A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
Answering a certified question, the South Carolina Supreme Court determined that the presence of COVID-19 and/or government shutdown orders did not constitute "direct physical loss or damage" to property. Sullivan Mgmt. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 2022 S.C. LEXIS 90 (S.C. Sup. Ct. Aug. 10, 2022).
Sullivan Management, LLC operated…
After reversing the trial court's denial of the insured's petition for declaratory judgment on a business interruption claim, the Louisiana Court of Appeals denied the insurer's motion for rehearing en banc. Cajun Conti LLC v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, 2022 La. App. LEXIS 1278 (La. Ct. App. Aug. 8, 2022).
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The federal district court for the district of Hawaii granted the insurer's motion for summary judgment determining there was not duty to defend and no duty to indemnify the insured under a homeowner's policy. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Rosfeld, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139123 (D. Haw. Aug. 4, 2022).
The…
The court granted the insurer's motion to dismiss after determining that benefits paid for actual cost value (ACV) did not include repair or replacement labor costs. Shahan v. Allstate Vehicle & Prop. Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135488 (W.D. La. July 29, 2022).
Hurricane Laura damaged the insured's home.
The insured's inability to determine when water damage occurred meant it could not pursue claims of property damage against the insurers. Creek v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116939 (W.D. Wash. July 1, 2022).
Gold Creek Condominium complex experienced water damage. The complex was completed…
The federal district court for the district of Hawaii determined the insured's COVID-19 claims were novel and undecided by Hawaii state courts and remanded the case. Hawaii Theatre Center v. Am. Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 152836 (D. Haw. Aug. 25, 2022).
The Theatre sought coverage under its commercial…
The decision is here.
The court denied the insurer's motion for partial summary judgment seeking to dismiss the insured's claim for bad faith in handling his claim. Davis v. Allstate Indem. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93475 (C.D. Cal. April 15, 2022).
On February 5, 2012, Terry Davis had an auto policy with Allstate…
The insurer's motion to cap a potential business interruption claim after the insured failed to provide documentation was denied. Lake Charles Instruments Inc. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116802 (W.D. La. July 2, 2022).
Plaintiff operated a business that was damaged during Hurricane Laura on August 27…
The federal district court found there were multiple occurrences of property damage under a disease contamination provision in the policy. Dental Express, LLC v. Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 119701 (N.D. Ill. July 7, 2022).
Dental Express operated seventy-three dental offices across nine states and the District…
