Specialty Lines
-
April 17, 2025
Insurance Regulators Urged To Address Climate Change Risks
Insurance regulators must strengthen their understanding of the threats posed by climate change and better consider how those risks will shape the stability of the sector, a group of international regulators said in a report.
-
April 16, 2025
5th Circ. Says Late Settlement Notice Means No Coverage
A healthcare company was rightfully denied coverage for a settlement over the erroneous approval of a Florida Medicaid recipient's out-of-state treatment, a Fifth Circuit panel ruled, finding the company breached its policy when it failed to inform its insurer of the agreement in advance.
-
April 15, 2025
Massive Calif. Fire Assessment Pass-Through Sparks Suit
Public interest nonprofit Consumer Watchdog sued California's insurance chief in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to stop him from allowing insurance companies to offset hundreds of millions of dollars in assessment costs as surcharges onto policyholders, claiming the decision was made without any public input, in violation of the state's Administrative Procedure Act.
-
April 15, 2025
SPAC Officers Seek Coverage For Post-Merger Lawsuits
Beazley Insurance Co. and certain former directors and officers of a special purpose acquisition company that ultimately became a solar financing company accused the successor company in Delaware Chancery Court of failing to indemnify and advance costs they incurred in two cases stemming from the SPAC merger.
-
April 15, 2025
Insurer Says Law Firm's $1.5M Cyber Loss Isn't Covered
A law firm isn't owed additional coverage after hackers allegedly stole more than $1.5 million intended for an attorney who had partnered with the firm on a personal injury case, its cyber insurer said, asking a Washington federal court to dismiss the bulk of the claims.
-
April 15, 2025
Public Roads, Public Data, Cos. Say Of Drivers' Privacy Claims
General Motors, OnStar and other companies facing multidistrict litigation accusing them of collecting driving data and selling it without user consent have urged a Georgia federal court to dismiss the claims, arguing that driving data is public because driving happens on public roads.
-
April 15, 2025
Nonprofit's Prior Loss Coverage Limited For Worker Theft
A nonprofit cannot get more coverage from Auto-Owners Insurance Co. for an employee theft scheme that caused losses totaling roughly $554,000, a Kansas federal court ruled, interpreting the scope of a "prior loss provision" that covered losses occurring before the policy's coverage period.
-
April 14, 2025
Auto Insurers Can't Shake Feds' Forced Coverage Claims
A group of insurers will have to face the federal government's claims that they forced auto-loan customers to pay for unnecessary "collateral protection insurance" by setting an unreasonably high bar for proving the borrowers held other auto insurance policies, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Monday, concluding that the United States had satisfied pleading standards.
-
April 11, 2025
Insurers Allowed To End Chemical Explosion Coverage Suit
Insurers were allowed Friday to dismiss their case in Texas federal court against Team Industrial Services Inc. seeking to disclaim coverage for underlying suits filed against the company in connection with injuries from a 2021 explosion at a chemical plant.
-
April 10, 2025
Rising Type Of M&A Coverage Can Limit Cyber Risk, Pros Say
Conditions in the market for cyber insurance are positive for buyers, and insurance meant to protect against mergers and acquisitions improprieties can form a key part of transactions as cyber risks increase, industry and legal professionals said Thursday.
-
April 10, 2025
Amazon Worker's Brother Denied Win In Life Insurance Fight
The children of an Amazon worker can proceed with their claim that their uncle exercised "undue influence" to get named as a beneficiary on their father's life insurance plan, an Ohio federal judge said Thursday, noting the Employee Retirement Income Security Act did not preempt the allegations.
-
April 10, 2025
Pet Insurer Exec Shares Insight On Double-Digit Growth
The pet insurance industry is experiencing large amounts of growth, both in policies purchased and the cost of premiums, a trend which Brian Jorgensen, the CEO of MetLife Pet Insurance, attributes to owners spending more time with their animals and veterinary costs, respectively. Here, Jorgensen chats with Law360 about the growing pet insurance market.
