I can't resist reading a decision regarding a dispute over hurricane coverage for property owned by an Alaska Native Corporation. See Arctic Slope Regional Corp. v. Affiliated FM Ins. Co., No. 08-30050, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 6900 (5th Cir. April 2, 2009). The Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, one of the few lucrative Native Corporations formed under the
Flood Coverage
Insured’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Bad Faith Denied
The insured moved for summary judgment on bad faith because of the insurer's alleged delayed and incomplete payments after Hurricane Katrina destroyed property. See Plaquemines Parish School Bd v. Indus. Risk Insurers, No. 06-7213, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20004 (E.D. La. March 11, 2009).
School buildings operated by the insured …
Fifth Circuit Rejects Constructive Total Loss Doctrine To Determine Loss
At issue in Monistere v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., No. 07-31149 (5th Cir. Feb. 17, 2009) [here] was whether the insured homeowners recovered the appropriate amount under their flood policy for damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
The State Farm policy covered: (1) buildings for the amount …
Fifth Circuit Again Holds in Favor of Policy Holder in Katrina-Related Dispute
A prior post addressed Dickerson v. Lexington Ins. Co., 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 26504 (5th Cir. Dec. 22, 2008), wherein the Fifth Circuit reversed its trend by issuing a Katrina-related decision in favor of the policy-holder. The Fifth Circuit recently upheld another decision in favor of policy-holders after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home. See Grilletta …
Sixth Circuit Ponders Efficient Proximate Cause Doctrine
Most of our prior posts regarding the efficient proximate cause doctrine arise from cases in Mississippi and Louisiana, two states heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. See, e.g. posts here, here, and here. Considering some creative arguments, the Sixth Circuit recently weighed in on the applicability of the efficient proximate cause doctrine under Michigan…
Does Homeowner Have a Cause of Action for Incorrect Flood Zone Determination?
Two recent cases address a homeowner's ability to sue for an incorrect flood zone determination. Both cases confirmed the homeowner has no private cause of action under the National Flood Insurance Program for an alleged inaccurate flood determination. The door was left open, however, for state, common law claims under Mississippi law.
In the…
More on Corban Case and Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause
Our post last week (here) discussed Corban v. USAA, a case before Mississippi Supreme Court presenting an opportunity for the court to address the validity of the anti-concurrent causation clause under state law. Subsequently, slabbed.com, a Mississippi based-blog, put up a post (here) with additional background on the Corban case, including some of…
Is Damage From Hurricane Ike Caused by Flood or Wind?
The battle has begun on whether the Hurricane Ike’s damage to the Texas coast was a result of flood or wind. Here is an interesting post from a Texas blogger suggesting that the litigation spawned by Hurricane Katrina may continue in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
Since the storm, Texas legislators…
Galveston in the Aftermath of Hurricane Ike
After visiting Galveston last month, I registered concern about living on the island in this post. I never imagined the eye of a deadly hurricane would hit Galveston in my lifetime, let alone one month after my visit.
The reports and television images show near total destruction on Galveston Island. …
Reversing Itself, Court Finds Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause Valid
Although it had previously found a policy’s anti-concurrent causation clause to be ambiguous, a Louisiana federal district court reversed itself in Cameron Parish School Bd. v. RSUI Indemn. Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64902 (W.D. La. Aug. 25, 2008).
The insured school board had several schools damaged by Hurricane Rita. …