Expert Analysis

NC Litigation Funding Ban Sets Model For Other States

States worried about rising liability costs and the commercialization of their courts should treat North Carolina'... (more story)

10th Circ. Ruling Propels Emerging 'Occurrence' Consensus

The Tenth Circuit recently revived the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' bid for insurance coverage in ... (more story)

SVB Parent's Claim Loss To FDIC Bears Bond Wording Lesson

A North Carolina federal court’s recent ruling that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., as receiver for the colla... (more story)

Property More

Real Estate Firm Says Insurers Owe $5.3M For Motel Damage

A pair of insurers under the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Munich Re umbrellas wrongly refused to cover over $5.3 million in damage to a motel that a real estate company purchased to convert into affordable hous... (more story)

Event Center Destroyed In Floyd Protests Beats Fraud Claims

A Minnesota event center did not conceal evidence or misrepresent facts in an effort to inflate its claimed vandalism losses from protests following the death of George Floyd, a federal jury recently found.

Bridal Shop Says Default Rulings Don't Bar $7M Coverage Suit

A Manhattan bridal shop urged a New York federal court to reject a magistrate judge's recommendation to toss its suit seeking to recover $7 million from a contractor's insurers, saying its claims can't be void... (more story)

NC Judge Says Insurer Must Cover COVID Biz Losses

A North Carolina federal judge has ruled that four Durham restaurants are entitled to coverage for losses they experienced during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, while calling out their insurer for its "superfici... (more story)

Insurance Archaeologist Unearths Old Policies For New Risks

Specialists known as insurance archaeologists search out old policies that may provide coverage for modern risks. Richard Janisch of Arcina Risk Group LLC spoke with Law360 Insurance Authority about legacy ins... (more story)

Insurance Litigation Week In Review

Carriers dodge coverage over ghost gun kits, a case over wire fraud losses, and an insurer doesn't have to contribute to an injury award. Law360 has the week's top insurance news.

Ohio Court Rejects Class Bid In State Farm Vehicle Value Row

An Ohio federal judge Tuesday rejected a driver's attempt to certify a class of policyholders in a case alleging State Farm underpaid the cash value of totaled vehicles, finding class treatment would be "inapp... (more story)

LA County Says State Farm Botched Fires Claims Handling

Los Angeles County on Monday accused State Farm of systemic violations of California consumer protection laws in its property insurance business and its handling of homeowners claims connected to the 2025 Pali... (more story)

Aon Buying KKR-Backed USI In $17B Middle-Market Push

Aon said Monday it has agreed to buy U.S. insurance broker USI from private equity firm KKR and other shareholders in a $17 billion deal that would expand the London-based insurer's presence in the U.S. middle... (more story)

La. Town Says 5th Circ. Insurance Decision Should Stand

A Louisiana town is pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to pass on reviewing a Fifth Circuit decision nixing an arbitration order in a dispute with its insurers over coverage for hurricane damage, calling the case... (more story)

General Liability More

Insurer Says It Owes No Coverage For Exploding Vape Suit

An insurer has urged a Washington federal court to find that it does not owe coverage to a vape seller in a product liability suit from a user whose leg was amputated after a vape exploded in his pocket, argui... (more story)

Philly Co-Op Owner Says Contractor's Insurer Hid Coverage

The owner of a Philadelphia housing co-op told a Pennsylvania federal court that it has incurred over $1 million to defend itself against an underlying suit over concrete damage after a general contractor's in... (more story)

Exclusion Extinguishes PPE Maker's PFAS Coverage Bid

A commercial general liability insurer owes no coverage to a personal protective equipment manufacturer sued by firefighters who said the company's gear exposed them to forever chemicals, an Ohio federal court... (more story)

8th Circ. Says Exclusion Bars Oil Well Blast Coverage

The Eighth Circuit said Thursday that an AIG unit does not owe $25 million to an ExxonMobil subsidiary for injury claims stemming from a 2016 oil and gas well explosion, finding the energy company did not meet... (more story)

