A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The insurer's motion to dismiss a bad faith count was granted because the existence of coverage was "fairly debatable" under New Jersey law. Merchants Mut. Ins. Co. v. 215 14th St., LLC, 2020 U.S. District. LEXIS 23664 (D. N. J. Feb. 10, 2020).
Coverage for damage to the insured's commercial building…
The Ninth Circuit agreed with a jury that the insurer breached the farm insurance policy and the duty of good faith and fair dealing in denying a claim for, among other things, theft of cattle. Chatelain v. Country Mut. Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 34530 (9th Cir. Nov. 20, 2019).
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AIG's Motion to Dismiss the insured's claim based upon a fraudulent transfer of funds was largely denied by the court. SS&C Tech. Holdings v. AIG Spec. Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 194196 (S.D. N. Y. Nov. 6, 2019).
SS&C was a global provider of software and software-enabled services. In…
Facing yet another collapse claim based upon alleged poorly mixed cement, the Federal District Court in Connecticut denied the insurer's motion to dismiss. Oliveria v. Safeco Ins Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147256 (D. Conn. Aug. 29, 2019).
In 1993, the insureds' purchased their home that had been built in…
In an issue of first impression in Hawaii, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that an insurer's actions before an actual claim is submitted can be considered in determining whether the insurer acted in bad faith. Adams v. Hawaii Medical Service Ass'n, 2019 Haw. LEXIS 263 (Haw. Sept 30, 2019). Disclosure – our…
The court denied Daubert motions for several experts with the exception of Professor Stempel's expert testimony opining that the insurer did not act in bad faith Adell Plastics, Inc. v. Mt. Hawley Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102942 (D. Md. June 19, 2019).
A fire demolished several buildings at…
The federal district court denied the insurer's motion for summary judgment seeking to establish there was no coverage for construction defect claims and for bad faith. Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. AAA Constr. LLC, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115935 (W.D. Okla. July 12, 2019).
Jeffrey and Tammy Shaver entered two…
The insured's breach of contract and bad faith claims were dismissed based upon the suit limitation provision and the statute of limitations. Mail Quip, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. LEXIS 87923 (E.D. Pa. May 23, 2019).
Plaintiff alleged that on March 17, 2015, an ink cartridge refill machine…
Punitive damages that were reduced by the trial court to $1 million fro $4 million were affirmed by the appellate court. Mazik v. Geico Gen. Ins. Co., 2019 Cal. App LEXIS 454 (Cal. Ct. App. May 17, 2019).
Mazik was injured in a serious auto accident. He was diagnosed with…
Cross-motions for summary judgment designed to determine coverage for the Church’s collapse claim were both denied. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church v. S. Must. Church Ins. Co., 2019 U. S. Dist. LEXIS 24705 (W. D. N. C. Feb. 15, 2019).
The Church sought summary judgment on its claim for bad faith, arguing that…
