A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The Ninth Circuit found that the word "dwelling" in a homeowners policy was ambiguous becuase it could take on a broader meaning encompassing multiple structures. Safeco Ins. Co. ov Am. v. Havorson, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 12596 (9th Cir. May 23, 2023).
The issue was whether the homeowners policy eliminated…
The Second Circuit turned to English law to determine the obligations of the reinsurer. Ins. Co. of the State of Pa. v. Equitas Ins. Ltd., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 12461 (2nd Cir. May 22, 2023).
Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania (ICSOP) provided an umbrella policy to a predecessor…
The court found that an incomplete notice of the claim was insufficient to trigger coverage. Gray v. Fla. Peninsula Ins. Co., 2023 Flag. App. LEXIS 3406 (Fla. Ct. App. May 19, 2023).
Hurricane Irma damaged the insureds' roof when it struck on September 10, 2017. A Florida statute required that…
The court granted summary judgment to the insurer on the insured's claim for bad faith due to denial of the claim. Treigle v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87786 (E.D. La. May 19, 2023).
The insured's home sustained serious water damage due to Hurricane…
The Rhode Island Supreme Court found that the insured's request for appraisal was timely after it was renewed several years after the loss. Romen v. Allstate Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2023 R.I. LEXIS 46 (R.I. May 3, 2023).
The insureds suffered a loss due to ice and flood on…
The lower court correctly reformed the policy to replace the prior owner with the new owner as an additional insured under the policy. Wesco Ins. Co. v. Fulmont Mut. Ins. Co., 2023 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2650 (N. Y. App. Div. May 11, 2023).
Beyond was sued as owner of…
The magistrate judge recommended that the insurer's motion for summary judgment be denied, finding a material issue of fact regard the cause of loss after Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Armstrong v. Amguard Ins Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76869 (E.D. Texas, April 14, 2023).
The policy excluded damage caused by…
The court rejected the insurers argument that a cyber attack initiated by the Russia Federation precluded coverage under the policies' hostile/warlike action exclusion. Merck & Co. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., 2021 N.J. Super. LEXIS 43 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law Div. May 1, 2023).
Merck held all-risk policies issued by…
The court dismissed the insured's complaint against the agent for alleged failure to procure proper coverage. Asphalt Recovery Specialists, Inc. v. Gallagher, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 73112 (D. Colo. March 23, 2023).
Asphalt Recover Specialists, Inc. (ARS) engaged Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to procure an environmental liability poilcy that…
The court found there was no coverage for wind damage under a policy that expressly stated it did not cover windstorm. Chesnutt v. Southern Pilot Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66900 (E.D. N.C. April 17, 2023).
The Chesnutts had a policy issued by Southern Pilot that stated in bold…
