarring and cancer due to exposure to dust.

  • April 02, 2025

    Insurer Says $9M OpenText Merger Settlement Not Covered

    An insurer said it is not obligated to contribute to a $9 million settlement in a shareholder class action stemming from Covisint's 2017 merger with software company OpenText, telling a Michigan federal court that the settlement does not constitute a covered loss.

  • April 02, 2025

    Potbelly Says Insurer Must Cover Wage Transparency Suit

    Sandwich chain owner Potbelly Inc. told a Washington state court that its insurer wrongly refused to cover it in a proposed underlying class action alleging the business violated Washington's wage transparency law by failing to disclose pay and benefit information to job applicants.

  • April 02, 2025

    Shooting Victim Can't Get $1M Under Policy, Berkshire Says

    A man shot during an armed robbery at a convenience store isn't owed the full $1 million limit toward an underlying $1.5 million consent judgment he reached against the property owner, a Berkshire Hathaway unit said Wednesday, arguing that the man doesn't qualify as an insured.

  • April 02, 2025

    Fla. High Court Told Condo's Irma Claim Redo Lacked Key Info

    An insurance company told the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday that a Miami condominium's reopened claim for damage caused by Hurricane Irma wasn't sufficient to trigger a supplemental claim, arguing that state law required additional information regarding the initial loss.

  • April 02, 2025

    No-Fault Tolling Not Retroactive, Mich. Justices Say

    The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that an element of no-fault reforms pausing the one-year rule for recovery of personal injury protection benefits until an insurer formally issues a denial is not retroactive, finding the Legislature didn't clearly add retroactive language and that applying the provision to preamendment claims would impose new obligations on insurers.  

  • April 02, 2025

    Mo. Court Finds Ambiguity Could Permit Virus Coverage

    A vacation rental company may be entitled to coverage for pandemic-related losses from one insurer, a Missouri intermediate appellate court held, finding that an exception conflicting with an exclusion created ambiguity in favor of the insured, while upholding no-coverage rulings pertaining to other insurers.

  • April 02, 2025

    Baltimore Diocese Abuse Claimants Sue Over Immunity Bid

    Childhood sex abuse claimants are suing the bankrupt Archdiocese of Baltimore in a bid to stop the Catholic organization from using a charitable immunity defense to avoid paying claims that aren't covered by the debtor's insurance, urging a Maryland federal judge to declare that the defense isn't available in the bankruptcy case.

  • April 02, 2025

    Insurer Gets Education Co.'s $2.2M Theft Coverage Bid Tossed

    A Maryland federal court tossed an education management company's suit seeking excess coverage for over $2.2 million in employee embezzlement losses, saying the company failed to show its loss occurred during the relevant policy period.

  • April 01, 2025

    5th Circ. Judge Questions IRS Denial Of Insurance Deductions

    A Fifth Circuit judge pushed back Tuesday on the Internal Revenue Service's rejection of expense deductions for two physician-led micro-captive insurance companies, saying that the businesses seemed to serve a legitimate purpose while acknowledging that doctors are "notoriously inept" businessmen.

  • April 01, 2025

    CarePoint's Bankruptcy Plan Needs Changes, Judge Says

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge determined on Tuesday that more work is needed on the Chapter 11 plan from New Jersey hospital operator CarePoint that would have handed control of the health system's medical facilities to one of its creditors, finding the debtor must address another creditor's claim that its collateral has diminished in value.

  • April 01, 2025

    Berkshire Unit Denied Reimbursement For Asbestos Coverage

    Two excess insurers for a drywall company have no duty to reimburse another excess insurer for payments it made to settle two asbestos injury lawsuits, a Texas federal court ruled, finding those lawsuits didn't allege an occurrence within the two excess insurers' policy periods.

  • April 01, 2025

    Insurer Can't Escape Aerospace Co.'s $3.3M Claim Denial Suit

    An insurer for an aerospace products manufacturer can't escape claims that it wrongfully denied coverage of an approximately $3.3 million loss from fund mismanagement after years of delay, an Oregon federal court ruled.

  • April 01, 2025

    Houston Oil Co. Says Insurers Trying To Cover Up Price-Fixing

    A Houston oil company has urged a federal judge to keep alive its antitrust suit against a group of insurers, saying their "ever-shifting explanations" for increased collateral demands are an attempt to cover up a price-fixing scheme.

  • April 01, 2025

    Progressive's $43M Deal Over Car Valuations Nears Final OK

    A certified class of more than 151,000 Progressive customers has asked a Georgia federal judge to grant final approval to a $43 million settlement resolving allegations the insurer's units systematically undervalued totaled cars by applying a "projected sold adjustment," and they have sought an attorney fee award of $14.3 million. 

  • April 01, 2025

    Hartford Unit Freed From Ill. Agency's $4M Wire Fraud Suit

    An Illinois agency that administers the estates of financially distressed insurers can't get coverage from a Hartford unit for a computer system breach that the agency said caused roughly $4 million in outstanding losses, a federal court ruled, finding its claims fall outside an "electronic mail initiated fraud" coverage provision.

