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Insurance
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February 20, 2025
Zurich Expects To Cough Up $200M For LA Wildfires Claims
Insurance giant Zurich said Thursday it expects to take a $200 million hit from the fires that swept Los Angeles in January, in which approximately 30 people were killed and more than 18,000 structures were destroyed or damaged.
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February 19, 2025
MDL Plaintiffs Misread Blackout Protocols, Texas Justices Told
Transmission and distribution utility providers told Texas justices Wednesday that the thousands of plaintiffs in the multidistrict litigation stemming from a crippling winter storm in 2021 "misunderstand" how load-shedding protocols work as it pushed the court to free it of the final two claims in the MDL.
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February 19, 2025
Fla. Court Won't Revive Property Manager's COVID Claims
A Florida state appeals court on Wednesday said a lower court correctly ruled that a Miami property management company's insurance policy did not cover losses caused by COVID-19 closures because government shutdown orders were not specific to the business.
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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
No Coverage For Seller In NY Ghost Gun Suits, Insurer Says
The insurer for a company suspected of selling components used to make illegal "ghost guns" told a New York federal court that it owed no coverage for three underlying government suits alleging that the company contributed to the sale of weapons that are harder for law enforcement to trace.
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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.
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February 18, 2025
1st Circ. Backs Strict View Of Kickback Law In Blow To FCA
In an eagerly awaited ruling, the First Circuit on Tuesday said a major avenue for False Claims Act enforcement requires proof that kickbacks directly changed treatment decisions, a holding that creates a lopsided circuit split as well as significant challenges for the U.S. Department of Justice and the plaintiffs bar.
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February 18, 2025
Home Insurer Off The Hook In $750K Policy Lapse Dispute
A Washington federal judge has tossed a suit seeking $750,000 in coverage from two Progressive units after a fire severely damaged a home, saying the homeowners had let the coverage expire by not paying premiums, even though the insurer's renewal notice was "not a paragon of clarity."
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February 18, 2025
How Ga. Hopes To Leash Injury Suits And Litigation Funders
The opening weeks of Georgia's legislative session have seen Republican lawmakers make their most forceful push in years to overhaul the state's civil justice system, placing premises liability and third-party litigation funding squarely in their crosshairs.
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February 18, 2025
J&J Talc Unit Launches 2-Week $10B Ch. 11 Settlement Trial
A Johnson & Johnson spinoff began its case Tuesday for a $10 billion Chapter 11 settlement of the company's talc liability before a Texas bankruptcy judge while opponents of the deal questioned the legitimacy of the bankruptcy case and the plan vote.
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February 18, 2025
Meta Repeats Push To Halt Social Media Coverage Row In Del.
Meta urged a Delaware federal court again to stay coverage proceedings over underlying claims it deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive to adolescents, noting the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation may soon transfer the case to California federal court, where the underlying litigation is taking place.
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February 18, 2025
Acccounting Firm Blames Broker For Losing $1M In Coverage
A Texas accounting firm accused its insurance broker of causing it to lose $1 million coverage by failing to inform an excess insurer that the firm was subpoenaed in connection with the investigation of a $12 million seismic data collection company embezzlement scheme, the broker told a Texas federal court.
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February 18, 2025
Calif. Insurance Chief Asks State Farm To Justify Rate Hikes
California's insurance commissioner asked State Farm General Insurance Co. to appear for an in-person "informal conference" later this month over its request for emergency rate hikes in the wake of the deadly Los Angeles wildfires in January, saying the insurer has not yet justified the move.
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February 18, 2025
Firm Says Insurer Refused To Repay It For $1.5M Cyber Theft
A law firm claimed its cyber insurer refused to reimburse it after hackers allegedly stole more than $1.5 million that was supposed to go to an attorney who had teamed up with the firm on a personal injury case.
