A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The California Supreme Court considered whether the calculation for punitive damages may include attorneys' fees expended to obtain benefits determined after the jury has rendered its punitive damages verdict. Nickerson v. Stonebridge Life Ins. Co., 2016 Cal. LEXIS 3757 (Cal. June 9, 2016).
The insured broke his leg on February 11, 2008, when he…
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the jury verdict which determined that the insurer acted in bad faith for failing to settle within policy limits. Bamford, Inc. v. Regent Ins. Co., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 8787 (8th Cir. May 13, 2016).
In May 2009, an employee of Bamford caused a vehicular accident resulting in…
The Iowa Supreme Court found that a separate action against the insurer for bad faith, filed after judgment was entered against the insurer on breach of contract, was barred by claim preclusion. Villarreal v. United Fire & Cas. Co., 2016 Iowa LEXIS 1 (Jan. 8, 2016).
The insureds' restaurant was severely damaged by…
In an important decision regarding bad faith and the application of the work product doctrine to work performed by an insurer's in-house counsel, the Hawaii Supreme Court vacated the Intermediate Court of Appeals's upholding the trial court's award of summary judgment to a title insurer on the issue of bad faith. Anastasi v. Fid. …
The Eighth Circuit determined that filing an interpleader action in the face of multiple claims against the policy holder did not constitute bad faith. Purscell v. Tico Ins. Co., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10438 (8th Cir. June 22, 2015).
Ben Purscell's vehicle collided with another vehicle, in which Tim and Amy Carr…
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's determination that cosmetic damage to the insured's roof was covered. Advance Cable Co., LLC v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 788 F. 3d 743 (7th Cir. 2015).
The insured submitted a claim to its insurer, Cincinnati, for damage to the metal roof of its building caused by a…
The Sixth Circuit rejected the insurer's claim for reverse bad faith against its insured who made a fraudulent claim after her home was destroyed by fire. State Auto Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Hargis, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 7475 (6th Cir. April 23, 2015).
The insured's home burned to the ground…
While some of their claims were dismissed, plaintiffs' breach of fiduciary duty survived the insurer's motion to dismiss. Senft v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61870 (D. N.J. May 12, 2015).
Plaintiffs' waterfront home was insured by Fireman's Fund. Plaintiffs alleged that the broker represented that the policy…
The federal district court considered a variety of discovery requests by the insured in a bad faith case against State Farm. Stephens v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 2015 WL 1638516 (M.D. Pa. April 13, 2015).
The insured plaintiff was a quadriplegic. His complaint alleged that he notified State Farm, through…
The insured's claim for bad faith investigation regarding their hail damage claim did not survive the insurer's motion for summary judgment. Amarillo Hospitality Tenant, LLC v. Mass. Bay Ins. Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56228 (N. D. Tex. April 29, 2015).
A hailstorm caused damage to the Courtyard Marriot. The day after…
