Policyholders See Notable But Limited Win In NC Virus Suit
North Carolina's top court handed policyholders a rare victory last week in finding that the "direct physical loss" requirement for "all-risk" insurance can cover losses connected to the coronavirus pandemic, but experts say the ruling's late-in-game arrival will limit its impact.
Insurer Win In Lead Abatement Row A Blow To Policyholders
The Ohio Supreme Court's ruling that insurers for Sherwin-Williams Co. needn't cover the paint-maker's portion of a $305 million settlement to abate lead paint in California marked another win for carriers in public nuisance litigation, as policyholder experts remain unconvinced by the court's evaluation of "damages" in commercial general liability policies.
The 5 Strangest Insurance Cases Of The Year
Insurance protects policyholders from the unforeseen, but some circumstances are so strange that even insurers couldn't have predicted them. While 2022 was wild and 2023 was weird, 2024 saw cases involving bear costumes, cannibalism, vulture infestation, a severe bug problem and a former Allstate employee with animation skills and an alleged vendetta. Here, Law360 looks back on the strangest insurance cases of 2024.
Policyholders See Notable But Limited Win In NC Virus Suit
North Carolina's top court handed policyholders a rare victory last week in finding that the "direct physical loss" requirement for "all-risk" insurance can cover losses connected to the coronavirus pandemic, but experts say the ruling's late-in-game arrival will limit its impact.
Insurer Win In Lead Abatement Row A Blow To Policyholders
The Ohio Supreme Court's ruling that insurers for Sherwin-Williams Co. needn't cover the paint-maker's portion of a $305 million settlement to abate lead paint in California marked another win for carriers in public nuisance litigation, as policyholder experts remain unconvinced by the court's evaluation of "damages" in commercial general liability policies.
The 5 Strangest Insurance Cases Of The Year
Insurance protects policyholders from the unforeseen, but some circumstances are so strange that even insurers couldn't have predicted them. While 2022 was wild and 2023 was weird, 2024 saw cases involving bear costumes, cannibalism, vulture infestation, a severe bug problem and a former Allstate employee with animation skills and an alleged vendetta. Here, Law360 looks back on the strangest insurance cases of 2024.
Expert Analysis
In the year since amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence went into effect, many federal judges have applied t... (more story)
In Texas, special appearances provide a useful but often overlooked tool for out-of-state defendants to escape mer... (more story)
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As globalization manifests itself in disputes over foreign-created documents, a California federal court’s recent ... (more story)
Property More
Two cases that could change the policies offered by California's insurer of last resort and a forthcoming Hawaii Supreme Court decision on a $4 billion wildfire settlement are among the top property insurance ... (more story)
A novel climate change coverage suit in Hawaii, three state high court pandemic coverage rulings and a Colorado ruling on a late claim-filing rule are among the top property insurance decisions of 2024. Here, ... (more story)
United Fire & Casualty Co. reached a settlement in its $1.7 million suit against a Texas sign-making company, resolving its bid to recover funds paid to a bed and breakfast after a fluorescent sign caught fire... (more story)
This year was a standout for high-profile legal battles in Pennsylvania, from a blockbuster verdict against Monsanto over its Roundup weedkiller to the Philadelphia district attorney's fight with Elon Musk ove... (more story)
The insurance market will likely face regulatory challenges and opportunities in 2025 as regulators on the state and federal level gear up to reverse major trends and tackle emerging developments. Here, Law360... (more story)
The Mississippi Supreme Court's ruling affirming a $10 million Hurricane Katrina damages award against USAA emphasized the risk a carrier runs when ignoring evidence while investigating a claim, while an addit... (more story)
The North Carolina Supreme Court handed policyholders a rare win in a COVID-19 coverage suit, the Eleventh Circuit revived a citrus grower's bid for damages and a North Carolina state appeals court threw out a... (more story)
General Liability More
Courts across the country are expected to weigh in on a number of important issues this year in general liability insurance cases, led by a multidistrict litigation coverage suit in Delaware against Facebook t... (more story)
NASCAR is fighting antitrust claims in North Carolina even after removing a controversial exclusivity clause from its race team contracts, and the Tar Heel State's medical industry could see massive shake-ups ... (more story)
A suit over McCarter & English LLP's municipal loan advice and a Yale-owned heath network's legal battle over a beleaguered acquisition deal are just two multimillion-dollar cases that will keep Connecticut co... (more story)
A Michigan state appeals court has vacated a trial court order finding the insurer for a homeless woman's parents must cover injuries she suffered after being run over by a semitruck, ruling that questions rem... (more story)
An insurer told a California federal court that it doesn't owe coverage to an event company accused of failing to provide a safe environment at a fraternity party where a woman said she was sexually assaulted,... (more story)
A North Carolina appeals court on Tuesday threw out a nearly $29 million judgment against an insurance company in a suit alleging it failed to defend and settle claims from a fatal car accident, saying the com... (more story)
Specialty Lines More
2025 promises to usher in significant developments in ongoing litigation fights over crucial specialty line insurance issues, including directors and officers and cyber risk policies. Here, Law360 speaks to ex... (more story)
2024 marked the year when generative artificial intelligence systems moved past their headline-grabbing debut to widespread adoption across industries, providing opportunities and challenges to policyholders a... (more story)
OpenText told a Michigan federal court it should be dismissed from an insurer's suit seeking to avoid coverage of a class action from former Covisint shareholders alleging an unfair merger, saying it's not inv... (more story)
The past year featured litigation over bump-up exclusions and the rights of excess insurers, a court split over clauses that limit policyholders' ability to seek coverage, and another appeal by Towers Watson o... (more story)
A law firm that failed to reveal an attorney's ethics case when applying for malpractice insurance coverage effectively secured the policy using misrepresentations, the New Jersey state appeals court ruled, de... (more story)
A Georgia federal judge said Allied World Surplus Lines Insurance Co. has no duty to defend a sperm bank that has been sued in Canada and the United States for allegedly selling semen from a donor with genetic abnormalities.
A Texas federal jury rejected an insurer's bid to escape covering a trucking company in an underlying suit over a fire at a saltwater disposal facility that killed one of the company's employees, finding that ... (more story)