Affirming the district court, the Eighth Circuit found that deteriorated bags which unintentionally mixed with landscaping materials did not amount to property damage under the CGL policy. Decker Plastics Corp. v. West Bend Mut. Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 2085 (8th Cir. Jan. 29, 2018). The district court's decision was the
Comprehensive General Liability
Duty to Defend Owed From Date of Window Installation Even Absent Allegations As To When Property Damage Occurred
By Tred R. Eyerly on
In a long-standing dispute between a window manufacturer and its insurer, the federal district court found that the insurer was obligated to pay defense costs from the date of installation of the alleged faulty windows even though the underlying complaints did not allege when the damage occurred. Pella Corp. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. …
No Coverage Defenses After Two-Year Delay to Appear In Declaratory Judgment Action
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The federal district court found that the insurer was estopped from asserting coverage defenses after taking no action for two years before appearing in a declaratory judgment action filed by the insured. Sentinel Ins. Co. v. Walsh Constr. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6487 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 16, 2018).
Walsh…
Construction Defect Claim Not Covered
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The insured general contractor was not covered for alleged faulty workmanship in constructing a home. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Luu, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190983 (N.D. Ga. Nov. 17, 2017).
Luu, the homeowner, contracted with Diamond for the purchase of a lot and building of a new home. After the…
Additional Insured Is Covered Under On-Going Operations Endorsement Despite Subcontractor’s Completion of Work
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Although the homeowners did not own their homes when the subcontractors completed their work, the general contractor was still covered as an additional insured for the homeowners' suits based on the ongoing operations endorsement in the subcontractors' policies. McMillin Mgmt. Servs. v. Fin. Pac. Ins. Co., 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 1000 (Cal.
Insurer Has Duty to Indemnify But No Duty to Defend
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The court found that the insurer was obligated to indemnify, but not to defend the insured. Old Republic Ins. Co. v. Kenny Constr. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 189412 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 31, 2017).
Kenny Construction Company was hired by the Army Corp of Engineers to work on the Chicago…
New Jersey Court Adopts Continuous Trigger for Construction Defect Claims
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, adopted the continuous trigger for establishing which insurers were on the risk for construction defect claims. Air Master & Cooling, Inc. v. Selective Ins. Co. of Am., 2017 N.J. Super. LEXIS 144 (N.J. Super. Ct., App. Div. Oct. 10, 2017).
The insured, Air Master, worked…
Coverage, Bad Faith Upheld In Construction Defect Case
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's finding of coverage for faulty workmanship allegations and bad faith by the insurer. Pulte Home Corp. v. Am Safety Indem. Co., 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 748 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 30, 2017).
Pulte Home Corporation was the general contractor and developer…
General Contractor Entitled to Defense against Claims of Faulty Workmanship
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The South Dakota Supreme Court found that the general contractor was entitled to a defense against the homeowners' claims of defective workmanship. Lowery Constr. & Concrete, LLC v. Owners Ins. Co., 2017 S.D. LEXIS 107 (S.D. Aug. 30, 2017).
After the homeowners moved into the home built by the insured…
Hawaii Federal District Court Denies Brokers’ MSJ on Duties Owed In Construction Defect Case
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The federal district court for the District of Hawaii denied the brokers' motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal from claims that they inadequately advised the insured of the law regarding construction defects in Hawaii. Am Auto. Ins. Co. v. Haw. Nut & Bolt, Inc., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148571.
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