A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
Applying Missouri law, the Eighth Circuit affirmed the jury verdict awarding damages for the presence of soot after a fire. Maxus Metropolitan, LLC v. Travelers Property Cas. Co. of Am., 2025 U.S. App. LEXIS 29921 (8th Cir. Nov, 17, 2025).
A fire destroyed Phase 6 of a multi-building apartment complex known as the Metropolitan.
The Superior Court granted summary judgment to a policy holder who was issued a policy by the California's insurer of last resort, known as the FAIR Plan. Aliff v. California FAIR Plan Association, No. 21STCV200095 (Super. Ct. California June 24, 2025).
Plaintiff sued the California Fair Plan Association (CFP) arguing…
The Colorado Court of Appeal reversed, in part, the trial court's dismissal of the insured's COVID-19 claim. Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC, et al v. Continental Casualty Company, 2025 Colo. App. LEXIS 876 (Colo. Ct. App. June 18, 2025).
Spectrum owned and operated forty-three senior living and memory care communities in…
On the heals of a decision from a federal district court that smoke damaged was a direct physical loss, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's grant of summary judgment to the insurer regarding the insureds' claim for loss due to smoke damage. Gharibian v. Wawanesa General Ins. Co., 2025…
The federal district court found that smoke and soot contamination rendered the property unfit for normal use, meeting the standard for "direct physical loss" under the policy language for recovery of business income. Bottega, LLC, et al. v. National Surety Corporation-Chicago, Il, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5666 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 10, 2025).
Bottega…
The federal district court determined there was no coverage for the insured winery's damaged pears. Root v. Hanover Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 152481 (D. Or. Aug. 26, 2024).
The winery owned and operated a commercial vineyard that produced and sold pear cider. To protect their business and property…
The Nevada trial court distinguished a prior decision from the Nevada Supreme Court and denied the insurers' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on a COVID-19 claim. Bloomin' Brands, Inc. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., et al., No. A-21-830204-B (Nev. Dist. Ct., June 21, 2024) (order denying motion for partial summary judgment). The…
The Ninth Circuit reversed the District Court's denial of the insured's motion to amend a complaint asserting loss due to COVID-19. Worth Hotels, Inc. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 8484 (9th Cir. April 9, 2024).
The Hotels sought coverage for business losses incurred because of the…
Agreeing with the district court that the insured could not demonstrate "direct physical loss" due the onset of COVID-19, the First Circuit overruled the dismissal based on a health care endorsement. Lawrence Gen. Hosp. v. Continental Casualty Co., 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 676 (1st Cir. Jan. 10, 2024).
The health care…
The Superior Court for the State of Washington denied the insurer's motion to dismiss the University of Washington's claim for property damage due to COVID-19. The Board of Regents of the University of Washington v. Employers Ins. Co. of Wausau, No. 22-2-15472-1 SEA (Amended Order Denying Defendant's CR 12 (B) (6) Motion…
