A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The Ninth Circuit overturned the district court's certification of a class challenging a life insurance company's closing of policies without notice for failure to pay premiums. Small v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 31231 (9th Cir. Dec. 10, 2024).
Provisions in California's Insurance Code…
After the insured's attempted launch failed and coverage was denied. the insured's motion for judgment on the pleadings was unsuccessful. United Launch Alliance, LLC v. Factory Mut. Ins. Coverage, et al., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 210380 (S.D. N. Y. Nov. 18, 2024).
United Launch Alliance, LLC (United) was a launch…
The Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's application of the policy's "professional services" exclusion to deny coverage. State of Oregon v. Haag Home for Boys, Inc., 2024 Ore. App. LEXIS 1674 (Ore. Ct. App. Dec. 4, 2024).
Haag Home for Boys, Inc. (Haag) operated a home for boys…
The court granted in part, denied in part, the insurer's motion to strike the expert report submitted by the insured's expert expressing opinions on coverage. Allied World Nat'l Assurance Co. v. MNS's Expert NHC, Inc., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 220680 (D. Haw. Dec. 5, 2024).
Allied World denied coverage to…
The Seventh Circuit reversed the district court's finding that the insured architecture firm was not entitled to a defense. Cornice & Rose International, LLC v. Acuity, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 29925 (7th Cir. Nov. 25, 2024).
Cornice, an architectural firm, oversaw the construction of a building in Iowa. Under the…
The court reversed dismissal of all claims against the insurers for a work-related death after determining that policy exclusions conflicted with statutory mandates on coverage. Waiau, et al. v. Hawaii Employers' Mut. Ins. Co, Inc., et al., 2024 Haw. App, LEXIS 583 (Haw. Ct. App., Dec. 31, 2014).
Amos K.
The First Circuit, following Massachusetts law, found that coverage for allegations against the insured contractor for faulty workmanship were barred by the policy's (j) (6) Exclusion. Admiral Ins. Co. v. Tocci Bldg. Corp., 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 28439 (1st Cir. Nov. 8, 2024).
Tocci Building Corporation was the construction manager…
Departing from the multitude of decisions that have determined there is no coverage for losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina Supreme Court found that various bars and restaurants that were closed during the pandemic under government orders stated a claim for coverage when suing their insurers. North State Deli, LLC, …
The court addressed a dispute over fees that the insureds allegedly owed the public adjuster. Public' Adjuster's, LLC v. Mark Gottesdiener & Co., et al., 2024 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2352 (Conn. Super. Ct. Nov. 6. 2024).
The insureds owned an apartment building that was substantially damaged by a fire.
Portions of a class action filed against United Services Auto Association and three of its subsidiaries for charging excess premiums during the COVID-19 pandemic survived the insurers' motion to dismiss. 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202472 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 5, 2024).
Plaintiffs alleged that a decrease in driving and automobile accidents during…
