A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The federal district court granted the insurer’s motion for summary judgment finding there was no coverage for an employee’s injury due to the policy’s Workers’ Compensation exclusion. Houston Spec. Ins. Co. v. Villanueva, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 255989 (E.D. Wash. Dec. 10, 2025).
Heavy Metal Carports Inc. (HMC) secured a policy from Houston Specialty…
The Supreme Court of Maryland upheld the insured's assignment of a post-loss claim despite the policy's anti-assignment provision. In re Featherfall Restoration, LLC, 2025 Md. LEXIS 294 (Md. July 24, 2025).
The insureds purchased a "High Value' homeowners policy from Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company for their residence. The…
The court reversed dismissal of all claims against the insurers for a work-related death after determining that policy exclusions conflicted with statutory mandates on coverage. Waiau, et al. v. Hawaii Employers' Mut. Ins. Co, Inc., et al., 2024 Haw. App, LEXIS 583 (Haw. Ct. App., Dec. 31, 2014).
Amos K.
The Ninth Circuit, applying Oregon law, limited the scope of the insuring agreement for "damages because of 'bodily injury'" and found there was no duty to defend. Bliss Sequoia Ins. & Risk Advisors, Inc. v. Allied Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 29905 (9th Cir. Oct. 27, 2022).
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The South Carolina Supreme Court held that a post-loss assignment of rights under the policy was valid even though consent of the insurer was not requested. PCS Nitrogen, Inc. v. Cont'l Cas. Co., 2022 S.C. LEIXS 54 (S.C. April 13, 2022).
In 1966, Columbia Nitrogen Corporation (Old CNC) began operating…
The Florida Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's granting summary judgment to the insurer after failing to abide by an assignment to which it was not a party. Expert Inspections, LLC v. United Property & Cas. Ins. Co., 2022 Fla. App. LEXIS 88 (Fla. Ct. App. Jan. 5, 2022).
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The Colorado Supreme Court determined that the insurer defending under a reservation of rights could not intervene in the underlying case after the insured assigned its rights to any bad faith claim against the insurer. Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Bolt Factory Lofts Owners Ass'n, Inc., 2021 Colo. LEXIS 365 (Colo. May 24…
Oklahoma joined the majority of court in finding that after a loss occurs, the insured can assign the policy to another. Johnson v. CSAA Gen. Ins. Co., 2020 Okla LEXIS 118 (Okla. Dec. 15, 2020).
Johnson's property was damaged in a storm. She filed a claim with her insurer. She…
The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's denial of the policy holder's assignment to his contractor of claims under his homeowners policy. 33 Carpenters Construction, Inc v. Cincinnati Ins. Co.,2020 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 15 (Iowa Feb. 14, 2020).
The insured's home suffered damage from a hailstorm and windstorm. He…
The Florida Court of Appeal upheld an assignment of benefits provision that required signatures of all insureds and mortgagees. Restoration 1 of Port St. Lucie v. Ark Royal Ins. Co., 2018 Fla. App. LEXIS 12633 (Fla. Ct. App. Sept. 5, 2018).
Ark Royal issued a homeowner's policy to the insureds. …
