Specialty Lines
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May 15, 2024
No Coverage For Day Care In Toddler Death Suits, Judge Says
A Progressive unit has no duty to defend or indemnify a now-defunct day care and its former owner in two suits over the death of a toddler who was left in a hot car, a Tennessee federal court has ruled, saying the vehicle involved wasn't covered under the day care's policy.
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May 14, 2024
Insurer Wants Tainted Wine Coverage Suit Axed For Good
A Nationwide unit asked a California federal court to permanently toss a wine bottling company's suit seeking reimbursement for costs incurred in defending and settling an underlying suit claiming the bottler damaged nearly $1.2 million of wine, saying the company failed to allege facts that would trigger coverage.
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May 14, 2024
Insurer Says Miami Retaliation Scheme Not Covered
An insurer for the City of Miami is seeking reimbursement of $5 million for expenses incurred in defending the city and one of its commissioners against underlying lawsuits alleging political retaliation, telling a Florida federal court that the allegations fall outside the scope of its policies.
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May 14, 2024
Legal Insurers See 'All-Time High' In Price Tag Of Claims
Some of the nation's largest legal insurance companies are reporting an unprecedented rise in "claim severity," according to survey data released Tuesday, with 11 of 13 insurers reporting paying claims in excess of $100 million in the past two years.
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May 13, 2024
AIG Unit Decries Bank's 'Eleventh Hour' Fraud Claims
A bank owner's amended claims accusing an AIG unit of violating the Texas Insurance Code by refusing to cover certain defense costs must be tossed, the insurer told a Texas federal court, arguing that the bank made an "eleventh hour" attempt to expand the case beyond a simple contract dispute.
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May 13, 2024
Insurer's Countersuit Pared In $1.85M Boat Fire Coverage Row
A Florida federal judge has allowed part of an insurer's countersuit to continue in a yacht owner's dispute over coverage for a 2023 boat fire after the insurer denied the company for allegedly misrepresenting boat prices.
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May 13, 2024
Justices Decline To Hear $3.5B Insurance Surplus Case
A proposed class action accusing an insurer of failing to return an over $3.5 billion surplus of underwriting profits back to policyholder members will be litigated in Illinois state court, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday, denying the company's bid for certiorari.
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May 13, 2024
Justices Won't Touch Insurer's Win In 401(k) Exit Fee Suit
The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a dental office's case accusing an insurance company of unlawfully charging fees to 401(k) plans that left its platform, leaving in place a Fifth Circuit ruling that found the insurer was under no obligation to waive the charges.
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May 10, 2024
4th Circ. Tosses Driver's Allstate UIM Appeal As Untimely
The Fourth Circuit dismissed a South Carolina woman's appeal seeking underinsured motorist coverage from Allstate for injuries she suffered in a car accident, finding Friday that the appellate court lacked jurisdiction over the issue because outstanding, competing claims in the action remained.
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May 09, 2024
10th Circ. Appeal May Expand Pollution Coverage In NM
The Tenth Circuit will hear oral arguments May 20 to determine whether absolute pollution exclusions doom a New Mexico property owner's quest for $120,000 in defense coverage in a case attorneys say could determine the future of such environmental coverage in the state.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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May 09, 2024
DEA Cannabis Proposal Likely To Keep Insurers Sidelined
Federal drug enforcers' recent proposal to remove cannabis' designation as a high-risk drug with no accepted medical use could portend insurance benefits, but experts say uncertainties over the drug's mixed legal status will keep insurers sidelined for now.
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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.
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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.
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May 09, 2024
Driver Class Certified In Progressive Total Loss Value Suit
A South Carolina federal judge has granted class certification to a group of drivers who suffered "total loss" accidents and allegedly had the value of their totaled cars lowballed by Progressive Direct Insurance Co., rejecting the insurer's arguments that the proposed class representative was unfit.
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May 07, 2024
Cashless Pay Co., Axis Toss Securities Action Coverage Row
An electronic payments company and Axis Insurance Co. voluntarily tossed their dispute Tuesday over coverage for a consolidated securities action and other claims alleging that certain company executives breached their fiduciary duties through financial reporting and accounting failures.
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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.
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May 07, 2024
Title Insurer Gets Partial Win Against Lender In Lien Dispute
A lender seeking coverage from its title insurer for mechanic's lien claims after the owner of a senior living community defaulted on its $26 million construction loan can only potentially get coverage under a disbursement endorsement in its policy, a Colorado federal court ruled, finding an exclusion applicable.
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May 06, 2024
Party Co.'s Trackless Train Claims Not Covered, Judge Says
An underwriter doesn't owe coverage to a Las Vegas-based party rental business for claims stemming from an overturned trackless train at a birthday party, a Nevada federal court has ruled, saying the company failed to maintain its business license at the time of the accident as required by the policy.
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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.
