Our panel addressed cyber coverage at tiday’s ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee’s meeting My distinguished colleagues- Demetrius Rush, Karin Aldama, Jamie Carsey and Rina Carmel
Claim for Punitive Damages Against Agent Should Go to Jury
The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's granting the insurance agent's Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law on the insured's claim for punitive damages. Fuche Corporation, Inc. v. Leung, et al., 2018 Haw. App. LEXIS 37 (Haw. App. LEXIS Feb. 8, 2018).
Fuche Corporation sued…
ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Conference
The ABA's Incurance Coverage Litigation Committee Conference will be conducted this week in Tucson, AZ, from February 28 to March 3, 2018. As always, many cutting edge topics will be addressed by panels consisting of lawyers, judges, and professionals from the insurance industry. The conference schedule is here.
My panel…
Duty to Defend Owed From Date of Window Installation Even Absent Allegations As To When Property Damage Occurred
In a long-standing dispute between a window manufacturer and its insurer, the federal district court found that the insurer was obligated to pay defense costs from the date of installation of the alleged faulty windows even though the underlying complaints did not allege when the damage occurred. Pella Corp. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. …
Misread of Other Insurance Clause Becomes Costly for Insurer
One insurer's refusal to defend based upon its "other insurance" provision ultimately meant the insurer had to pay all of the insured's defense costs. Steadfast Ins. Co. v. Greenwich Ins. Co., 2018 Wis. App. LEXIS 51 (Wis. Ct. App. Jan. 17, 2018).
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) was a government…
No Coverage Defenses After Two-Year Delay to Appear In Declaratory Judgment Action
The federal district court found that the insurer was estopped from asserting coverage defenses after taking no action for two years before appearing in a declaratory judgment action filed by the insured. Sentinel Ins. Co. v. Walsh Constr. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6487 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 16, 2018).
Walsh…
Construction Defect Claim Must Be Defended Under Florida Law
The Eleventh Circuit found that the insured caused property damage to areas beyond its own work, obligating the insurer to defend. Addison Ins. Co. v. 4000 Island Blvd. Condo. Ass'n, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 26870 (11th Cir. Dec. 28, 2017).
The condominium association contracted with Poma Construction Corp. to replace…
Compliance with Building Code Included in Property Damage
A Circuit Court in Florida issued a final judgment determining that the insured's obligation to comply with building code provisions was included in the property damage experienced. Pin-Pon Corp. v. Landmark, Am. Ins. Co., No. 312009CA012244 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Dec. 28, 2017). The decision is here.
At trial, the…
Negligent Misrepresentation Not Covered by Homeowner’s Policy
The seller's alleged negligent misrepresentation about the condition of the house was not covered by the homeowner's and umbrella policies. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Swaminathan, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 211931 (D. Conn. Dec. 27, 2017).
The insureds owned a home insured by Allstate under both a homeowner's and umbrella policy.
Broker Not Negligent When Insured Rejects Additional Coverage
The broker was not negligent when it proposed additional coverage that was rejected by the insured. Cromer v. Rosenzweig Ins. Agency Inc., 2017 N.Y. App Div. LEXIS 8969 (N.Y. App. Div. Dec. 21, 2017).
Plaintiff was injured while employed as a painter at property owned by Allen Skriloff. Coverage was…