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You are here: Home / Archives for Madison E. Wahler

About Madison E. Wahler

Madison E. Wahler is an attorney at Carlton Fields in Tampa, Florida.

Divided Ninth Circuit Finds Toxic Dust From Wildfire Is Not “Pollutant” Under Policy’s Pollution Exclusion

February 26, 2024 by Madison E. Wahler

In Wesco Insurance Co. v. Brad Ingram Construction, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a summary judgment ruling in favor of Wesco Insurance Co. after a split panel concluded that toxic dust and debris from a wildfire did not fall under the policy’s definition of “pollutant.” Background and Underlying Action The plaintiff in the underlying lawsuit, Richard Vargas, was allegedly exposed to toxic dust while loading and unloading his work truck during the ... Keep Reading »

Washington Appellate Court Finds Insureds’ Failure to Provide Statutory Notice of Intent to Sue Did Not Void Default Judgments Against Insurer

October 6, 2023 by Madison E. Wahler

In Gates v. Homesite Insurance Co., the Washington Court of Appeals held that the plaintiff-insureds’ failure to provide 20 days’ notice of intent to sue its insurer, though required by statute, was a mere “procedural irregularity” insufficient to void the default judgments entered against the insurer. The court also noted that the insurer’s failure to timely respond to the lawsuit was the result of an “internal communication issue” and not an extraordinary circumstance ... Keep Reading »

Eleventh Circuit Holds Fungi or Bacteria Exclusion Inapplicable Because Cooling Tower Containing Legionella Was Not a “Building” or “Structure”

July 14, 2023 by Madison E. Wahler

On June 28, 2023, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Southern-Owners Insurance Co. v. Waterhouse Corp. affirming that fungi or bacteria exclusions did not apply because a cooling tower that allegedly contained Legionella bacteria was neither a “building” nor a “structure” within the meaning of the exclusions. In Waterhouse, a horticultural manufacturer hired Waterhouse Corp. to perform monitoring, maintenance, and water treatment services for ... Keep Reading »

New York Federal Judge Finds No Duty to Defend Based on War Exclusion’s Insurrection Clause

December 22, 2022 by Madison E. Wahler

surface-to-air-missile

In Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. The Western Union Co. et al., No. 22-CV-0557 (JMF) (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 2022), a federal judge in New York granted Hartford Fire Insurance Company’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and motion to dismiss Western Union’s counterclaims, ruling that the war exclusion and financial services exclusion in its commercial general liability insurance policy both independently operated to bar coverage for the underlying lawsuit. Underlying ... Keep Reading »

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