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Insurance
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September 25, 2024
Owner Tanked NC Captive Insurer, Directors Say
Minority shareholders of a now-defunct North Carolina captive insurer providing liability coverage to nursing homes accused the captive's majority shareholder of refusing to pay over $5 million in premiums and stealing funds to pay off his personal legal debts, seeking damages in North Carolina's business court.
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September 25, 2024
7th Circ. Judge Surprised Key Argument Left In Footnote
A Seventh Circuit judge seemed unsure Wednesday whether an insurer for Sterigenics could avoid a $75 million legal bill for defending the company from pollution suits, noting that the insurer addressed "the biggest issue in the case" in just a single, vague footnote.
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September 25, 2024
Power Plant Insurers Take GE Arbitration Fight To 11th Circ.
Insurers for an Algerian power plant that sustained losses from a defective gas turbine told an Eleventh Circuit panel Wednesday that a lower court wrongly forced arbitration, arguing it was not subject to that provision as a third-party beneficiary in a services contract with General Electric.
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September 25, 2024
Insurer Can't Escape Coverage Of $10M NY Infant Injury Suit
A New York federal court ruled Wednesday that an insurer had to face certain claims brought by a general contractor seeking defense coverage for $10 million underlying litigation blaming it for negligently injuring an infant with falling sheetrock while working in his home.
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September 25, 2024
NC Judge Limits $5.6M Hurricane Claims In Part Over Deadline
A North Carolina federal court found that a property owner awarded $5.6 million following hurricane damages could continue its breach of contract case against an insurer for alleged underpayment for 2016 Hurricane Matthew damages, though its claims for 2018 Hurricane Florence damages were time-barred.
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September 25, 2024
Insurer Needn't Cover Las Vegas Sands In Payment Dispute
An AIG unit secured an early win in its coverage dispute with a Las Vegas casino over an underlying state court lawsuit brought by an agent alleging the casino failed to pay him for his work, after a Nevada federal court ruled the underlying action was not covered.
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September 24, 2024
Lloyd's Units Seek To Keep $3.4M Yacht Dispute Alive
A group of Lloyd's syndicates and underwriters urged a Washington federal court to reject a yacht builder's bid to avoid reimbursing them for the $3.4 million in coverage they paid after a luxury yacht suffered severe damage when a mobile boat hoist failed during an August 2020 vessel launch.
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September 24, 2024
Tractor Supply Co. Tobacco Fee Violates ERISA, Suit Says
Tractor Supply Co. illegally charged workers who used tobacco an extra fee through their health insurance plan without explaining they could dodge the charge if they participated in a smoking cessation program, according to a proposed class action filed in Pennsylvania federal court.
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September 24, 2024
Insurer Says Telecom Co. Not Covered For Marshall Fire Suits
A Liberty Mutual unit told a Colorado federal court that a subsidiary of Lumen Technologies isn't an additional insured under a policy issued to a construction company, thus making the subsidiary ineligible for coverage of underlying lawsuits alleging that poorly designed telecommunications lines contributed to the 2021 Marshall Fire.
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September 24, 2024
Calif. Panel Frees Insurer From $7.5M Dog Attack Judgment
A California appeals court panel affirmed an insurer didn't owe any part of a $7.5 million judgment for a dog attack, finding a homeowner's policy excluding coverage for injuries caused by a pit bull clearly applied to the homeowner's sister's dog, Bugzy.
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September 24, 2024
Insurer Beats Co.'s $5.5M Crash Settlement Coverage Suit
A contractor for a road repavement project can't secure additional insured coverage under a subcontractor's policy for a $5.5 million settlement stemming from two accidents that were caused in part by insufficient warning signs, a North Carolina federal court ruled, noting the subcontractor properly completed its own signage work.
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September 24, 2024
Insurer Wants Quick Appeal At 8th Circ. In DOL Tax Fight
A health insurer will seek the Eighth Circuit's review after a federal judge refused to toss a suit from the U.S. Department of Labor claiming the company unlawfully took at least $66.8 million in Minnesota state tax liability from plans it administered to pay in-network providers.
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September 24, 2024
NJ Power Broker Says AG's 'Crime Thriller' Lacks A Crime
Powerful New Jersey businessman George E. Norcross III Tuesday called the Garden State's 111-page indictment alleging he led a scheme to strong-arm the acquisition of waterfront property in Camden through threats of economic and reputational harm a "crime thriller with no crime," and said it must be dismissed.
