In an important decision regarding bad faith and the application of the work product doctrine to work performed by an insurer's in-house counsel, the Hawaii Supreme Court vacated the Intermediate Court of Appeals's upholding the trial court's award of summary judgment to a title insurer on the issue of bad faith. Anastasi v. Fid.
Your Work Exclusion Applies to Damage to Tradesman’s Property, Not Damage to Other Property
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The New Mexico Court of Appeals presented a cogent analysis of claims for construction defects and the application of the "your work" exclusion under a CGL policy in Pulte Homes of New Mexico, Inc. v. Indiana Lumbermens Ins. Co., 2015 N.M. App. LEXIS 134 (N. M. Ct. App. Dec. 17, 2015).
Pulte…
Pollution Exclusion Prevents Coverage for Injury Caused by Insulation
By Tred R. Eyerly on
In a per curiam decision, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's holding that the pollution exclusion barred coverage for bodily injury caused by the insured's insulation. Evanston Ins. Co. v. Lapolla Industries, Inc., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 22552 (5th Cir. Dec. 23, 2015).
The homeowners' contractors installed spray polyurethane foam (SPF)…
Hawaii Bill Proposes Procedures for Claim Adjusters
By Tred R. Eyerly on
HB 1991 would regulate the inspection procedures for utilizing claim adjusters for homeowners insurance claims. The complete bill is here.
The bill states that when a claim is filed, the insurer will select a claim adjuster mutually agreed upon by the parties and paid for by the insurer. In the…
Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause Bars Coverage for Pool Damage
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Relying upon the policy's anti-concurrent causation clause, the Illinois Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's ruling that there was no coverage for a pool that popped out of the ground. Bozek v. Erie Ins. Group, 2015 Ill. App. LEXIS 940 (Ill. Ct. App. Dec. 17, 2015).
Following a rainstorm, the insureds…
Additional Insured Coverage Confirmed
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Texas Court of Appeals found that Exxon Mobil Corporation was an additional insured under the CGL policy for Exxon's service provider. Liberty Surplus Ins. Corp. v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 12757 (Tex. Ct. App. Dec. 17, 2015).
Exxon contracted with Wyatt Field Service Company to perform "services" as set…
Efficient Proximate Cause Applies to Policy’s Collapse Provisions
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The court applied the efficient proximate cause doctrine to find coverage under a property policy for a building's collapse. Vardanyan v. Amco Ins. Co., 2015 Cal. App. LEXIS 1181 (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 11, 2015).
The insured submitted a claim to Amco for damage to the flooring of the house and for mold. Amco's adjustor…
Depreciation of Labor in Calculating Actual Cash Value Against Public Policy
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The insurer's depreciation of labor in the calculation of actual cash value was found to be against Arkansas public policy. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co. v. Goodner, 2015 Ark. LEXIS 460 (Ark. Dec. 10, 2015).
Shelter Mutual's policy provided that it would pay the insured "the actual cash value of all the damaged…
Business Interruption Claim Granted in Part, Denied in Part
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The court granted portions of the business interruption claim, while denying other portions. Phoenix Ins. Co. v. Infogroup, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 162810 (S. D. Iowa Nov. 30, 2015).
Phoenix insured Infogroup's business buildings and personal business property, including data and data processing equipment. In late May 2011, warnings were issued of…
Improperly Installed Flanges Are Impaired Property
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Answering certified questions from the Fifth Circuit, the Texas Supreme Court found there was no coverage for flanges that leaked after installation. U. S. Metals, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 2015 Texas LEXIS 1081 (Dec. 4, 2015).
U. S. Metals sold Exxon 350 custom-made, stainless steel, weld-neck flanges for use in refineries. Testing…