A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The federal district court for the district of Hawaii determined that the insurer could recover defense costs from an additional insured consistent with its Reservation of Rights letter under an unjust enrichment theory. Giga, Inc. v. Kiewit Infrastructure W. Co., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10151 (D. Haw. Jan. 22, 2020).
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The Ninth Circuit reversed the District Court's denial of a defense based upon ambiguous allegations in the underlying complaint. Pulte Home Corp. v. TIG Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 35988 (9th Cir. Dec. 4, 2019).
Pulte Home Corporation sued TIG for failing to defend in two lawsuits brought by…
After ignoring a prior order to pay fees, the insurer was ordered again to pay the total fees incurred without challenge to defense counsel's hourly rates. Chelsea Piers, L.P. v. Colony Ins. Co., 2019 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 6333 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Nov. 25, 2019).
Chelsea Piers was an additional insured…
Coverage for a serious bodily injury was barred under the policy's watercraft exclusion. United States Fire Ins. Co. v. Hawaiian Canoe Racing Ass'n, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 207564 (D. Haw. Nov. 27, 2019). A related case involving the accident and addressing coverage issues under a policy issued by Great Divide Insurance Company…
One insurer, who accepted the tender of defense in a construction defect case, successfully moved for summary judgment against the second insurer, who denied the insured's tender. Interstate Fire & Cas. v. Aspen Ins. UK Ltd., 2019 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 5800 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Oct. 25,2019).
Standard Waterproofing Corporation was…
Answering a certified question from the Ninth Circuit, the Washington Supreme Court responded that an insurer's agent who makes a representation in a certificate of insurance binds the insurer. T-Mobile USA Inc. v. Selective Ins. Co. of Am., 2019 Wash. LEXIS 659 (Wash. Sup. Ct. Oct. 10, 2019).
Two T-Mobile…
The insured Developer survived a motion to dismiss by one of several carriers who were asked to defend against claims for faulty workmanship. East 111 Assoc. LLC v. RLI Ins. Co., 2019 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 5331 (Oct. 4, 2019).
Developers sponsored a residential condominium project and sold all units. The…
Applying Nevada law, the Federal District Court in Florida found that the general contractor was entitled to a defense of claims based upon alleged faulty workmanship of a subcontractor. KB Home Jacksonville LLC v. Liberty Mutual Fire Ins. Co, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151235 (M.D. Fla. Sept 5, 2019).
KB…
The court granted the insurer's motion for summary judgment, confirming there was no duty to defend or indemnify a construction defect claim against the insured. Fontaine Bros. v. Acadia Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148056 (D. Mass. Aug. 29, 2019).
The City of Worcester contracted with Fontaine Brothers, Inc.
The Fifth Circuit certified a question to the Texas Supreme Court about the use of extrinsic evidence in determining the insurer's duty to defend. State Farm Lloyds v. Richards, et al, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 27221 (5th Cir. Sept. 9, 2019).
The insureds' grandson was killed in an all-terrain vehicle…