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September 23, 2024
Gordon Rees Gets Insurer's Wash. Malpractice Suit Trimmed
A Washington judge issued a mixed order in a lawsuit brought by the insurer for a climbing equipment manufacturer over allegations that misconduct by a Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP attorney — coupled with another insurer's decision to yank coverage — forced the manufacturer into a settlement over a climber's fall.
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September 23, 2024
Adjuster Has No Duty To Insured In La. Hurricane Row
A Louisiana federal judge ruled Monday that an insurance adjuster can't be dragged into a third-party demand by a nursing facility property owner over Hurricane Ida damage to its New Orleans location, finding that only "in very rare circumstances" would the adjuster have any duty to an insured.
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September 23, 2024
Security Co.'s Fatal Shooting Suits Not Covered, Insurer Says
An insurer has said it doesn't owe coverage to a security guard service company in underlying negligence lawsuits stemming from a fatal shooting that occurred at a North Carolina truck stop where the company staffed security guards, citing certain policy exclusions.
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September 23, 2024
Insurer Freed From Damaged Blood Plasma Suit
A supplier of blood plasma can't secure coverage for a nearly $820,000 blood plasma shipment declared a total loss because of excessive temperature variation and shipping delays, a Georgia federal court ruled, finding the supplier failed to abide by separate temperature and delay warranties in its policy.
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September 23, 2024
Cozen O'Connor Elevates 8 New Shareholders In 7 Offices
Cozen O'Connor announced Monday the promotions of eight new shareholders in seven different cities to the law firm and its public affairs and lobbying arm.
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September 23, 2024
Insurer Can't Escape Toddler Injury Suit Over Dollar Tree Mints
A Missouri federal judge tossed an insurer's bid to escape coverage of underlying litigation alleging a toddler suffered severe esophageal injuries after swallowing freshening drops sold by Dollar Tree, writing that the carrier's "broad interpretation" of its total pollution exclusion "yields an absurd result."
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September 23, 2024
Aetna ER Payment Suit Remanded To Ohio State Court
An Ohio federal judge remanded a suit accusing multiple Aetna health insurance entities of underpaying healthcare workers for emergency services they provide to its insureds to state court, stating that to resolve the claims in his own court "would disrupt the state-federal balance of judicial responsibilities."
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September 20, 2024
Litigation Funding Firm Likely Out Of Hurricane Ad Class Action
A Texas federal judge said Thursday that a funding company that lent $20 million to a law firm accused in a proposed class action of conspiring to deceptively solicit hurricane victims should be dropped as a defendant.
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September 20, 2024
Fla. Judge Trims Health Co. Data Breach MDL
The Florida federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation of a health benefits administration company impacted by a data breach dismissed several state consumer law claims but said those who brought lawsuits can sue, saying they've plausibly alleged injuries after their personal information was allegedly stolen by a cybercriminal group.
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September 20, 2024
5th Circ. Reverses Insurer's Early Win In Silo Damage Dispute
The Fifth Circuit reversed an insurer's early win in a coverage dispute with an agricultural cooperative over damage to two grain silos, instead finding that questions remained about whether wind and weather damage because of faulty construction qualified as property damage under the policy.
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September 20, 2024
Insurer Settles Conn. Suit Over Theft From Theater Group
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. has settled a dispute with a Florida couple who the insurer says bilked its policyholder, a theater education group, out of nearly $588,000 for their own personal use.
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September 20, 2024
Insurers Say Ky. House Damage Wasn't From Mine Collapse
Insurers told a Kentucky federal court to toss a couple's case seeking compensation for damage to their home because of coal mine subsidence, arguing the damage wasn't caused by a collapsing void underground.
Expert Analysis
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Think Like A Lawyer: Dance The Legal Standard Two-Step
From rookie brief writers to Chief Justice John Roberts, lawyers should master the legal standard two-step — framing the governing standard at the outset, and clarifying why they meet that standard — which has benefits for both the drafter and reader, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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Opinion
After Jarkesy, IRS Must Course-Correct On Captive Insurance
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy decision has profound implications for other agencies, including the IRS, which must stop ignoring due process and curtailing congressional intent in its policing of captive insurance arrangements, says Peter Dawson at the 831(b) Institute.