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February 18, 2025
Plaintiffs Atty Flags 'Worst' Parts Of Georgia's Tort Reform
A ban on proposing damages amounts to juries in order to "anchor" them, and easier access to two-phase trials, are the worst parts of a proposed "sweeping" tort reform package being pushed heavily by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, according to a prominent plaintiffs attorney.
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February 14, 2025
Insurers Say Del. Ruling Caps Redstone, NAI Coverage
Four insurers for National Amusements Inc. and Shari Redstone are pointing to a recent Delaware Supreme Court ruling as supporting their claim that common, underlying wrongful acts bar two separate multimillion-dollar coverage claims for litigation costs in 2016 and 2019 focused on control of CBS and Viacom.
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February 14, 2025
Insurer Can Proceed With Miami Retaliation Coverage Dispute
A Florida federal court partially rejected on Friday a magistrate judge's dismissal recommendations in a dispute between the city of Miami and an insurer over coverage for underlying lawsuits that allege political retaliation, allowing the parties to litigate the insurer's potential duty to defend.
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February 14, 2025
Smithfield Fires Back At 'Improper' CLO Deposition Bid
Smithfield Foods Inc. urged North Carolina's Business Court not to let a Chubb unit depose the pork producer's legal chief, calling the insurer's motion from last week an "improper and untimely attempt to seek discovery that Ace could have pursued before the fact discovery deadline."
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February 14, 2025
Drug Costs, State Laws Fuel Push For Fed. Action On PBMs
Skyrocketing prescription drug costs and a proliferation of state laws are driving renewed calls from employers and benefit plan administrators for Congress to enact federal legislation changing how pharmacy benefit managers do business, experts say.
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February 14, 2025
Calif. Insurance Chief Backs Wildfire Mitigation, Recovery Bills
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced his support Friday for a slew of bills aimed at addressing wildfire mitigation and recovery, including measures to maximize insurance claim payouts and stabilize the state's insurer of last resort.
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February 14, 2025
Insurer Goes After Another In $3.5M Sewer Damage Suit
A subcontractor's insurer lodged a third-party complaint against a Liberty Mutual unit in Colorado federal court, accusing it of reaching a "collusive" $730,000 consent agreement in an underlying sewer rupture dispute and arguing that the unit should've paid its full $2 million limit instead.
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February 14, 2025
Nonprofit Not Covered For Palestine Protest Suit, Insurer Says
An insurer said it has no duty to defend or indemnify a social justice organization against a proposed class action concerning a Chicago protest in support of Palestine, telling a New York federal court the allegations against the Westchester County foundation don't fall within its policies' scopes of coverage.
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February 14, 2025
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London
This past week in London has seen Spice Girls star Mel B's ex-husband bring a defamation claim against the publisher of The Sun, a hotel sue a former director convicted of embezzling its funds for breach of fiduciary duty, and comedian Russell Brand face a sexual abuse claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
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February 13, 2025
UnitedHealth Can't Escape All Claims In AI Denial Suit
A Minnesota federal judge Thursday allowed Medicare Advantage patients and the estates of deceased enrollees to pursue breach of contract claims against UnitedHealth over its alleged use of AI to override physician recommendations, finding they are not preempted by the Medicare Act, but tossed others by holding they are preempted.
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February 13, 2025
Oil & Gas Co.'s Antitrust Suit Baseless, Insurers Say
Insurers who hold surety bonds in an oil company and have been accused of colluding with other bondholders to demand additional collateral have urged a Texas federal court to dismiss the antitrust allegations against them, saying the dispute is contractual only.
Expert Analysis
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4 Do's And Don'ts For Trial Lawyers Using Generative AI
Trial attorneys who use artificial intelligence tools should review a few key reminders, from the likelihood that prompts are discoverable to the rapid evolution of court rules, to safeguard against embarrassing missteps, says Nate Sabri at Perkins Coie.
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Series
Competitive Weightlifting Makes Me A Better Lawyer
The parallels between the core principles required for competitive weightlifting and practicing law have helped me to excel in both endeavors, with each holding important lessons about discipline, dedication, drive and failure, says Damien Bielli at VF Law.