  • April 01, 2025

    Chamber, Trade Groups Back Insurer's Class Cert. Review Bid

    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and major insurance industry groups urged the U.S. Supreme Court to undo a Ninth Circuit decision allowing a class action to proceed against State Farm over its use of "negotiation adjustments" to calculate payouts for totaled vehicles.

  • April 01, 2025

    Prudential Beats Life Insurance Applicant's GIPA Suit

    A Prudential life insurance applicant cannot pursue genetic information privacy claims after being required to undergo a physical exam and detail her family's medical history, as the state law she cites does not apply to life insurance underwriting, an Illinois federal judge said on Monday. 

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Off The Hook For Tribe's COVID Casino Shutdown

    Lexington Insurance Co. does not owe a Washington tribe business-loss coverage after COVID-19 forced the shutdown of the tribe's casino, a Washington state appeals court said Monday, ruling that the virus did not cause direct physical loss or damage to tribal properties.

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Beats Energy Cos.' Settlement Coverage Suit, For Now

    A Texas federal court tossed a lawsuit from a group of energy companies accusing Berkley National Insurance Co. of favoring the settlement of one underlying wrongful death lawsuit over another unrelated injury lawsuit, finding the companies' complaint fails to allege they've incurred damages exceeding their policy limits.

  • March 31, 2025

    Trucking Co. Says Insurers Owe Coverage For BIPA Suit

    A trucking company's insurers owe coverage for underlying litigation brought by a former employee who said the company violated his biometric privacy rights by using a hand-scanning timekeeping system that stored his protected personal data, the company told an Illinois federal court.

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Can Limit Rates But Not Counsel In Utility Litigation

    A Swiss Re unit can limit the rates it pays to defend utility company Aqua's successor entity in litigation over alleged lead contamination in a Chicago suburb's water supply, a Pennsylvania federal judge has ruled, adding that the insurer cannot make Aqua change its counsel.

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Denies Coverage For Crushing Death, Alleging Lies

    A wood company's insurer said it owed nothing in connection with the crushing death of a recycling company worker who was killed by equipment rented from the wood seller, telling a California federal court that its insured misrepresented itself when claiming it didn't lease equipment on its coverage application.

  • March 31, 2025

    Alcoa Gets Pension Annuity Suit Thrown Out, For Now

    A D.C. federal judge agreed to toss a proposed class action from Alcoa retirees who alleged the aluminum manufacturer put their pensions at unnecessary risk by converting their benefits into annuity insurance contracts, backing Alcoa's argument that the retirees lacked standing to sue.

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Must Cover $2.4M Water Damage, Condo Owners Say

    A Washington condo association has filed a federal consumer protection complaint against Country Casualty Insurance Co., alleging $2.4 million in unpaid claims for hidden water damage to exterior sheathing and framing the condo association says is covered by its property insurance policy.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • How D&O Coverage Can Aid Against Increased AI Scrutiny

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    The recent increase in regulatory enforcement and securities class actions stemming from corporate use of artificial intelligence should prompt companies to ensure that their directors and officers liability insurance coverage is appropriately tailored to AI-related risks, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • 8 Tech Tips For Stress-Free Remote Depositions

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    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.

  • 6th Circ. Ruling Prevents Disability Insurer Overreach

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    The Sixth Circuit’s recent ruling in McEachin v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance offers disability insurance claimants guidance on how they might challenge misapplications of policy limitations for mental illness when a medical condition accounts for their disability, says Mark DeBofsky at DeBofsky Law.

  • Hurricane Coverage Ruling Clarifies Appraisal Scope In Fla.

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    In a case involving property insurance for hurricane damage, a Florida federal court recently enforced policy limits despite an appraisal award exceeding those limits, underscoring the boundaries between valuation and coverage — a distinction that provides valuable guidance for insurers handling post-catastrophe claims, says Tiffany Bustamante at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Navigating Decentralized Clinical Trials With FDA's Guidance

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    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recently finalized guidance on conducting decentralized clinical trials, while not legally binding, can serve as a road map for sponsors, investigators and others to ensure trial integrity and participant safety, say attorneys at Phillips Lytle.

  • 4 Ways Attorneys Can Emotionally Prepare For Trial

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    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.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • Presidential Campaign Errors Provide Lessons For Trial Attys

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    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.

  • Series

    Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving this country in uniform has not only been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it has also provided me with opportunities to broaden my legal acumen and interpersonal skills in ways that have indelibly contributed to my civilian practice, says Phillip Smith at Weinberg Wheeler.

  • Cos. Should Inventory Issues To Prep For New Congress

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    As the legislative and oversight agendas of the 119th Congress come into sharper focus, corporate counsel should assess and plan for areas of potential oversight risk — from tax policy changes to supply chain integrity — even as much uncertainty remains, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Next Steps In The $2.8B Blue Cross Payout To Providers

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    Healthcare providers deciding whether to participate in Blue Cross Blue Shield network's recent $2.8 billion antitrust class action settlement must weigh key recovery factors, including provider type and litigation cost, say attorneys at Hall Render.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • 3 Policyholder Lessons From NY Bad Faith Ruling

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    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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