If the named insured does not satisfy the self-insured retention (SIR), can the additional insured undertake payment to trigger coverage? Looking at the language of the policies under consideration, the court answered no in Forecast Homes, Inc. v. Steadfast Ins. Co., No. G040876, 2010 Cal. App. LEXIS 172 (Cal. Ct. App. Jan. 12
Comprehensive General Liability
Additional Insured Survives Summary Judgment on Duty to Defend
Does a policy's Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement bar primary coverage for an additional insured with a policy of its own? Although the court answered yes in Kummer Enter., Inc. v. HBE Corp., No. 1:09-cv-109, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6403 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 27, 2010), it nevertheless determined the additional insured was entitled to a…
Insurer May Have Duty to Indemnify Even Where No Duty to Defend
The Texas Supreme Court recently held that an insurer may have a duty to indemnify even if the duty to defend never arises. See D.R. Horton-Texas, Ltd. v. Markel Int'l Ins. Co, Ltd., No. 06-1018, 2009 Tex. LEXIS 1042 (Tex. Dec. 11, 2009).
The homeowners purchased their house from D.R. Horton. After moving…
Exclusion Precludes Coverage for Additional Insured
Allegations in the underlying complaint proved crucial in analyzing coverage for an additional insured under Texas' eight-corners rule. See The Burlington N. and Santa Fe R. R. Co. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., No. 08-06-00022CV, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 9347 (Tex. Ct. App. Dec. 9, 2009).
The railroad entered…
Additional Insureds Covered in Suit For Helicopter Crash
Complicated facts but easily understood legal standards were presented in Breaux v. Halliburton Energy Serv., Inc., No. 04-1636, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112374 (E.D. La. Dec. 2, 2009).
Era Aviation, Inc., a subsidiary of Rowan Companies, Inc., transported oil field workers by helicopter to an offshore drilling vessel in the Gulf owned by Unocal. …
No Coverage After Contractor Voluntarily Fixes Hurricane Damage
Coverage for an insured contractor sued after hurricane related-damage to condominium units was the issue in Rolyn Companies, Inc. v. R & J Sales of Texas, Inc., No. 08-61618, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106881 (S.D. Fla. Nov. 16, 2009).
In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma damaged Stonebridge Gardens, a condominium community. The association hired…
Additional Insureds Not Entitled to Notice of Policy’s Cancellation
Defendants were sued in an underlying state court action. See Riverport Ins. Co. v. Oakland Cmty. Housing, Inc., No. C 08-3883, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104472 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 6, 2009). Defendants were additional insureds under a policy issued by Riverport. In its coverage action for declaratory judgment, Riverport secured an order awarding summary judgment that determined there…
Landlord Covered as Additional Insured under Tenant’s Policy
An employee of Nava Restaurant was injured when he fell down the stairs while at work. He sued the property owner, Crescent One Buckhead Plaza, claiming negligent maintenance of the stairs. Crescent tendered the suit to Nava and its insurer, Transcontinental Insurance Company (TIC), based on the language of the lease and because Crescent was…
Default Judgment Against Insured Does Not Bar Injured Party from Pursing Coverage Case
A default judgment against the insured should not deprive the injured party from pursuing the coverage litigation according to the Ninth Circuit's decision in Westchester Fire Ins. Co. v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., No. 07-17383, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 23718 (9th Cir. Oct. 28, 2009).
The insured provided maintenance services for Northwest Airlines at…
Reconsideration of Decision Upholding Transfer of Policies Upheld Despite Anti-Assignment Provisions
We previously reviewed Pilkington N.A. Inc. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67291 (N.D. Ohio July 27, 2009) [here], where the court determined there was coverage for a successor corporation under the predecessor's CGL policy despite the policies' anti-assignment provision. In the recent sequel, the court denied the insurers'…