Specialty Lines
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March 06, 2025
Pigment Co. Not Covered For Asbestos Suits, Court Told
A Liberty Mutual unit doesn't owe coverage to a cosmetic pigment manufacturer in underlying suits alleging injury from exposure to asbestos-containing materials, it told a New York federal court, saying certain claims fall outside the scope of coverage because they're not based on the company's work.
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March 05, 2025
Goldberg Segalla Brings On Insurance Pro From Connell Foley
Goldberg Segalla grew its New Jersey presence this week with a former of counsel at Connell Foley LLP specializing in insurance litigation and bringing in-house experience from Cure Auto Insurance.
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March 04, 2025
Insurer Says Claims Of Illegally Tracked Info Erase Coverage
An insurer for a fertility treatment provider told an Illinois federal court that an exclusion on the disclosure of personal information precludes commercial general liability coverage for a lawsuit accusing the provider of unlawfully installing tracking technologies to collect website users' private information.
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March 03, 2025
Insurer Seeks Exit After Doctor Rejects Mistaken Surgery Deal
An insurer for a doctor accused of performing the wrong surgery should no longer have a duty to indemnify him after his refusal to ink a settlement, the carrier told a California federal court, noting the doctor's underlying counsel already obtained settlement authority from the insurer.
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February 27, 2025
Calif. State Farm Meeting Raises Solvency Concerns
State Farm's emergency request for a 22% premium increase in California has raised questions about the insurer's financial health, but a prominent consumer group says the carrier hasn't justified that request and several others that would raise premium costs.
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February 27, 2025
4th Circ. Says Trustees Can't Settle Co.'s Suit Against Ex-CEO
Separate bankruptcy trustees for a company and its former CEO have no right to settle the company's fraud claims against the CEO with insurance proceeds from a directors and officers policy, the Fourth Circuit ruled, agreeing with the insurer that only the former CEO himself has consent-to-settle rights.
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February 27, 2025
Facility Says Insurer Flip-Flopped On Wrongful Death Defense
The operator of a skilled nursing facility in Los Angeles told a California federal court that its insurer wrongfully flip-flopped on defending it against a wrongful death suit, telling the court that despite $1 million in coverage, the insurer twice assigned and withdrew defense counsel.
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February 27, 2025
Insurer's Bid To Dodge $1.4M Bank Scam Suit Premature
An insurer cannot yet escape an attorney's demand for coverage in an alleged scheme to steal $1.4 million from a New Jersey development company, a Connecticut federal judge ruled, saying the carrier didn't follow court procedures before it moved to end the case.
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February 27, 2025
Q&A: Minnesota Law Prof On Hard-To-Read Insurance Policies
How hard is it to understand a homeowners insurance policy? For many, reading a policy will often raise more confusion about what's covered than if they hadn't read a policy at all, according to a new paper from experts in insurance and consumer law. Here, Law360 discusses the subject with Daniel Schwarcz, a University of Minnesota Law School professor who has built a career in studying the transparency of insurance markets.
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February 27, 2025
Insurance Litigation Week In Review
New York's insurance regulator imposed over $20 million in fines against auto insurers, the Eighth Circuit found that a Missouri law barred an insurer's $60 million asbestos coverage suit and the Tenth Circuit affirmed that AIG doesn't owe coverage to a Colorado ski resort's homeowners association.
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February 25, 2025
Fla. Bill Targets Last-Resort Coverage For Unsafe Condos
A bill introduced ahead of Florida's 2025 legislative session looks to bar the state's Citizens Property Insurance Corp. from providing or renewing coverage policies for condominiums that fall short of inspection requirements.
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February 24, 2025
Insurer Won't Have To Cover Sports CEO's Child Sex Suits
An insurance company doesn't have to defend the former leader of a sports equipment company against allegations of sexual assault against minors, a Washington federal court said Monday, making final an earlier ruling that said the policies offered no conceivable coverage.
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February 24, 2025
Lloyd's Says Cadwalader's Suit Claims Nonexistent Tort
A Lloyd's of London syndicate has urged a North Carolina judge to toss part of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP's coverage lawsuit stemming from a data breach, saying there's no tort remedy for the allegation that the insurer exposed the firm's confidential information in a court filing.
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February 24, 2025
Insurer Needn't Cover Hospital's $2.5M Virus Vax Probe Costs
A Chubb unit has no obligation to pay an Illinois hospital for $2.5 million in legal costs associated with responding to federal and state probes into its COVID-19 vaccine distribution program, a federal court ruled, finding that the policy's $1 million regulatory claims sublimit applies.
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February 21, 2025
NJ High Court Takes Up Pharma Co. Fraud Coverage Row
The New Jersey Supreme Court will review an appeals court's ruling against indemnification in a case of first impression on the applicability of an exclusion barring directors and officers coverage for wrongful acts "in any way involving" an insured's work for an uninsured entity, the high court announced.
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February 21, 2025
Morgan Lewis Adds Partner To Insurance Recovery Practice
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP announced that it has added a new partner and insurance expert in its Chicago office, in a move to bolster the firm's insurance recovery and dispute resolution capabilities for corporate policyholder clients.
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February 20, 2025
Trump's Anti-DEI Orders Stress Existing D&O Insurance Risks
President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in government and the private sector are putting pressure on companies and insurers, threatening to strain directors and officers policies that were already stressed by a mounting backlash to DEI programs.
