A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
A Builders Risk policy's ensuing loss exception to the exclusion for defective design was held inapplicable. Performing Arts Cmty. Improvement Dist. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., 2015 U. S. Dist. LEXIS 71592 (W. D. Mo. June 3, 2015).
Plaintiff oversaw the design and construction of a parking garage. The project included installation…
The Ninth Circuit determined that a mudslide destroying the insureds' home may be covered as a direct loss due to fire that preceded the mudslide. Stankova v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 8935 (9th Cir. May 29, 2015).
The insureds' garage was destroyed by a massive fire…
In response to a certified question from the Ninth Circuit, the Washington Supreme Court recently found that collapse in a property policy means "substantial impairment of structural integrity." Queen Anne Park Homeowners Ass'n v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2015 Wash. LEXIS 695 (Wash. June 18, 2015).
Queen Anne Park…
The Sixth Circuit rejected the insurer's claim for reverse bad faith against its insured who made a fraudulent claim after her home was destroyed by fire. State Auto Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Hargis, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 7475 (6th Cir. April 23, 2015).
The insured's home burned to the ground…
While some of their claims were dismissed, plaintiffs' breach of fiduciary duty survived the insurer's motion to dismiss. Senft v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61870 (D. N.J. May 12, 2015).
Plaintiffs' waterfront home was insured by Fireman's Fund. Plaintiffs alleged that the broker represented that the policy…
The Hawaii legislature passed a bill in its recently concluded session to protect homeowners and businesses affected by lava flows from losing coverage.
The Puna district on the Big Island was severely impacted by the Pu`u O`o lava flow as it crept closer to homes, businesses, schools and populated areas. Problems were created…
The Florida Court of Appeal affirmed an order compelling an appraisal because the insureds complied with their post-loss obligations under the policy. State Farm Fla. Ins. Co. v. Cardelles, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 2559 (Fla. Ct. App. Feb. 25, 2015).
The insureds suffered damage to their home after Hurricane Katrina on…
The Texas Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court's judgment as modified against Lloyds for improperly denying a claim for damage caused by Hurricane Ike. Nat'l Lloyds Ins. Co. v. Lewis, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 1573 (Tex. Ct. App. Feb. 19, 2015).
Lewis sued Lloyds, alleging that, although her home and personal…
Damage to the YMCA recreation center was not covered due to application of the earth movement exclusion. YMCA of Pueblo v. Secura Ins. Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. Lexis 15249 (D. Colo. Feb. 6, 2015).
On October 11, 2013, the insureds discovered a leaking water line in the men's shower, where one of…
Canvassing both case law and scholarly authority, the court determined that the anti-concurrent cause (ACC) provision barred coverage for loss caused by Tropical Storm Irene. Lombardi v. Universal N. Am Ins. Co., 2015 Conn. Super. LEXIS 138 (Conn. Super. Ct. Jan. 21, 2015).
Tropical Storm Irene caused the insured's home to shift…
