The Ninth Circuit asked the California Supreme Court to address whether the policy's virus exclusion was enforceable to preclude coverage for business income losses due to the present of COVID-19 at the insured's properties. French Laundry Partners LP v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 2845 (9th Cir. Feb. 6
Insurer Must Defend General Contractor
Interpreting Massachusetts law, the federal district court determined consequential damage resulting from the insured's faulty work triggered a duty to defend. Capitol Spec. Ins. Corp. v. Dello Russo Enter. LLC, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11627 (D. Mass. Jan. 24, 2023).
Peta-Gay and Michael Print sued the insured, Dello Russo, who
Insurer’s Communications with In-House Counsel Not Privileged and Not To Be Sealed
In a case involving the sealing of records generated by an insurance company, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals found that communications between the insurer and its in-house counsel were not privileged and should not be sealed. Roy v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 2023 Haw. App. LEXIS 13 (Haw. Ct. App. Jan.
Insurer Ordered to Participate in Appraisal
The court found that the insured's request for an appraisal was timely and ordered the insurer to participate. Cloisters of Naples, Inc v. Landmark Am. Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6884 (M.D. Flag. Jan. 13, 2023).
A hurricane damaged Cloisters, a condominium. Cloisters made a claim under its commercial
Hurricane Damage Not Covered for Home Owner Not Named in Policy
The court granted the insurer's motion to dismiss because, although there was coverage for the property under the mortgagee's policy, the home owner was not a named or additional insured under the policy. Cart v. Great Am. Assur. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6207 (W.D. La. Jan. 12, 2023).
Plaintiffs'
Court Denies Insured’s Motion to Dismiss Complaint Seeking to Compel Appraisal
The court denied the insured's motion to dismiss after the insurer filed suit to compel an appraisal. Allied Trust Ins. Co. v. Tsang, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 352 (E.D. La. Jan. 3, 2023).
The insureds reported damage to their property arising from Hurricane Ida. The insurer, Allied Trust, investigated and
Dobbs’ Impact on Coverage Issues
Our panel spoke at the ABA, Section of Litigation, Insurance Litigation Committee’s annual seminar today in Tucson. We addressed the impact of the Supreme Court’s overruling the Roe case in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
California Court of Appeals Reverses Denial of COVID-19 Claim Based on Virus-Specific Endorsement
The California Court of Appeal reversed the trial court's grant of the insurer's demurrer on a COVID-19 claim and remanded the case for further proceedings. John's Grill v. Hartford Fin. Servs. Group, 2022 Cal. App. LEXIS 1056 (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 27, 2022).
John's Grill had two insurers, Hartford and
Insurer’s Appeal of Jury Verdict Rejected by Tenth Circuit
After a jury awarded damages related to the insurer's delayed payment under the claim and the insurer's post trial motions to set aside the verdict were denied, the Tenth Circuit affirmed. US General, LLC v. GuideOne Mut. Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 34066 (10th Cir. Dec. 12, 2022).
Crossroads
Contrasting Expert Opinions Result in Denial of Cross Motions for Summary Judgment
Given the opposing experts' contradictory reports, the court denied both the insured and insurer's motions for summary judgment regarding coverage for a pipe leak. Pronti v. Hanover Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 222306 (W.D. N. Y. Dec. 9, 2022).
The insured had a swimming poll and spa, which functioned