A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
Affirming the district court, the Third Circuit found that the insured's testimony that she expected her loss to be covered was harmless. Gordon v .Allstate Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 13507 (3rd Cir. July 26, 2017).
After a storm, portions of the stone facade of the…
The Federal District Court denied two plaintiffs' claims for breach of the policy and for bad faith because they were not insureds under the policy. Tu v. Dongbu Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115200 (N.D. Calif. July 24, 2017).
Dongbu, a Hawaii insurance company, issued a two-year policy to…
The federal district court determined there was coverage for losses sustained by the insured due to a cyber attack. Medidata Solutions, Inc. v. Federal Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122210 (S.D. N.Y. July 21, 2017).
Medidata provided cloud-based services to scientists conducting research in clinical trials. Medidata email addresses…
The court found that the insured's faulty construction of an outside deck did not arise from an occurrence. Employers Mut. Cas. Co. v. West, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113951 (N.D. Miss. July 21, 2017).
D.L. Action Construction Company (DLA) constructed multifamily dwellings. They were sued by the homeowners after a…
The California Court of Appeal reversed the trial court's issuance of summary judgment to the insurer, finding that the insured did not make misrepresentations when applying for a policy to cover rental property. Duarte v. Pacific Spec. Ins. Co., 13 Cal. App. 5th 45 (2017).
Duarte rented his house to…
The Seventh Circuit held that the underlying complaint alleged an occurrence by asserting that the painting subcontractor was negligent in causing damage to the building. Westfield Ins. Co. v. Nat'l Decorating Serv., Inc., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 12516 (7th Cir. July 13, 2017).
McHugh Construction, the general contractor for construction…
Although the insured claimed damages to her home was caused by vibrations from nearby construction, the court held she failed to overcome the insurer's expert's opinion that the damage resulted from excluded causes such as wear and tear, cracking and settling. King v. Am Family Ins., 2017 Ohio App. LEXIS 2565 (Ohio…
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the jury’s award of $14 million in damages after finding Allstate was in bad faith in refusing to settle the matter. Madrigal v. Allstate Indem Co., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 10643 (9th Cir. June 15, 2017).
Madrigal was injured in an auto accident with Tang, Allstate’s Insured. Allstate refused Madrigal’s…
The magistrate recommended that summary judgment be entered in favor of the insurer, thereby eliminating coverage for property damage incurred during Hurricane Sandy. Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc. v. Great Northern Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103015 (E.D. N.Y. June 30, 2017).
Madelaine Chocolate owned a facility three blocks form…
The court denied the insurer's motion for partial summary judgment seeking to dismiss claims for bad faith and for punitive damages. Van Der Weide v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101735 (N.D. Iowa June 30, 2017).
The homeowner sued the insured general contractor after water was found leaking…
