A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The magistrate recommended that insurer's motion for summary judgment be granted due to the insureds' expert's inability to present genuine issues of material fact. Walker v. Century Sur. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142408 (E.D. Texas July 17, 2023).
The insureds' property sustained damage from Hurricane Laura. Colonial Claims inspected…
Thank you to Think Tech Hawaii and my partner Na Lan for inviting me to discuss pursuing claims after the Lahaina fire. The video of the interview is here.
The federal district court certified questions to the Hawaii Supreme Court regarding coverage for underlying allegations of greenhouse gas emissions. Aloha Petroleum, Ltd. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156211 (D. Haw. Sept. 5, 2023).
Aloha was sued in two lawsuits, one filed by…
The court denied the non-insureds motion to compel arbitration, but compelled arbitration for the insurer and insured. Ill. Cas. Co. v. Kladek, Inc., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131677 (D. Minn. July 31 2023).
In the underlying case, several models sued Kladek, Inc., alleging that Kladek used photos of them in…
The claimant's argument that he was misled by agents on benefits under disability policies was overruled on summary judgment and affirmed by the appellate court. Wooten v. Northwestern Mut. Life Ins. Co., 2023 Tex. App. LEXIS 5653 (Tex. Ct. App. July 31, 2023).
Wrenn Wooten, a MRI radiologist, purchased seven…
The court denied, in part, the insurer's motion for summary judgment that argued the insured made an insufficient showing of entitlement to Actual Cash Value (ACV) payments under the policy. RR Restoration, LLC v. Empire Indem. Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129388 (M.D. Fla. July 16, 2023).
Amblewood Condominium…
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals determined an occurrence could follow the insured's intentional act when the harm caused was not intentional. Riverbank Farms v. Saukville Feed Supplies, 2023 Wisc. App. LEXIS 813 (Wis. Ct. App. July 26, 2023).
Riverback was a dairy farm. It purchased feed mix from Saukville. Riverback's…
The court denied a motion to compel an appraisal upon determining the cause of the loss was still at issue. QBE Sec. Ins. Co., et al. v. The Enclave at Oak Hill Owners Association, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107040 (S.D. Ala. June 21, 2023).
Buildings at the Enclave were…
The court dismissed the insured's claims, but allowed the insured to file an amended compliant on its claim for deceptive and unfair trade practices. Cornerstone Assembly of God, Inc. v. Brotherhood Mut. Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113864.
The insured church held a policy issued by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance…
The Florida Court of Appeal overturned the jury's verdict findng loss caused by collapse. Universal Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Caboverde, 2023 Fla. App. LEXIS 4474 (Fla. Ct. App. June 28, 2023).
The insured homeowners had two claims. One was a 2016 ceiling collapse; the second was loss caused…