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NC COVID Ruling May Have Greater Coverage Implications
While the North Carolina Supreme Court's recent finding in favor of policyholders in a suit for business interruption coverage due to COVID-19 comes too late for most insureds to benefit, it should nonetheless have coverage implications far beyond COVID-19 claims, say attorneys at Robinson Bradshaw.
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Year Of The Snake Will Shake Up RE And Mortgage Finance
The year ahead may bring profound transformation and opportunities for growth in the real estate and mortgage finance sectors, with significant issues including policy battles and questions surrounding the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, says Marty Green at Polunsky Beitel.
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11th Circ. TCPA Ruling Signals Erosion Of Judicial Deference
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently came to the rescue of the lead generation industry, striking down new regulations that were set to go into effect on Jan. 27, a decision consistent with federal courts' recent willingness to review administrative decisions, say attorneys at Troutman.
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How Ill. Ruling Could Influence Future Data Breach Cases
The Illinois Supreme Court's recent decision in Petta v. Christie Business Holding, which was based solely on standing, establishes an important benchmark for the viability of Illinois-based lawsuits arising out of data security incidents that defendants can cite in future cases, say attorneys at Wilson Elser.
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Opinion
Inconsistent Injury-In-Fact Rules Hinder Federal Practice
A recent Third Circuit decision, contradicting a previous ruling about whether consumers of contaminated products have suffered an injury in fact, illustrates the deep confusion this U.S. Supreme Court standard creates among federal judges and practitioners, who deserve a simpler method of determining which cases have federal standing, says Eric Dwoskin at Dwoskin Wasdin.
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Virginia AI Bills Could Serve As Nationwide Model
If signed into law, two Virginia bills focused on regulating the use of high-risk AI systems in the private and public sectors have the potential to influence similar legislation in other states, as well as the compliance strategies of companies operating in the commonwealth and across the U.S., say attorneys at Woods Rogers.
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2 Anti-Kickback Developments Hold Lessons For Biopharma
The U.S. Department of Justice's Anti-Kickback Statute settlement with QOL Medical and a favorable advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide a study in contrasts, but there are tips for biopharma manufacturers trying to navigate the vast compliance space between them, says Mary Kohler at Kohler Health Law.
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In-House Counsel Pointers For Preserving Atty-Client Privilege
Several recent rulings illustrate the challenges in-house counsel can face when attempting to preserve attorney-client privilege, but a few best practices can help safeguard communications and effectively assert the privilege in an increasingly scrutinized corporate environment, says Daniel Garrie at Law & Forensics.
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5 Argument Techniques For Policyholder Advocates
Winning insurance coverage disputes often comes down to who has articulated the more compelling interpretation of the relevant policy language, which is why the best policyholder advocates come back to certain tried and true argument approaches, says Greg Van Houten at Haynes Boone.
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Disability Ruling Guides On Cases With Uncertain Causation
In Dime v. MetLife, a Washington federal court’s recent ruling in favor of a disability claimant instructs both claimants and insurers on the appropriate standard for establishing and making a disability determination when there is limited medical evidence explaining the disability’s cause, says Mark DeBofsky at DeBofsky Law.
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Improving Comms Between Trial Attys And Tech Witnesses
In major litigation involving complex technology, attorneys should employ certain strategies to collaborate with companies' technical personnel more effectively to enhance both the attorney's understanding of the subject matter and the expert's ability to provide effective testimony in court, say attorneys at Buchalter.
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Series
Collecting Rare Books Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My collection of rare books includes several written or owned by prominent lawyers from early U.S. history, and immersing myself in their stories helps me feel a deeper connection to my legal practice and its purpose, says Douglas Brown at Manatt Health.
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Opinion
Judge Should Not Have Been Reprimanded For Alito Essay
Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor's New York Times essay critiquing Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for potential ethical violations absolutely cannot be construed as conduct prejudicial to the administration of the business of the courts, says Ashley London at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.