A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The insured Developer survived a motion to dismiss by one of several carriers who were asked to defend against claims for faulty workmanship. East 111 Assoc. LLC v. RLI Ins. Co., 2019 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 5331 (Oct. 4, 2019).
Developers sponsored a residential condominium project and sold all units. The…
The Seventh Circuit reversed and remanded for consideration of reformation of the professional liability policy after the district court found there was no coverage. Crum & Forster Spec. Ins. Co. v. DVO, Inc., 939 F. 3d 852 (7th Cir. 2019).
WTE-S&S AG Enterprise, LLC sued DVO for breach of contract.
While affirming the district court's denial of coverage under policies that defined occurrence as an accident, the Third Circuit remanded for further consideration of the policies containing an expected and intended definition of occurrence. Sapa Extrusions, Inc. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 27668 (Sept. 13, 2019).
…
The Magistrate Judge for the Federal District Court of Hawaii recommended a finding that there was no coverage under the deceased driver's car rental policy or rental agreement for an accident caused by reckless driving. Praetorian Ins. Co. v. Estate of Apo, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164489 (D Haw. Sept. 6, 2019). …
Applying Nevada law, the Federal District Court in Florida found that the general contractor was entitled to a defense of claims based upon alleged faulty workmanship of a subcontractor. KB Home Jacksonville LLC v. Liberty Mutual Fire Ins. Co, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151235 (M.D. Fla. Sept 5, 2019).
KB…
The insurer's efforts to exclude two of the insured's experts in a collapse case were unsuccessful. Hudon Specialty Ins. Co. v. Talex Enterprises, LLC, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150148 (S.D. Miss. Sept. 4, 2019).
The insureds' building collapsed. The remaining portions of the building required immediate stabilization. The insureds hired…
The court granted the insurer's motion for summary judgment, confirming there was no duty to defend or indemnify a construction defect claim against the insured. Fontaine Bros. v. Acadia Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148056 (D. Mass. Aug. 29, 2019).
The City of Worcester contracted with Fontaine Brothers, Inc.
My partner and blogging colleague [blog here] at Damon Key, Robert Thomas, received a well-deserved appointment this week. Robert will serve as a new member of the American Law Institute and will bring his expertise to ALI. ALI clarifies the law through Restatement, Principles, and Model Codes. Among his many talents, Robert…
The Fifth Circuit certified a question to the Texas Supreme Court about the use of extrinsic evidence in determining the insurer's duty to defend. State Farm Lloyds v. Richards, et al, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 27221 (5th Cir. Sept. 9, 2019).
The insureds' grandson was killed in an all-terrain vehicle…
Facing yet another collapse claim based upon alleged poorly mixed cement, the Federal District Court in Connecticut denied the insurer's motion to dismiss. Oliveria v. Safeco Ins Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147256 (D. Conn. Aug. 29, 2019).
In 1993, the insureds' purchased their home that had been built in…
