More Insurance Coverage

  • May 09, 2024

    NC Bribery Jury Hears Insurance Chief's Undercover Convo

    Defense attorneys for embattled insurance mogul Greg E. Lindberg on Thursday played recordings to back their assertion that the North Carolina insurance commissioner separated Lindberg from his "trusted advisers" and goaded a bribe, saying he never brought up money until the public official put it on the table.

  • May 09, 2024

    REIT Says Insurers Must Cover Antitrust Conspiracy Claims

    A real estate investment trust accused its insurers of wrongfully denying coverage for an underlying multidistrict litigation alleging that the company was part of an antitrust conspiracy to inflate rents for multifamily housing, telling a Colorado federal court that the MDL falls plainly within multiple coverage parts of its policies.

  • May 09, 2024

    4th Circ. Chides Insurer For Bid To Escape $5.8M Payout

    A Fourth Circuit judge scolded an insurance company in its attempt to get out of a $5.8 million verdict through an exclusion in a general contractor's policy that it tried to trigger for mold cleanup, leaving little doubt Thursday that the panel will uphold the award.

  • May 09, 2024

    Md. Insurance Chief On Keeping Up With AI Regulation

    The insurance industry is exploring artificial intelligence technology use in its business as regulators like Maryland Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Birrane work to keep up and protect consumers from the risks of the evolving technology. Here, Law360 checks in with Birrane on the subject.

  • May 09, 2024

    Insurance Litigation Week In Review

    Michigan's top court mulled the effect of new liability coverage mandates on older auto policies, a group of insurers escaped arbitration in an airport terminal defect dispute, and South Carolina drivers were granted class certification in a suit over Progressive's total loss vehicle valuation methods.

  • May 09, 2024

    A Mother's Fight To Secure Insurance Benefits For Autism

    After Lorri Unumb's son was diagnosed with autism, she spent over a decade drafting and securing legislative mandates for autism insurance benefits across the country. With Mother's Day on May 12, Law360 spoke with Unumb about how for her, motherhood included a calling to advocate for autism therapy coverage.

  • May 08, 2024

    Committing Bribery Or Fixing 'Chaos': Mogul's Retrial Begins

    An insurance mogul and his one-time political consultant resorted to "pure and simple" bribery when they promised North Carolina's insurance commissioner up to $2 million in campaign contributions to remove an inquisitive official, federal prosecutors told a jury Wednesday, while the mogul's counsel countered that he just wanted a fair shake from a department in "chaos."

  • May 08, 2024

    Feds Charge Two For Killing Witness In Staged Crashes Probe

    Federal prosecutors in Louisiana have charged two people for murdering a witness who cooperated with the government's investigation into an alleged insurance scam involving multiple staged car crashes in the New Orleans area.

  • 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 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

    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

    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 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

    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 02, 2024

    Atty In $119M Bad Faith Win Seeks Justice In And Out Of Court

    Policyholder attorney Benjamin W. Massarsky of Miller Friel is part of a team that won over $119 million from insurers in a case thought to have garnered among the largest bad faith wins in the past 30 years. He also works pro bono to fight for accommodations for students with disabilities. Here, he shares where his passions for justice converge.

  • May 02, 2024

    2nd Circ. To Weigh Court's Role In Bermuda Arbitration Row

    The Second Circuit will review Wednesday whether a New York federal court has the authority to remove an allegedly biased arbitrator in a Bermuda reinsurance arbitration, addressing the question of the federal court's limited role in international arbitration. Here, Law360 breaks down the case in advance of oral arguments.

  • May 01, 2024

    Zurich Gets Plane Parts Co.'s COVID Coverage Suit Tossed

    An Illinois federal court has tossed an aviation parts supplier's bid to recover up to $30 million in coverage from a Zurich unit for expired items it couldn't access during a period of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding the company failed to sufficiently allege direct physical loss.

  • May 01, 2024

    Ala. Insurance Co. Settles Adjuster's Overtime Suit

    An Alabama insurance agency will pay a settlement to end a claims adjuster's suit accusing it of failing to pay adjusters overtime wages for time they spent inspecting and assessing property damage, according to court papers.

  • April 30, 2024

    Insurance Mogul Can't Escape $164M Dutch Payout Yet

    A shareholder accused of raiding a Dutch insurer's coffers can't stop it from trying to enforce a nearly $164 million arbitration victory, a North Carolina federal judge ruled, finding that he didn't show it's not enforceable in U.S. courts.

  • April 30, 2024

    BCBS Says Federal Drug Law Preempts NM Medical Weed Row

    A group of insurers, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, urged a New Mexico federal judge to reject a proposed class action seeking to compel them to cover their policyholders' medical marijuana costs, arguing that state law doesn't require it and federal law forbids it.

  • April 30, 2024

    $626M Fee Award In BCBS Deal Is Unjust, High Court Told

    A member of the class that settled multidistrict litigation with Blue Cross Blue Shield for $2.67 billion over anti-competitive practices has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up his challenge to the $626 million attorney fees award in the settlement, arguing the Eleventh Circuit's approval of the award runs counter to high court precedent.

  • April 30, 2024

    Attys, Broker Can't Escape $4M Tax Fraud Convictions

    A North Carolina federal judge has denied acquittal requests from two tax attorneys and an insurance agent who were convicted for their roles in a $4 million tax avoidance scheme, saying he agreed with federal prosecutors who argued there was sufficient evidence for the underlying charges.

  • April 30, 2024

    Squire Patton Taps Leader For New Insurance Disputes Group

    Squire Patton Boggs LLP has created a new practice that brings together its long-standing dispute work for insurance companies, naming a partner who represents some of the largest U.S. insurance companies to lead the new practice, the firm said Tuesday.

Expert Analysis

  • 6th Circ. Bias Ruling Shows Job Evaluations Are Key Defense

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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.

  • 9th Circ. Ruling Puts Teeth Into Mental Health Parity Claims

    Author Photo

    In its recent finding that UnitedHealth applied an excessively strict review process for substance use disorder treatment claims, the Ninth Circuit provided guidance on how to plead a Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act violation and took a step toward achieving mental health parity in healthcare, says Mark DeBofsky at DeBofsky Law.

  • This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener

    Author Photo

    As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.

  • An NYDFS-Regulated Bank's Guide To Proper Internal Audits

    Author Photo

    As certification deadlines for compliance with the New York State Department of Financial Services’ transaction monitoring and cybersecurity regulations loom, lawyers should remember that the NYDFS offers no leeway for best efforts — and should ensure robust auditing and recordkeeping processes for clients, say attorneys at Arnall Golden.

  • NY Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

    Author Photo

    The first quarter of 2024 saw a number of notable legal and regulatory developments that will significantly affect New York's financial services industry, including the New York Department of Financial Services' finalized novel guidance directing banks to continuously monitor the character and fitness of key personnel, say Brian Montgomery and Nathan Lewko at Pillsbury.

  • Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues

    Author Photo

    Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

  • Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease

    Author Photo

    This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.

  • For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill

    Author Photo

    A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.

  • Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law

    Author Photo

    A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.

  • $175M Bond Refiled By Trump Is Still Substantively Flawed

    Author Photo

    The corrected $175 million bond posted by former President Donald Trump on Thursday to stave off enforcement of the New York attorney general's fraud judgment against him remains substantively and procedurally flawed, as well as inadequately secured, says Adam Pollock of Pollock Cohen.