Wolf Bites News

Property Insurer Liable for Shortfall in Policy Benefits Promised by Agent, Due to Unexplained Effect of Coinsurance Clause

A Florida state Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal of a claim for negligent procurement of property insurance, because, when placing the coverage, the insurer’s agent failed to account for a reduction in insurance loss proceeds caused by operation of …

Auto Liability Policy Literally Enforced to Require Named Insured’s Consent to Extend Coverage to Permissive User

A United States District Court, applying South Carolina law, found that an automobile liability insurer had no obligation to defend or indemnify a driver who was operating an insured vehicle without the named insured’s permission, even though the operator allegedly …

What Qualifies as an Insured Collapse?

Latest Case and Growing Trend Say it Must Fall Down or Cave in The scope of insurance coverage for collapse, first provided by the industry in 1954, has long been the subject of litigation in many jurisdictions. The arguments for …

Nightclub Policy Assault Exclusion Requires Perpetrator’s Intent in Order to Negate Liability Coverage for Gunshot Injury

Certain Lloyd’s underwriters lost their unopposed coverage motion for summary judgment based on an assault and battery policy exclusion, because a bar patron injured by gunfire did not allege she was shot as a result of a dispute, threat or …

Federal Law Requires Disputes Over Workers’ Comp Insurance Payment Agreements be Decided by Arbitration

The highest New York state court has ruled that disputes over workers’ compensation insurance payment agreements between National Union and three California-based employer insureds must be decided by arbitration under arbitration clauses of those agreements and the Federal Arbitration Act …

Claims For P/C Broker Negligence Assignable and Enforcement by Assignee Doesn’t Depend Upon Superior Equities

A California intermediate appellate court has reaffirmed that a client’s professional negligence claim against his or her property/casualty insurance broker is freely assignable. It held, also, that the assigned rights are enforceable in court by the assignee without proof that …

Owned Vehicle Exclusion Defeats Underinsured Motorist Claim

A U.S. district court in Missouri has rejected a policyholder’s strained interpretation of an “owned vehicle exclusion” standard in the underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage of automobile policies. The case, filed January 22, 2006, is entitled Walker v. Progressive Direct Ins.Co., …

When an Insured Vehicle Becomes an Uninsured Motor Vehicle for Injuries Sustained While Riding in it

A prototypical uninsured motor vehicle insurance claim involves an uninsured third party vehicle injuring someone in a different car that has both liability and uninsured motorist (UM) coverages. What happens when the policyholder is injured while she is a passenger …

Insurance Policy ‘Escape’ Type ‘Other Insurance’ Clause Given Short Shrift by California Court

An insurer is ordinarily free to restrict the risks it will underwrite and is responsible only for losses within the coverage wording of its policies of insurance. (Fresno Economy Import Used Cars, Inc. v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co. …

Homeowners Policy Excludes Damage From Prolonged, Unattended Water Inundation

Based on standard homeowner policy water damage exclusions, the United States District Court in Utah found no coverage for extensive damage from water escaping over several months from a sink located in the lower level of a seasonal cabin in …