A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The court found there was no coverage for the property management company after a fraudster sent a false email with wiring instructions, causing a loss of $200,000. Ernst & Haas Mgmt. Co. v. Hiscox, Inc., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 218379 (C.D. Calif. Nov. 5, 2020).
Ernst & Haas (E&H) employee…
The court found the was a single occurrence when 124 separate cases of food poisoning were allegedly caused by one restaurant over a four-day period. Travelers Cas. Ins. Co. of Am. v. Mediterranean Grill & Kabob Inc., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 210212 (W.D. Texas Nov. 4, 2020).
Nearly 200 cases…
The court granted in part, denied in part, the insurer's motion to dismiss after examining portions of the policy's virus exclusion. Barbershop v. Twin City Fire Ins. Co., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 211152 (W.D. Texas, Nov. 4, 2020).
The insured was a barbershop and grooming supply retailer. On March 31…
The court approved the magistrate's decision granting a motion to amend the complaint against the broker for negligent misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation. Ashford Locke Builders v. GM Contrs. Plus Corp., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 196646 (E.D. N. Y. Oct. 22, 2020).
The broker challenged the amended complaint, arguing that plaintiffs…
The federal district court in Virginia denied the insurer's motion to dismiss the insured's claim for losses due to COVID-19. Elegant Massage, LLC v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 231935 (E.D. Va. Dec. 9, 2020).
Elegant Massage owned and operated its business providing therapeutic massages.
The Mississippi Supreme Court held that the insurer must produce written communications from and make available for deposition the in-house counsel who orchestrated the denial of coverage. Travelers Pro. Cas. Co. of Am. v. 100 Renaissance, LLC, 2020 Miss. LEXIS 409 (Miss. Oct. 29, 2020).
An unidentified driver struck a…
Damage to a building caused by the break of a water pipe was not a collapse under the policy. Naabani Twin Stars v. Travelers Cos., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 196443 (D. N. M. Oct. 22, 2020).
An underground water line ruptured on plaintiffs property This caused a collapse under the…
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's granting of summary judgment to the insurer, agreeing there was no coverage for the defendant in a wrongful death action. National Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Hampton, 2020 U.S. App. 33215 (9th Cir. Oct 21, 2020).
The wrongful death compliant alleged, and…
Having failed to adequately secure cyber coverage, the insured law firm's lawsuit was properly dismissed by the trial court on summary judgment. Johnson v. Smith Bros. Ins., LLC, 2020 Vt. Unpub. LEXIS 98 (Vt. Sept. 4, 2020).
The law firm attended a CLE seminar presented by the Vermont Attorneys…
A Washington state trial court denied the insurer’s motion to dismiss the insured’s business interruption and civil authority claims arising from COVID-19. Hill and Stout PLLC v. Mutual of Enumclaw Ins. Co., No. 20-2-0725-1 (Wash. Super. Ct. Nov. 13, 2020). The case is here.
Plaintiff Hill and Stout PLLC (H&S) was …
