Specialty Lines
-
March 27, 2025
Coverage Row Over OpenText Merger Now Moot, Judge Says
A Michigan federal court tossed on Thursday an insurer's lawsuit seeking a declaration that it had no duty to indemnify a shareholder class action stemming from Covisint's 2017 merger with software company OpenText, finding the dispute is now moot because the insurer's coverage limit has already been exhausted.
-
March 27, 2025
Insurance Litigation Week In Review
An insurer will pay nearly $1 million to resolve claims it failed to protect drivers' data, Michigan's top court will take up two car insurance appeals, the Fifth Circuit was asked to set precedent with an assault coverage ruling and PNC Bank NA can't get coverage for a more than $106 million judgment. Here, Law360 takes a look at the past week's top insurance news.
-
March 27, 2025
NC Biz Court Limits Testimony In Smithfield Coverage Trial
A North Carolina business court judge refused to exclude expert witnesses from either side of an insurance coverage dispute between Smithfield Foods Inc. and a Chubb subsidiary, but did limit their testimony for the firms' upcoming April trial on how much the insurer owes for breaching its duty to defend.
-
March 27, 2025
$6.3M Default Against Cannabis Co. Not Covered, Insurer Says
An insurer said it doesn't owe coverage for a $6.3 million default judgment entered against a medical cannabis testing company related to its fraudulent operations, telling a Mississippi federal court that the company failed to provide notice of various developments in an underlying government investigation and the subsequent lawsuit.
-
March 26, 2025
Sotomayor Urges Caution On Nondelegation Doctrine Revamp
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor cautioned her colleagues during oral arguments Wednesday against using a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's administration of a broadband subsidy program as a way to resurrect the long-dormant nondelegation doctrine. Several conservative justices, however, seemed willing to disregard that admonition.
-
March 26, 2025
Illinois Supreme Court Denies Co.'s BIPA Coverage Appeal
The Illinois Supreme Court left intact an intermediate appellate panel's decision relieving two Liberty Mutual units of covering a home decor company in its underlying dispute with employees who said its timekeeping practices are in violation of the state's biometric data privacy law.
-
March 25, 2025
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: One Year Later
Federal accident investigators' recent determination that Maryland could've done more to protect Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge from a devastating collapse may complicate the sprawling legal battle over liability and damages in the year since a cargo ship struck the bridge and crippled a major East Coast transportation hub.
-
March 25, 2025
Insurers Claim 4th Circ. Must Revisit Ruling For Aluminum Co.
Insurers in a coverage cap dispute with an aluminum company have asked the Fourth Circuit to reconsider an opinion holding that an ambiguous policy provision must be construed in the company's favor, calling it contrary to South Carolina law.
-
March 25, 2025
Insurance Mogul Seeks To Overturn $122M Contempt Order
A convicted billionaire embroiled in lawsuits over the demise of his insurance empire wants out of a nine-figure contempt order, telling the North Carolina Court of Appeals that neither he nor his company has the ability to pay more than $122 million to purge the contempt.
-
March 24, 2025
Justices Won't Hear Insurance Dispute Over Claim Timeliness
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a California woman's bid to certify questions to Massachusetts' top court about when exactly an insurer must show it was prejudiced by an insured's late claim notice, letting stand a First Circuit decision that also refused to certify such questions.
-
March 24, 2025
Final OK Sought For $3M In Bail Bond Antitrust Deals
A proposed class alleging they overpaid for bail bonds thanks to a price-fixing conspiracy is asking a California federal court to approve $3 million in settlements inked with two of the entities.
-
March 24, 2025
9th Circ. Won't Revive Talent Agency's Litigation Coverage Bid
United Talent Agency isn't entitled to coverage from Markel American Insurance Co. in an underlying lawsuit alleging the talent company poached a rival's clients, the Ninth Circuit has said, finding the underlying claims involved "willful acts" by United Talent that block coverage under the California Insurance Code.
-
March 24, 2025
3rd Circ. Upholds No-Coverage Ruling For PNC's $106M Loss
PNC Bank NA can't get coverage for a more than $106 million judgment it paid over underlying claims that a bank PNC acquired had mismanaged certain trust accounts, the Third Circuit ruled, finding a provision that barred coverage for wrongful acts occurring before an acquisition was applicable.
