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 »
Exclusions/Exceptions
New York Federal Court Enforces “Third Party or Contracted Security” Exclusion to Abrogate Duty to Defend for All Defendants in Assault Suit
In Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Co. v. TFS NY Inc., the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, interpreting the plain and unambiguous terms of a commercial general liability policy issued by Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Co. to TFS NY Inc., ruled Clear Blue did not have a duty to defend TFS against a suit arising from an alleged assault. TFS does business as Sugardaddy’s and owns and operates a nightclub. The underlying dispute stemmed from a ... Keep Reading »
No Paying Over Slow Milk? Wisconsin Appellate Court Finds Intentional Act by Cattle Feed Supplier May Be “Occurrence” Under CGL Policy
In Riverback Farms LLC v. Saukville Feed Supplies Inc., a panel of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals found that an intentional act may still constitute an “occurrence” under a commercial general liability policy, reversed the circuit court’s summary judgment finding of no coverage in favor of the insurer, and remanded for further proceedings. The underlying claim arose when a cattle feed supplier substituted an ingredient in its feed that ultimately led to a magnesium ... Keep Reading »
Eighth Circuit Finds Assault & Battery Exclusion Bars CGL Coverage for Bar Patron’s Gunshot Injury
In Scaglione v. Acceptance Indemnity Insurance Co., the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court order holding that an assault and battery exclusion in a commercial general liability policy barred coverage for the insured bar owner with respect to an equitable garnishment action brought by a bar patron who was hit by a stray bullet during a dispute between two other patrons. In the underlying action, Sominkcole Conner, the victim of a shooting at Voce ... Keep Reading »
Eleventh Circuit Holds Fungi or Bacteria Exclusion Inapplicable Because Cooling Tower Containing Legionella Was Not a “Building” or “Structure”
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 »
Seventh Circuit Declines to Enforce Plain Language of Distribution of Material Exclusion in Business Liability Policy
On June 15, 2023, in Citizens Insurance Company of America v. Wynndalco Enterprises LLC, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ decision holding that a Citizens’ business liability insurance policy exclusion for the distribution of material in violation of statutes gave rise to an ambiguity. The ruling stems from two putative consumer class actions filed against Wynndalco Enterprises LLC, an ... Keep Reading »
7th Cir. Holds Insurance Coverage Applies to Settlement Payments for Alleged Anti-Kickback and False Claims Act Violations
On May 3, 2023, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in Astellas US Holding Inc. v. Federal Insurance Co., held that a liability insurer was required to contribute its limits toward its insured’s payment to settle potential anti-kickback claims because the insurer did not show that such amounts were uninsurable restitution. Astellas, a Japanese drugmaker, launched a drug to treat metastatic prostate cancer in 2012. Astellas priced the treatment at $7,800 per month, ... Keep Reading »
Second Circuit Affirms Ruling That Prior Knowledge Exclusion Barred Coverage for Legal Malpractice Lawsuit
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a lower court’s ruling, which declared that North River Insurance Co. had no duty to defend or indemnify its insured in connection with a legal malpractice lawsuit. Background In September 2019, Max Leifer and his law office applied for professional liability insurance with North River. Leifer’s application was approved, and North River issued the policy, which covered damages and defense expenses for claims ... Keep Reading »
11th Cir. Affirms That Georgia’s Implied Waiver Doctrine Cannot Be Used to Create Coverage
In Century Communities of Georgia LLC v. Selective Way Insurance Co., the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that the Georgia Supreme Court’s 2012 opinion in Hoover v. Maxum Indemnity Co. does not apply to “coverage defenses” — that is, whether a loss is potentially covered under a policy in the first place. Rather, under Hoover, only certain “policy defenses,” meaning whether a procedural condition of the insurance contract has been fulfilled, may be subject to ... Keep Reading »
No Coverage for Delinquent Payments: Mobile Home Park Operator Cannot Recover for “Expected or Intended” Injuries
On May 1, 2023, in West American Insurance Co. v. Del Ray Properties Inc., the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington held that general liability insurers owed no coverage obligations to a mobile home park operator in connection with delinquent payments of utility bills that jeopardized its residents’ water and garbage services because the underlying claims were for “expected or intended” injuries. Del Ray Properties Inc. is a Washington ... Keep Reading »
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