-
April 10, 2025
Insurance Litigation Week In Review
Insurers lost their subrogation bid over a ransomware attack against software company Blackbaud, carriers accused a California utility of causing one of this year's wildfires, Meta prevailed in an insurance coverage forum battle over numerous underlying injury claims, and the Ninth Circuit partially reversed a lower court's duty-to-defend decision.
-
April 10, 2025
PNC Asks 3rd Circ. To Undo $106M No-Coverage Ruling
PNC Bank urged the Third Circuit to undo its decision finding that the bank isn't owed coverage for an over $106 million judgment it incurred over claims that its predecessor mismanaged funeral trust accounts, saying the court misinterpreted the policy's "changes in exposure" provision.
-
April 09, 2025
Insurer Settles Suit Blaming Bank Consultant For Data Breach
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh has settled a suit accusing a Washington-based consultant of security lapses after the personal data of over 10,000 bank customers ended up online, according to new filings in Evergreen State court.
-
April 09, 2025
Underwriters Owe $2.6M For Damaged Ship Loader, Co. Says
A seller of ship loaders said its underwriters owe it an additional $2.6 million for a piece of equipment that was damaged en route to Canada, telling a Washington federal court that the carriers have breached their obligations under a marine all-risk cargo policy.
-
April 09, 2025
Claims Trimmed In Firm's Suit Over Sports Fraud Coverage
A Florida federal court tossed more than half the claims a law firm raised against an AIG unit for allegedly misleading them into representing a sports memorabilia collector in underlying civil and criminal fraud cases without payment, finding claims against the unit either premature, duplicative or insufficiently pled.
-
April 09, 2025
Insurer, Flight School Agree Training Suit Isn't Covered
An insurer has no duty to defend or indemnify a flight school accused in an underlying suit of misrepresenting the education and training that students enrolled in a flight program would receive, according to a consent agreement approved by a North Carolina federal court.
-
April 08, 2025
4th Circ. Won't Revisit Ambiguous Endorsement Ruling
The Fourth Circuit on Monday declined to review its ruling that a South Carolina district court erred by finding that an endorsement unambiguously applied to cap an aluminum supplier's insurance recovery for a fire loss at $10 million.
-
April 07, 2025
Insurers Lose Subrogation Suits Over Blackbaud Data Breach
Several insurers cannot recoup investigation and credit monitoring expenses they covered for their insureds following a 2020 ransomware attack against Blackbaud, a Delaware state court ruled, saying two suits by the carriers failed to allege insured-specific facts in order to adequately plead breach of contract claims against the software company.
-
April 07, 2025
Agriculture Insurer Says Agent Error Cost It Fed. Reinsurance
A Texas insurance company has taken aim at its insurance agent, claiming that clerical errors cost the company over $1 million after applications for reinsurance were belatedly submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Federal Crop Insurance Corp. amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
April 04, 2025
Insurance Co. Can't Nix Religious Bias Suit Over Vax Mandate
A Rhode Island federal judge declined to toss an insurance company worker's suit claiming he was illegally fired for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for religious reasons, ruling he showed his faith was sincere enough to keep his claims in court.
-
April 03, 2025
DC Climate Insurance Event Highlights Need For Acute Action
A group of leading insurance industry regulatory and policy experts convened in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, expressing a need for greater collaboration and resources in order to quickly scale up eco-friendly insurance products and business practices.
-
April 03, 2025
Crypto Boon Boosts Hopes For Improving Insurance Options
Cryptocurrencies and digital assets have experienced a recent boon buoyed by a favorable shift in the regulatory environment, prompting more insurers to engage with what was once widely viewed as a volatile and insecure asset class.
