A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
Reversing the Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court determined a virus endorsement did not salvage coverage for business loss due to COVID-19. John's Grill v. Hartford Fin. Serv. Group, Inc., 2024 Cal. LEXIS 4241 (Cal. Aug. 8, 2024).
John's Grill was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and…
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of the insurer's objections on partiality grounds to the insured's appraiser. Biscayne Beach Club Condominium Association, Inc. v. Westchester Surpus Lines Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 19663 (11th Cir. Aug. 6. 2024).
Storms damaged buildings at Biscayne Beach Club Condominium. Biscayne…
The trial court determined the insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify for the insured's faulty workmanship in installing a heating and cooling system. Knoblich v. Erie Ins. Exchange, 2024 Pa. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1899 (Pa. Super Ct. Aug. 5, 2024).
The Knobiches entered a contract with M&M HVAC…
The court rejected the insurers' argument that there was no occurrence or property damage. Ceme-Tube LLC v. Chroma Color Corp., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134699 (W.D. Wis. July 30, 2024).
The insurers argued on summary judgment that their respective policies did not provide coverage for Ceme-Tube LLC's claims against Chroma Color. The…
Responding to a certified question from the First Circuit, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts determined that rainwater collecting on the insureds' rooftop and causing interior damage was not "flood" as defined in the policy and subject to sublimits. Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Medical Properties Trust, Inc., 2024 Mass. LEXIS ___…
The California Supreme Court held that the policy's suit limitation of one year, consistent with the statute requiring suit be file within twelve months after a loss, did not apply to claims alleging violation of the state's unfair competition law (UCL). Rosenberg-Wohl v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 2024 Cal. LEXIS…
Construing the policy language, the federal district court found that the policy's additional insured was the loss payee for damage caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. TCP Ryan St. LLC v. Weschester Surplus Lines Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125529 (W.D. La. July 16, 2024).
Hurricanes Laura and Delta…
The insurer's motion to dismiss claims for improper claims handling when considering implementation of depreciation was denied. Morrison v. Indian Harbor Ins. Co, et al., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115664 (S. D. W. Va. July 1, 2024).
Plaintiff's home suffered flood damage. The house was insured by Indian Harbor a…
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Court, holding that under Hawaii law, the insurer had a duty to defend based upon deposition testimony providing facts not found in the underlying complaint. Koppers Performance Chemicals, Inc. v. Argonaut-Midwest Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 15678 (4th Cir. June 27, 2024).
The Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed the district court's finding of no coverage and found that the ensuing loss provision provided coverage for water damage. 3524 East Cap Venture, LLC, et al. v. Weschester Fire Ins. Co., et al., 104 F. 4th 193 (D.C. Cir. 2024).
Plaintiff…
