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After State Farm rate hike, legislators are pressured to provide relief. Here’s what could be on the table. - “Gov. JB Pritzker wasted no time in calling on state legislators to do something about rising insurance rates...more
Insurance has always been a critical backdrop in risk analysis. This is because when buying insurance, “an insured usually does not seek to realize a commercial advantage but, instead, seeks protection and security from...more
Wildfires in California are occurring with greater frequency, causing more destruction, and increasingly igniting in unexpected locations and at unforeseen times. Since the 1970s, the length of the wildfire season in western...more
Last week, 10 California homeowners filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the California FAIR Plan Association (CFPA) and several of its largest insurance company members. Plaintiffs allege defendants...more
Join Kennedys partners Forrest Booth and Neil Mody for an insightful webinar which will explore the complexities of handling first-party property insurance claims arising from California's devastating wildfires. Moderated...more
The recent fires in California had a devastating impact on various communities, with many homeowners losing or facing severe damage to their properties. As residents begin the challenging process of recovery, understanding...more
Welcome to the latest issue of Insurance Insights, a gathering of notable legal developments and trends relevant to the insurance industry. In this issue, fires alter the landscape of California insurance, an expert’s...more
Senate Bill 35 would amend O.C.G.A. § 33-24-46 to increase the notice period that insurance companies must provide to homeowners before non-renewing a property insurance policy from 30 to 60 days. The Bill made it out of the...more
In a rainy season, it's important to understand your flood risk. For insurance purposes, what is a flood? What proactive steps can be taken before a flood? How can you obtain the right insurance coverage?...more
California’s beauty is undeniable, but its vulnerability to wildfires is a harsh reality. If you’re a homeowner in the Golden State, the aftermath of a wildfire can be devastating, both personally and financially. Navigating...more
The devastating wildfires that have rapidly spread across Los Angeles this month underscore the need for businesses and homeowners to be prepared to make insurance claims when natural disasters strike. This LawFlash details...more
Our hearts are with all of the fire victims in this devastating time. This advice is not new, but it bears re-circulating due to the current crisis: Maximizing Homeowner Insurance Coverage Benefits After a Fire....more
Policyholders affected by the devastating fires should take certain immediate steps to maximize potential recovery. The Los Angeles County wildfires that began on January 7, 2025, and continue to ravage the communities of...more
In December 2020, Plaintiff Erin Hughes applied for homeowners coverage for her Malibu home with her Farmers’ insurance agent. Hughes obtained a fire policy through the California FAIR Plan and a homeowners policy through...more
In the recent decision Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Qureshi, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal held that homeowners cannot recover replacement cost benefits unless they have incurred expenses for...more
The Situation: On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall and left a path of destruction from the Florida coast through North Carolina, with total insured losses estimated in the tens of billions of dollars....more
Citizens Prop. Ins. Corp. v. Barberan, Fla. 2nd DCA, 2D22-2744, Apr. 3, 2024 - In April, the Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s ruling that a statutory change, which added a definition for the term...more
A new Florida appellate decision may dramatically affect recovery in homeowner property insurance lawsuits. In Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company v. Qureshi, No. 4D2023-1338 (Fla. 4th DCA, July 24, 2024), a...more
A federal court recently held that an insurer could not deny coverage under a homeowner’s policy based upon the failure of the named insured’s son, an “insured person,” to submit to an examination under oath (“EUO”). In...more
Long Island is especially beautiful in late summer and early autumn. The sizzling summer heat has started to fade, the leaves on the area’s stately trees are green, and the warm water temperatures continue to attract ...more
It’s a volatile time within the private client insurance market, and California homeowners are in a tough spot as we head further into 2023. Specialized affluent market insurers in the state continue to struggle to offer...more
Southern District Finds That Exclusion In HO3 Form Precludes Coverage Even Though Form Inadvertently Omitted From Copy Of Policy Sent To Insured- Scottsdale Insurance Company issued a homeowner’s policy to 232 Dune Road...more
In Ali Heidari v. Golden Bear Insurance, a California appeals court recently affirmed a lower court’s decision to deny relief under a CGL policy, where the policy excluded from coverage work performed by subcontractors under...more
Between 2017 and 2022, 11 property and casualty insurers writing mainly homeowners insurance in Florida, where they were domiciled, were declared insolvent and placed in liquidation. This does not include any potential...more
Our December Insurance Update features four cases. The Minnesota Supreme Court decides if a resident-relative exclusion violates public policy. A Texas appellate court considers, for a second time, if damage from...more