A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The Eleventh Circuit found that the insured caused property damage to areas beyond its own work, obligating the insurer to defend. Addison Ins. Co. v. 4000 Island Blvd. Condo. Ass'n, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 26870 (11th Cir. Dec. 28, 2017).
The condominium association contracted with Poma Construction Corp. to replace…
The seller's alleged negligent misrepresentation about the condition of the house was not covered by the homeowner's and umbrella policies. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Swaminathan, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 211931 (D. Conn. Dec. 27, 2017).
The insureds owned a home insured by Allstate under both a homeowner's and umbrella policy.
The court reversed the trial court, finding there was an occurrence when injury occurred from a gun wound resulting from a fight. Erie Ins. Exh. v. Moore, 2017 Pa. Super. LEXIS 957 (Pa. Super. Ct. Nov. 22, 2017).
Harold McCutcheon went to the home of his former wife, Terry McCutcheon…
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…
The Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's determination that the seller's alleged negligent misrepresentation regarding the propensity of the property to flood was covered. Erie Ins. Exh. v. Maxwell, 2017 Tenn. App. LEXIS 746 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 15, 2017).
The Chapmans purchased a residence from the Maxwells…
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.
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…
The Massachusetts Appeals Court reversed the trial court's order that defense costs be paid for a period during which the insured rejected the defense even though no reservation of rights was issued. OneBeacon Am. Ins. Co. v. Celanese Corp., 2017 Mass. App. LEXIS 140 (Mass. App. Ct. Oct. 16, 2017).
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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…
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…