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February 20, 2025
Insurer Can't Quickly Exit Broker Premium Theft Row
A Louisiana federal court rejected most arguments made by an insurer seeking to avoid professional liability coverage of a broker whose former employee stole policy premiums and failed to secure insurance for clients, leaving the company to cover around $1 million in Hurricane Laura damage.
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February 20, 2025
Calif. Subrogation Bill Sets Insurers Against Oil Cos.
A California bill that would incentivize insurers to recoup disaster losses from oil and gas companies is being hailed by supporters as a novel way to hold large polluters accountable for climate change, but carrier attorneys say the bill is full of cost-drivers.
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February 20, 2025
9th Circ. OKs Bar On Ponzi Scam Suits Against Chicago Title
The Ninth Circuit on Thursday upheld a ruling barring further litigation against Chicago Title and law firm Nossaman LLP over claims they aided convicted businesswoman Gina Champion-Cain's nearly $400 million liquor-licensing loan Ponzi scheme, finding the litigation bar is necessary to protect the ongoing U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission-appointed receivership.
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February 20, 2025
Del. Judge Nixes Two Insurers In Cheer Abuse Coverage Row
A Delaware state court dismissed two insurers in a coverage dispute over underlying sexual abuse claims against a clothing retailer that also sponsors and organizes national cheerleading competitions, finding while the state's "long-arm statute" supports exercising jurisdiction over the insurers, doing so would violate their due process rights.
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February 20, 2025
NFIP Flood Claim Borrowing Raises Viability Concerns
FEMA's recent announcement that it was borrowing $2 billion from the U.S. Treasury to pay National Flood Insurance Program claims related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton emphasizes the insurance program's need for reform amidst threats of agency cuts under the Trump administration, experts say.
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February 20, 2025
Excess Insurer Needn't Cover Ga. Shooting Suit, Judge Rules
An excess insurer has no duty to defend or indemnify a property owner and manager in a suit over a fatal shooting at an apartment complex, a Georgia federal court ruled, finding that the insureds did not provide timely notice of the incident or lawsuit.
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February 19, 2025
Insurers Must Cover Soybean Loss, NY Appeals Court Affirms
A commodities trading company is entitled to coverage for the loss of over 500,000 bushels of soybeans resulting from a Mississippi-based warehouse's entrance into bankruptcy, a New York state appeals court affirmed.
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February 19, 2025
Insurer Must Cover Trucking Co. In Fatal Fire Row, Judge Says
A trucking company's insurer cannot rely on a hydrofracking exclusion to avoid covering an underlying suit over a fire at a saltwater disposal facility that killed one of the company's employees, a Texas federal court ruled, rejecting the insurer's request for a new trial.
Expert Analysis
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Nevada Justices Could Expand Scope Of Subrogation Claims
The Nevada Supreme Court's recent decision to hear North River Insurance v. James River Insurance could expand the scope of equitable subrogation claims in the state by aligning with the California standard, which doesn't require excess insurers to demonstrate damages, says Daniel Heidtke at Duane Morris.
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How D&O Coverage Can Aid Against Increased AI Scrutiny
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.
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8 Tech Tips For Stress-Free Remote Depositions
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.
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4 Ways Attorneys Can Emotionally Prepare For Trial
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.
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Presidential Campaign Errors Provide Lessons For Trial Attys
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.
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Putting NYDFS AI Cybersecurity Guidance Into Practice
New guidance from the New York Department of Financial Services explains how financial institutions should assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with artificial intelligence, focusing on four main threats and highlighting how varying environments require specific mitigation measures, say attorneys at Saul Ewing.
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Recent Developments In Insurance Coverage For FCA Claims
As the U.S. Department of Justice continues its vigorous False Claims Act enforcement, companies looking to their insurers to help defray the costs of an investigation or settlement should note recent decisions on which types of policies cover FCA claims, which policy periods apply and which portions of FCA-related losses are covered, say attorneys at Covington.
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Consider The Impact Of Election Stress On Potential Jurors
For at least the next few months, potential jurors may be working through anger and distrust stemming from the presidential election, and trial attorneys will need to assess whether those jurors are able to leave their political concerns at the door, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
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NC Ruling Takes Practical Approach To Duty-To-Defend Costs
In Murphy-Brown v. Ace American Insurance, a case of first impression, the North Carolina Business Court adopted the commonsense rationale of many state courts in holding that policyholders' defense costs should be deemed presumtively reasonable when a insurer breaches its duty to defend, say attorneys at McGuireWoods.
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A Look At Insurance Coverage For Government Investigations
Attorneys at Jenner & Block discuss the quirks and potential pitfalls of insurance coverage for government claims and investigations, including those likely to arise from the U.S. Department of Justice's recently announced whistleblower program.
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Why Diversity Jurisdiction Poses Investment Fund Hurdles
Federal courts' continued application of the exacting rules of diversity jurisdiction presents particular challenges for investment funds, and in the absence of any near-term reform, those who manage such funds should take action to avoid diversity jurisdiction pitfalls, say attorneys at Sher Tremonte.
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7 Tips To Help Your Witness Be A Cross-Exam Heavyweight
Because jurors tend to pay a little more attention to cross-examination, attorneys should train their witnesses to strike a balance — making it tough for opposing counsel to make their side’s case, without coming across as difficult to the jury, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
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Insurance Considerations For Cos. That May Face Strikes
The recent surge in major work stoppages in the U.S. highlights the growing importance of strike preparedness for businesses, which includes understanding strike insurance coverage options, say Chris D’Amour and Brooke Duncan at Adams and Reese.