A commentary on insurance coverage issues in Hawaii and beyond
The insureds were denied coverage when both negligent and intentional acts took place in the underlying case. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Diblin. 114 Cal. App. 5th 1245 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025).
Curtis Diblin held a homeowners policy with State Farm. While the policy was in effect, Dibiln attacked his housemate, Monee…
The federal district court applying Kentucky law denied the insurer's motion to dismiss bad faith claims, but granted the motion for dismissal of the insured's negligence claim. Smith v. Am. Strategic Ins., 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140900 (W.D. Ky. July 23, 2025).
The Smiths purchased a homeowners policy from American…
The curt denied the broker's motion to dismiss the insured's claim that the broker negligently failed to provide the requested coverage. The Paper Tigers, Inc. v. Arch Ins. Group, Inc., et al, 2025 US. Dist. LEXIS 128114 (N.D. Ill. July 7, 2025).
The Paper Tigers, Inc. (Plaintiff) specialized in reworking paper to meet…
The court granted summary judgment to the school district, finding the insured was entitled to a defense against sexual abuse claims alleged against its employee. West Bend Mut. Ins. Co. v. Cmty. Unit Sch. Dist. 300, 2021 Ill. App LEXIS 622 (Ill. App. Ct. Nov. 12, 2021).
The School District rented space to the…
The Third Circuit affirmed the district court's finding that the insured contractor was entitled to a defense despite the underlying allegations of intentional trespass. Westminster Am. Ins. Co. v. Spruce 1530, LLC, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 24822 (3d. Cir. Aug. 19, 2021).
In the underlying case, the state court found…
The broker's motion to dismiss the insured complaint for negligence based upon collateral estoppel was unsuccessful. Gjonaj Realty & Mgt. Corp. v. Capacity Group of NY LLC, 2019 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4880 (N.Y. App. Div. June 18, 2019).
The insured was sued in a personal injury action. A default…
The court determined that there was a duty to defend despite the insurer's contention that no "occurrence" or "bodily injury" had been alleged. Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Electricity Main, LLC, 2019 U.S. App LEXIS 18074 (1st Cir. June 17, 2019).
Electricity Maine, LLC had a D&O policy with Zurich.
The court granted the agent's motion for summary judgment, rejecting the insureds' claim that he negligently failed to obtain snow-ice coverage for two new chicken houses. Slaubaugh Farm, Inc v. Farm Family Cas. Ins. Co., 2018 Del. Super. LEXIS 1144 (Del. Super. Ct. Oct. 29, 2018).
The plaintiffs purchased a…
The court determined there was a duty to defend negligence and private nuisance claims for dumping materials on the plaintiffs' property. Peters Heavy Construction, Inc. v. X-Pert One Tracking Corp., 2018 Wisc. App. LEXIS 358 (Wis. Ct. App. March 29, 2018).
Peters Heavy Construction sued X-Pert One for negligently depositing…
