Earl Barrs v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company

  1. August 07, 2024

    11th Circ. Affirms Unapportioned Wood-Theft Settlement

    The Eleventh Circuit has unanimously upheld a Georgia federal court ruling forcing an insurer to cover a $557,000 settlement for shoddy work and wood theft during a deconstruction project by its policyholder, despite objections from the insurer that the amount was not apportioned between covered and noncovered losses.

  2. April 16, 2024

    11th Circ. Asks If Undivided Settlement Can Still Be Covered

    An Eleventh Circuit panel seemed torn Tuesday on whether to allow insurance coverage for a $557,000 nonapportioned Georgia federal settlement that potentially included both covered theft and noncovered negligent deconstruction, awarded to a Georgia mill owner who hired the insured.

  3. April 11, 2024

    11th Circ. To Weigh If Wood Theft Is 'Intentional'

    The Eleventh Circuit will review, on April 16, a Georgia federal ruling forcing an insurer to cover a $557,000 settlement for shoddy workmanship and wood theft during a deconstruction project by its policyholder, and the outcome could hinge on what constitutes an accident and which state law applies. Here, Law360 breaks down the case in advance of oral arguments.

  4. April 10, 2023

    11th Circ. Asked To Uphold $557K Award Over Worksite Theft

    The owner of a vacant mill urged the Eleventh Circuit to affirm that Auto-Owners Insurance must fully cover a $557,500 settlement it reached with its insured, a general contractor held liable for shoddy work and negligent supervision, noting Auto-Owners didn't defend the contractor under a reservation of rights.

  5. February 08, 2023

    Insurer Asks 11th Circ. To Void $557K Award Over Theft

    An insurer asked the 11th Circuit to void a $557,000 award to the owner of a vacant Georgia industrial property to cover stolen wood, since the insurance policy only protects against property loss due to accidents.