Trisura Escapes Bad Faith Claim In $25M Wrongful Death Case

An Illinois federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a bad faith claim against an insurer in a coverage dispute over a $25 million default judgment in a wrongful death suit, finding the estate failed to allege tha... (more story)

Fla. Panel Nixes $1M Child Support Life Insurance Order

A Florida appellate panel on Wednesday reversed a decision requiring a father to have a $1 million life insurance policy to protect child support payments, finding a lower court did not determine if he could a... (more story)

Insurers Needn't Cover Retailer In 'Ghost Gun' Sale Suit

Two insurers have no duty to defend or indemnify a Missouri-based firearm retailer accused of contributing to gun violence by selling "ghost gun" kits, a New York federal court ruled, saying the underlying cla... (more story)

Cincinnati Insurance Beats Bid To Share $5M Injury Settlement

Cincinnati Insurance Co. needn't reimburse another insurer for any part of a $5.2 million judgment entered against their mutual insured, a Florida federal court ruled Tuesday, finding that the other carrier's ... (more story)

Final OK Sought For Over $73M Transamerica Policy Rate Deal

Policyholders asked an Iowa federal court Monday to give the final approval to a settlement they say is worth more than $73 million to resolve claims that Transamerica Life Insurance Co. improperly increased m... (more story)

Excess Insurer Must Cover Plumbing Co.'s Atty Fees

A New York federal court ordered an excess insurer to pay a plumbing company's legal fees months after finding that the carrier is required to provide coverage to the company for claims stemming from a Manhatt... (more story)

Specialty Lines More

Insurer Seeks Exit From Fatal Drunk-Driving Trucker Suits

An insurer told an Alabama federal court it has no duty to defend or indemnify a tractor-trailer driver against several lawsuits alleging he was drunk while driving his wife's tractor when he crashed into mult... (more story)

Insurer Wants Fees For Claims Handler's 'Misrepresentations'

An excess liability insurer asked a Pennsylvania federal court to award attorney fees for the costs of defending what the insurer called "baseless" accusations from a claims handler that hinged on a letter the... (more story)

NJ Airport Operator Seeks PFAS Cleanup Coverage

A New Jersey airport operator has sued its pollution liability insurer to recover costs it incurred to remediate forever chemical contamination at one of its hangars in accordance with state environmental dire... (more story)

Insurer Can't Dodge Wire Fraud Coverage, Ala. Judge Says

Lenders are entitled to coverage for losses from a closing agent falling victim to wire fraud in mortgage refinancing transactions, an Alabama magistrate judge said Monday, finding that an exclusion barring co... (more story)

Nuvo's $9.75M D&O Deal Ends US-Israel Bankruptcy Clash

Bankrupt pregnancy-technology firm Nuvo Group and an Israeli court-appointed trustee tasked with liquidating it reached an agreement that resolves their cross-border disputes by using a $9.75 million settlemen... (more story)

NM Court Trims County's Bid For Inmate Settlement Coverage

A New Mexico federal court rejected much of a county's suit against a mental health provider and its insurer in a dispute over whether they broke their indemnification duties by settling correctional facility ... (more story)

Insurer Can't Deny Benefits Over Age Error, Del. Judge Rules

A life insurer breached its duty by refusing to pay out death benefits under two $5 million policies to a wealth and investment management provider based on uncertainty over the insured's age, a Delaware feder... (more story)

What Kaiser's D&O Win Means For 'Return Of Funds' Fights

A California federal judge's ruling that the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan was not automatically prohibited from claiming coverage for multiplied damages that were part of a $581 million False Claims Act settl... (more story)

Bank Says Late Notice Fumbled Data Breach Insurance Claim

An insurance services company caused a Milford, Connecticut, bank to lose insurance coverage for a data breach that affected nearly 12,000 of its customers by failing to timely report it, the bank says in a We... (more story)

Insurer Looks To Bifurcate $50M COVID Coverage Trial In NC

An insurer urged a North Carolina federal court to bifurcate an upcoming trial on claims that it improperly denied $50 million in coverage for an auto parts manufacturer's COVID-19 pandemic-related losses, arg... (more story)