Our post last week addressed the duty to defend when alleged faulty workmanship caused loss to property adjacent to where the insured was working. See Pamerin Rentals II, LLC v. R.G. Hendricks & Sons Constr., Inc., 2012 Wis. App. LEXIS 698 (Wis. Ct. App. Sept. 5, 2012) [post here]. Today, we report
Comprehensive General Liability
Cogently Written Opinion Finds Coverage for Loss Caused By Defective Concrete
If ever in need of a concise, well-reasoned opinion on "occurrence," "property damage" and applicability of the business risk exclusions, turn to Pamperin Rentals II, LLC v. R.G. Hendricks & Sons Construction, Inc., 2012 Wis Ct. App. LEXIS 698 (Wis. Ct. App. Sept. 5, 2012).
A contractor was hired to install concrete during…
“Personal Injury” Caused By Wrongful Entry Found Ambiguous
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the "personal injury" provisions to be ambiguous when asked whether the migration of sand constituted a "wrongful entry" or "invasion of the right of private occupancy" under the policy. FLM, LLC v. The Cincinnati Ins. Co., 2012 Ind. Ct. App. LEXIS 411 (Ind. Ct. App. Aug. 28, 2012).
FLM…
Meaning of “Sudden” in Pollution Exclusion Found Ambiguous
The New Mexico Supreme Court considered whether the word "sudden" found in the pollution exclusion of a liability policy was ambiguous. See United Nuclear Corp. v. Allstate Ins. Co., No. 32,939 (N.M. Aug. 23, 2012).
United Nuclear operated several uranium mines in New Mexico from the 1960s through the early 1980s. At Church…
Insurer Has Duty to Disclose Insured’s Interest In Obtaining Written Explanation of Arbitration Award
The issue faced by the Minnesota Supreme Court was whether the insurer had a duty to disclose the insured's interest in obtaining a written explanation of an arbitration award that identified the claims of recovery and the portions of the award attributable to each. Remodeling Dimensions, Inc. v. Integrity Mut. Ins. Co., 2012…
Judge Kobayashi Determines No Coverage for Construction Defect Claim
Judge Kobayashi of the U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, largely followed earlier precedent established by Judge Mollway in finding no coverage for construction defect claims. See Evanston v. Nagano, 2012 WL 3800320 (D. Hawaii Aug. 31, 2012).
Evanston issued several liability policies to the insured contractor from 2002 and 2011. The insured…
No Coverage for Counterclaim Alleging Construction Defects Pled as Breach of Contract
The Colorado Court of Appeals considered whether counterclaims against the insured for alleged faulty construction work were based in contract or constituted allegations of an "accident" under the policy. TCD, Inc. v. Am. Family Mutual Ins. Co., 2012 WL 1231964 (Colo. Ct. App. April 12, 2012).
The developer, Frisco Gateway Center, LLC, contracted…
California Supreme Court Adopts All-Sums-With-Stacking-Rule Approach to Long-Tail Claims
In a long awaited decision regarding California's liability for damages caused by the Stringfellow Acid Pits case, the California Supreme Court adopted the "all sums" method of allocating coverage among multiple insurers for long-tail claims. Further, the court concluded that stacking of policy limits was consistent with the CGL policy language. See State v. …
Insurer Must Defend in “Personal Injury” and/or “Advertising Injury” Suit
The California Court of Appeal reversed the trial court's ruling and held that the insurer had a duty to defend a "personal injury" and/or "advertising injury" suit. See Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. Charlotte Russe Holding, Inc., 2012 Cal. Ct. App. LEXIS 807 (Cal. Ct. App. July 13, 2012).
A clothing…
No Right To Select Counsel When Insurer Agrees to Defend Under Reservation of Rights
The Fifth Circuit rejected the insured's argument that under Texas law it had a right to select its own counsel after the insurer agreed to defend, but under a reservation of rights. Navigator v. Nautilus Ins. Co., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 13342 (5th Cir. June 20, 2012).
The insured serviced the oil drilling…