A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The court considered cross-motions for summary judgment to determined which carrier was primary and which was excess for coverage of bodily injury. Travelers Indemn. Co. v. Hudson Excess Ins. Co., 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110298 (S.D. N. Y. June 10, 2025).
21 West 86 LLC, the owner of a building…
The Texas Supreme Court determined that language in the following form excess policy did not obligate it to defend the insured. Ohio Cas. Ins. Co. v Patterson UTI Energy, Inc., 2025 Tex. LEXIS 1123 (Tex. Sup. Ct. Dec. 20, 2024).
Patterson provided oil-and-gas equipment and services. Patterson was insured by…
The federal district court rejected the insured's argument and held that the policy's Limit of Liability section placed an annual cap on the aggregate limits available under the policy. Evanston Ins. Co. v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Orange, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 229122 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 17, 2024).
John OC-5…
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's determination that the two insurers' "other insurance" provisions were irreconcilable and instructed the insurers to provide coverage on a pro rata basis. Nat'l Cas. Co. v. Gerogia School Board Associaiotn – Risk Managment Fund, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 24426 (11th Cir. Sept. 14, 2023).
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The Second Circuit predicted that the New York appellate courts would find the contractual indemnity provision prevailed over the application of an "other insurance" provisions. Cent. Sur. Co. v. Metro. Transit Auth., 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 29860 (2nd Cir. Oct. 5,2021).
Long Island Railroad (LIRR) contracted with general contractor…
The court found that the excess carrier had grounds to challenge the primary carrier's allocation of a settlement payment. Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, London, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 39771 (9th Cir Dec. 18, 2020).
in the underlying case, Underwriters settled on behalf of the insured law…
The umbrella insurer was required to drop down when the primary carrier's policy only covered the additional insured when it was vicariously liable for the named insured's operations. Am. States Ins. Co. v. Ins. Co. of the State of Pa., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 585 (9th Cir. Jan. 7, 2020).
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Based upon the primary policy's exclusion, the following form excess policy had no duty to indemnify after the insured reached a settlement in the underlying case. Houston Cas. Co. v. Strata Corp., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 3936 (8th Cir. Feb. 6, 2019).
An employee of Strata fell to his death…
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's ruling that the excess policy was triggered by settlements exhausting the primary policy. Westport Ins. Corp. v. California Cas. Management Company, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 4889 (9th Cir. Feb. 20, 2019).
Doe 1, Doe 2 and Doe 3 filed suit against the insured…