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Bid Protest Spotlight: Standing, Prejudice, Conflicts
In this month's bid protest roundup, Caitlin Crujido at MoFo examines three recent decisions from the U.S. Government Accountability Office concerning whether a would-be protestor was an interested party with standing, whether an agency adequately investigated potential procurement violations and whether a proposed firewall sufficiently addressed an impaired objectivity organizational conflict of interest.
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Del. 3M Ruling Risks Upending Corporate Insurance Programs
A Delaware court's findings last week in the 3M earplug insurance litigation that a parent company's defense fee payments don't count toward a subsidiary's self-insured retention and that an insurer's duty to pay defense costs doesn't attach to multidistrict litigation merit closer scrutiny in light of the modern corporate form and the fundamental objectives of MDLs, say Julie Hammerman and Gary Thompson at Thompson HD.
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Series
Being A Luthier Makes Me A Better Lawyer
When I’m not working as an appellate lawyer, I spend my spare time building guitars — a craft known as luthiery — which has helped to enhance the discipline, patience and resilience needed to write better briefs, says Rob Carty at Nichols Brar.
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Lead Like 'Ted Lasso' By Embracing Cognitive Diversity
The Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” aptly illustrates how embracing cognitive diversity can be a winning strategy for teams, providing a useful lesson for law firms, which can benefit significantly from fresh, diverse perspectives and collaborative problem-solving, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.
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Justices' Ch. 11 Ruling Is A Big Moment For Debtors' Insurers
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Truck Insurance v. Kaiser Gypsum ruling upends decades of Chapter 11 bankruptcy jurisprudence that relegated a debtor’s insurer to the sidelines, giving insurers a new footing to try and avoid significant liability, say Stuart Gordon and Benjamin Wisher at Rivkin Radler.
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3 Policyholder Tips After Calif. Ruling Denying D&O Coverage
A California decision from June, Practice Fusion v. Freedom Specialty Insurance, denying a company's claim seeking reimbursement under a directors and officers insurance policy for its settlement with the Justice Department, highlights the importance of coordinating coverage for all operational risks and the danger of broad exclusionary policy language, says Geoffrey Fehling at Hunton.
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Opinion
Now More Than Ever, Lawyers Must Exhibit Professionalism
As society becomes increasingly fractured and workplace incivility is on the rise, attorneys must champion professionalism and lead by example, demonstrating how lawyers can respectfully disagree without being disagreeable, says Edward Casmere at Norton Rose.
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Series
Serving In The National Guard Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My ongoing military experience as a judge advocate general in the National Guard has shaped me as a person and a lawyer, teaching me the importance of embracing confidence, balance and teamwork in both my Army and civilian roles, says Danielle Aymond at Baker Donelson.
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A Midyear Forecast: Tailwinds Expected For Atty Hourly Rates
Hourly rates for partners, associates and support staff continued to rise in the first half of this year, and this growth shows no signs of slowing for the rest of 2024 and into next year, driven in part by the return of mergers and acquisitions and the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, says Chuck Chandler at Valeo Partners.
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7th Circ Joins Trend Of No CGL Coverage For Structural Flaws
The Seventh Circuit, which recently held potential structural instability did not count as property damage under a construction company's commercial general liability policy, joins a growing consensus that faulty work does not implicate coverage without tangible and present damage to the project, say Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty, and Elan Kandel and James Talbert at Bailey Cavalieri.
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M&A In The AI Era: Key Deal Terms To Watch
As the artificial intelligence market matures, so will due diligence needs, as M&A deals aimed at consolidation and new synergies raise unique legal and regulatory challenges, including potential antitrust and national security reviews, say attorneys at Skadden.
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Opinion
States Should Loosen Law Firm Ownership Restrictions
Despite growing buzz, normalized nonlawyer ownership of law firms is a distant prospect, so the legal community should focus first on liberalizing state restrictions on attorney and firm purchases of practices, which would bolster succession planning and improve access to justice, says Michael Di Gennaro at The Law Practice Exchange.
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New La. Managing Agent Law May Portend Growing Scrutiny
Recent amendments to Louisiana’s managing general agent regulations impose expansive new obligations on such agents and their insurer partners, which may be a sign of heightened regulatory, commercial and rating agency scrutiny, say attorneys at McDermott.