A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The 2018 session of the Hawaii Legislature recently concluded after enacting six insurance-related measures. Each of the bills have been sent to the governor for signature.
Health insurance was the subject of four new measures:
HB1520: The bill prohibits an insurer from renewing or re-enrolling an individual in…
Spring brought to the Puna District of the Big Island numerous volcanic eruptions causing extensive loss of property. As of late May, the lava was moving at a speed to cover six football fields an hour according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Two dozen recent fissures have created lava fountains and explosions during the…
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's determination that the duty to defend was limited by the policy's $100,000 limit. Gemini Ins. Co. v. Earth Treks, Inc., 2018 U.S. App LEXIS 7622 (4th Cir. March 27, 2018).
Kelsey Fabian sued Earth Treks, Inc., alleging she suffered sexual abuse by two…
Determining there were no allegations of bodily injury or property damage in the underlying lawsuit, the court found there was no duty to defend or indemnify the condominium's managing agent. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Certified Mgmt., 2018 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 71124 (D. Haw. April 27, 2018).
Frederick Caven…
The federal district court for the Northern District of California determined the proper forum for a coverage case was Hawaii, not California. Navigators Specialty Inc Co. v. Kapiolani Residential, LLC, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47770 (N.D. Cal. March 22, 2018).
Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc. was the general contractor hired by…
The homeowner's suit against the insurer under a lender-placed policy was dismissed for lack of the insured's standing. Joseph v. Praetorian Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27731 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 20, 2018).
The insurer issued a lender-placed homeowners policy on the plaintiff's home. The named insured was Bank of…
Interpreting Missouri law, the federal district court found that the insurer must defend the negligent misrepresentation claim filed against the insured seller of a home. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Spencer, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEIS 44272 (E.D. Miss. March 19, 2018).
The insurer issued a homeowners policy to Nancy…
The Tennessee Court of Appeals found that the insured was entitled to coverage under the policy's "ordinance or law" provision for repairs to prevent a future collapse of both the damaged and undamaged portions of the building. Jefferson Cnty. Schools v. Tenn. Risk Mgmt. Trust, 2018 Tenn. app. LEXIS 138 (Tenn. Ct.
The carrier's attempt to escape arbitration based upon a perceived bias in the insured's selected arbitrator was rejected when the court granted the insured's motion to compel arbitration. Queen's Med. Ctr. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of Am., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60137 (D. Haw. April 9, 2018).
In…
The Nebraska Court of Appeals ruled that the insurer must defend claims of faulty workmanship causing property damage to something other than the insured's work product. Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co. v. Fisher, 2018 Neb. App. LEXIS 47 (Neb. Ct. App. March 13, 2018).
Fisher was a contractor who was hired…
