The policy's anti-concurrent causation clause preserved the possibility of coverage when the insurer's motion for summary judgment to disclaim its indemnity obligation for damage caused by Hurricane Sandy was overturned by the Second Circuit. Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc. v. Great Northern Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 29821 (Oct. 23, 2018 2nd
Connecticutt Class Action on Collapse Claims Faces Motion to Dismiss
The federal district court dismissed some insurers from a class action suit alleging failure to provide coverage for collapse claims. Halloran v. Harleysville Preferred Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179807 (D. Conn. Oct. 19, 2018).
A class of homeowners brought suit in 2016 against their homeowners insurance companies ("defendants")
Full Coverage Extended for Loss of BitCoin
The Court of Common Pleas in Ohio determined that BitCoin was property and denied the insurer's motion for judgment on the pleadings seeking to establish there was limited coverage for the loss. Kimmelman v. Wayne Ins. Group, 2018 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1953 (Ohio Misc. Sept. 25, 2018).
James Kimmelman submitted
Ohio Supreme Court Holds No Occurence Arises from Subcontractor’s Faulty Workmanship
The Ohio Supreme Court bucked the modern trend by finding that there was no coverage under CGL policy's the subcontractor's exception for faulty workmanship claimed against the insured. Ohio N. Univ. v. Charles Constr. Servs. 2018 Ohio LEXIS 2375 (Ohio Oct. 9, 2018).
The University contracted with Charles Construction Services, Inc.
Data Breach Does Not Constitute “Personal Injury” Under CGL Policy
The federal district court agreed with the insurer that there was no coverage for the insured's causing a data breach. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Rosen Millennium, Inc., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173072 (M. D. Fla. Sept. 28, 2018).
Millennium provided data security services for Rosen Hotels
Insurer Liable for Bad Faith Despite Actions of Insured Contributing to Excess Judgment
Reversing the intermediate appellate court, the Florida Supreme Court held the insurer liable for bad faith despite imperfect actions by the insured. Harvey v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., 2018 Fla. LEXIS 1705 (Fla. Sept. 20, 2018).
Insured James Harvey was involved in an auto accident in which the other driver
Questions of Fact Regarding Collapse of Basement Walls Prevent Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment
The court denied the insurer's motion for summary judgment on whether the policy covered the collapse of basement walls based upon factual issues presented. Sirois v. USAA Cas. Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 158508 (D. Conn. Sept. 18, 2018).
The insureds' purchased their home in 2010. In December 2015
Coverage Denied Where Occurrence Takes Place Outside Coverage Territory
The court held there was no coverage for construction defect claims that occurred outside the coverage territory. Foremost Signature Ins. Co. v. Silverboys, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 154524 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 11, 2018).
Solo Design, LLC, a Miami-based design company, entered into a contract with Silverboys, LLC (Owner) to provide
Relying Upon Improper Exclusion to Deny Coverage Allows Bad Faith Claim to Survive Summary Judgment
The insurer was successful on summary judgment in establishing it correctly denied coverage for collapse, but its motion was denied regarding the insureds' bad faith claim. Jones v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153102 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 7, 2018).
The insureds' retaining wall collapsed. They
Thoughts and Prayers Going Out to Saipan and Tinian
Having lived and worked in the Northern Mariana Islands for ten years during the 1990's, I followed the approach of Super Typhoon Yutu and its direct hit on Tinian and southern Saipan with concern. It was barely a week ago that the typhoon arrived. A category 5 storm with winds at 180 miles