-
March 24, 2025
Justices Won't Review Missing Comma Coverage Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court won't review an Eleventh Circuit decision that a missing comma in a Chubb unit's professional services policy did not alter its clear and unambiguous meaning excluding coverage for a food service company's audit, according to an order list Monday.
-
March 20, 2025
Mining Pollution Suit Paused Amid Appeal In Another Case
A federal judge in West Virginia didn't issue an injunction but instead stayed one case alleging coal mining pollution brought by county entities against energy companies and their insurers after the numerous carriers argued the litigation was redundant.
-
March 20, 2025
State Farm's Calif. Rate Request Exemplifies Long Negotiation
California regulators' provisional approval of State Farm's premium increase request following the Los Angeles fires is another step forward in an insurance reform process that insurance pros view as a negotiation that has been protracted to the detriment of consumers.
-
March 20, 2025
Opioid Orders Weigh Insurers' Role In Fighting Societal Harm
Rulings barring supermarket chain Publix and drugmaker Mallinckrodt from obtaining coverage for underlying opioid claims have contributed to insurers' continued success in defining their obligations to these claims while raising the question of whether insurance is intended to help protect against widespread societal harm.
-
March 20, 2025
Bottler's Wine Contamination Coverage Bid Tossed For Good
A Nationwide unit prevailed again in getting a wine bottling company's coverage action thrown out, successfully arguing to a California federal court that a faulty work exclusion barred coverage for a since-settled lawsuit seeking $1.2 million in damages for wine contamination.
-
March 20, 2025
Insurance Litigation Week In Review
The California Department of Insurance provisionally approved State Farm's request for an emergency rate hike, a North Carolina federal court found a convicted insurance mogul's company liable for $57 million in misappropriated client funds, and the Fifth Circuit reversed an insurer's win in a bar assault coverage dispute. Here, Law360 takes a look at the past week's top insurance news.
-
March 19, 2025
8th Circ. Upholds No-Coverage Ruling In Floor Paint Suit
A flooring company's insurer has no duty to cover roughly $134,000 in costs to remove and replace a vinyl floor because of a subcontractor's shoddy painting, the Eighth Circuit ruled Wednesday, rejecting the company's position that an exception in a faulty work exclusion applied to restore coverage.
-
March 19, 2025
Insurers Say $40M Retirement Row Settlement Not Covered
Three excess insurers told a California federal court they should owe no coverage toward a $40 million settlement a third-party administrator of a church retirement's plan reached to resolve class action claims that it participated in a self-dealing scheme, arguing the claims predate the period they insured.
-
March 19, 2025
Atty Fees Not Covered In Nursing Home Coverage Dispute
An Illinois federal court refused to rethink its finding that an insurer needn't cover a $666,000 attorney fee award against a nursing home operator in a wrongful death suit, saying in an amended ruling that the fees aren't covered damages under the policy or Illinois' Nursing Home Care Act.
-
March 19, 2025
Law360 Announces The Members Of Its 2025 Editorial Boards
Law360 is pleased to announce the formation of its 2025 Editorial Advisory Boards.
-
March 18, 2025
9th Circ. Denies Bid To Halt $24M Deal In AIG Hidden Fee Case
Lower court proceedings can still continue as a class member appeals the final approval of a $24 million settlement over claims that Travel Guard Inc., AIG and certain AIG units improperly added fees in travel insurance premiums, the Ninth Circuit ruled, rejecting the class member's emergency bid for a stay.
-
March 18, 2025
BetterHelp Demands Insurer Assist In $7.8M FTC Payment
Online counseling company BetterHelp told a California federal court that its insurer must cover a $7.8 million Federal Trade Commission payment and must defend it in underlying litigation brought by consumers who claim the company violated laws via its collection, use and disclosure of private health information.
Expert Analysis
-
Nevada Justices Could Expand Scope Of Subrogation Claims
The Nevada Supreme Court's recent decision to hear North River Insurance v. James River Insurance could expand the scope of equitable subrogation claims in the state by aligning with the California standard, which doesn't require excess insurers to demonstrate damages, says Daniel Heidtke at Duane Morris.
-
How D&O Coverage Can Aid Against Increased AI Scrutiny
The recent increase in regulatory enforcement and securities class actions stemming from corporate use of artificial intelligence should prompt companies to ensure that their directors and officers liability insurance coverage is appropriately tailored to AI-related risks, say attorneys at Reed Smith.
-
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.