-
April 03, 2025
NY Ghost Gun Win Adds To Concerns Of CGL Policy Breadth
A New York federal court's ruling that an AIG unit isn't obligated to defend a Washington state firearms retailer accused of knowingly selling unfinished components that could be used to assemble "ghost guns" underscored policyholder attorneys' concerns that commercial general liability coverage continues to narrow, as insurers tally another win in a dispute over intentional conduct.
Expert Analysis
-
8 Tech Tips For Stress-Free Remote Depositions
Court reporter Kelly D’Amico shares practical strategies for attorneys to conduct remote depositions with ease and troubleshoot any issues that arise, as it seems deposition-by-Zoom is here to stay after the pandemic.
-
4 Ways Attorneys Can Emotionally Prepare For Trial
In the course of litigation, trial lawyers face a number of scenarios that can incite an emotional response, but formulating a mental game plan in advance of trial can help attorneys stay cool, calm and collected in the moment, says Rachel Lary at Lightfoot Franklin.
-
Presidential Campaign Errors Provide Lessons For Trial Attys
Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign employed numerous strategies that evidently didn’t land, and trial attorneys should take note, because voters and jurors are both decision-makers who are listening for how one’s case presentation would affect them personally, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
-
Putting NYDFS AI Cybersecurity Guidance Into Practice
New guidance from the New York Department of Financial Services explains how financial institutions should assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with artificial intelligence, focusing on four main threats and highlighting how varying environments require specific mitigation measures, say attorneys at Saul Ewing.
-
Recent Developments In Insurance Coverage For FCA Claims
As the U.S. Department of Justice continues its vigorous False Claims Act enforcement, companies looking to their insurers to help defray the costs of an investigation or settlement should note recent decisions on which types of policies cover FCA claims, which policy periods apply and which portions of FCA-related losses are covered, say attorneys at Covington.
-
Consider The Impact Of Election Stress On Potential Jurors
For at least the next few months, potential jurors may be working through anger and distrust stemming from the presidential election, and trial attorneys will need to assess whether those jurors are able to leave their political concerns at the door, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
-
NC Ruling Takes Practical Approach To Duty-To-Defend Costs
In Murphy-Brown v. Ace American Insurance, a case of first impression, the North Carolina Business Court adopted the commonsense rationale of many state courts in holding that policyholders' defense costs should be deemed presumtively reasonable when a insurer breaches its duty to defend, say attorneys at McGuireWoods.
-
A Look At Insurance Coverage For Government Investigations
Attorneys at Jenner & Block discuss the quirks and potential pitfalls of insurance coverage for government claims and investigations, including those likely to arise from the U.S. Department of Justice's recently announced whistleblower program.
-
Why Diversity Jurisdiction Poses Investment Fund Hurdles
Federal courts' continued application of the exacting rules of diversity jurisdiction presents particular challenges for investment funds, and in the absence of any near-term reform, those who manage such funds should take action to avoid diversity jurisdiction pitfalls, say attorneys at Sher Tremonte.
-
7 Tips To Help Your Witness Be A Cross-Exam Heavyweight
Because jurors tend to pay a little more attention to cross-examination, attorneys should train their witnesses to strike a balance — making it tough for opposing counsel to make their side’s case, without coming across as difficult to the jury, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
-
Insurance Considerations For Cos. That May Face Strikes
The recent surge in major work stoppages in the U.S. highlights the growing importance of strike preparedness for businesses, which includes understanding strike insurance coverage options, say Chris D’Amour and Brooke Duncan at Adams and Reese.
-
Challenges Of Insuring An NIL Collective
Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty examines the emergence of name, image and likeness collectives for student-athletes, the current litigation landscape that has created a favorable environment for these organizations, and considerations for director and officer insurers looking to underwrite NIL collectives.
-
An Update On Legal Issues In The Drone Market
Marialuisa Gallozzi and Alex Slawson at Covington examine recent developments in the legal issues surrounding the growing drone market, including possible First Amendment protections, Fourth Amendment surveillance, and litigation involving criminal and civil penalties, evidentiary pursuits, and insurance.