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May 06, 2024
Cheese Supplier, Chubb Unit Settle Salad Recall Coverage Suit
A New York federal court tossed a cheese supplier's suit seeking coverage from a Chubb unit for costs associated with the recall of tainted salad kits sold to Sam's Club, saying the parties have settled all claims.
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May 03, 2024
Freddie Mac, Insurer Settle $32M SEC Probe Coverage Dispute
Government-backed lender Freddie Mac told a Washington, D.C., federal court Friday that it has settled with an insurer in a $32 million coverage suit stemming from civil actions and federal probes around its collapse during the 2008 global financial crisis.
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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.
Expert Analysis
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Insurance Perils For Health Providers Using 3D-Printing Tech
As the medical polymer market quickly grows amid burgeoning demand for the 3D printing of medical devices, a recent case involving liability for a 3D-printed dental implant surgery exposes the potential gap in medical malpractice and product liability coverage for health care professionals designing and using these products, says Paul Farquharson at Semmes.
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Insurance Ruling Provides Lessons On Cyberattack 'Twofers'
A recent Minnesota federal court decision, SJ Computers v. Travelers, illustrates how an insurance policy with separate limits for computer fraud and social engineering fraud applies to a cyberattack with both components, say Joshua Polster and Laurel Fresquez at Simpson Thacher.
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D&O Insurer Challenges Amid Market, Economic Turbulence
The decline of record market capitalizations, compounded by high litigation and securities class action exposure, leaves directors and officers insurance carriers and issuers facing economic contraction as companies grapple with the institutionalization of environmental, social and governance investment priorities amid a new Cold War, say Nessim Mezrahi and Stephen Sigrist at SAR.
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Risk Mitigation In Face Of Rising Legal Malpractice Claims
As the recent rise in frequency and cost of legal malpractice claims is expected to continue amid global high inflation and economic uncertainty, law firms and insurers would be wise to evaluate key risk areas and consider six steps to minimize exposure, say Nicole Shapiro and Cory Stumpf at Atheria Law.
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2 Illinois Cases Poised To Shape BIPA Litigation Landscape
The Illinois Supreme Court's anticipated rulings in Tims v. Black Horse and Cothron v. White Castle could alter the outlook for Biometric Information Privacy Act litigation, putting an end to companies' and insurers' willingness to pour money into expensive settlements, say Pamela Signorello and Megan Brown at Wiley.
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What Del. Officer Exculpation Law Means For D&O Insurance
Following a recent Delaware code amendment to allow corporate exculpation of officers, businesses considering whether to update their articles of incorporation accordingly should factor in the potential benefits respecting the availability and cost of directors and officers insurance, say Bryan Coffey and Peter Gillon at Pillsbury.
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7th Circ. 'Reasonable Costs' Ruling Is A Win For Policyholders
The Seventh Circuit's decision in USA Gymnastics v. Liberty Insurance last month establishes useful precedent for policyholders, affirming and expanding on its rule that defense costs are presumed to be reasonable and necessary when insurers breach their duty to defend, say attorneys at Reed Smith.
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Insurance Implications For Aircraft Grounded In Russia
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and new law that allows the government to ground planes leased from foreign companies threatens massive losses for insurers in the aviation insurance market and necessitates a closer look at which policy exclusions may apply, say attorneys at Hinshaw.
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What Snap Removal Debate Means For Insurance Disputes
A potential circuit split regarding the permissibility of snap removal to federal court, which allows defendants to circumvent the forum defendant rule, is particularly a concern in insurance cases due to the difficulty of removing such cases, and the perception that some state courts are more favorable to policyholders, says Greg Mann at Rivkin Radler.
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How D&O Insurers Can Limit Bankruptcy Exclusion Risks
Amid challenging economic conditions, directors and officers underwriters can't always rely on insolvency exclusions to protect against insured's bankruptcy claims, but there are ways to limit risk exposure, like by adding creditor exclusions or sublimiting coverage, say Kristine Christ at Crum & Forster, and Scott Schechter and Joshua DiLena at Kaufman Borgeest.
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Questions Remain On Computer Fraud Coverage For Phishing
There are questions regarding the applicability of computer fraud coverage to phishing scheme losses in the wake of the Ninth Circuit's decision in Ernst & Haas v. Hiscox earlier this year, with a backdrop of differing case results and evolving fact patterns over the past few years, say Robert Callahan and Melissa D’Alelio at Robins Kaplan.
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Insurers Must Be Vigilant About Cannabis Lounge Risks
Because cannabis lounges face a number of unique risks, such as overserving cannabis to patrons, insurers and risk management providers must be able to recognize and properly address the full range of potential liabilities, say Jonathan Isaacson and Adam Nicolazzo at Kaufman Dolowich.
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Insurers Should Beware Risks From Digital Asset Losses
Personal lines insurers should not underestimate the potential severity of future exposure to digital asset loss claims, and should consider protecting themselves with new underwriting practices and policy exclusions, say attorneys at Sidley.