News & Analysis as of

Negligence Duty to Defend Insurance Litigation

Marshall Dennehey

NJ Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of Third-party Complaint Against Insurer. Negligence, Gross Negligence, Recklessness Claims Are...

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Rodrigues v. Shelbourne Spring, LLC, No. A-39-23 (December 12, 2024) - In a unanimous decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court found Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company had no duty to defend the employer, SIR Electric LLC....more

Zelle  LLP

“With a Gap in the Pleadings and Extrinsic Evidence Unavailable,” the Insurer has a Duty to Defend

Zelle LLP on

On December 11, 2024, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas refused to allow extrinsic evidence under the Monroe conditions where plaintiff’s employment status and the merits of the case...more

Rivkin Radler LLP

New York Insurance Coverage Law Update - June 2024

Rivkin Radler LLP on

The parent of an infant sued Kim Eichle for Eichle’s alleged negligence in serving alcohol to her houseguest, Jacob Russo, who allegedly assaulted the infant, and for negligence in failing to keep the sidewalk at her...more

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP

Scheduling, Compliance, and Liaison Tasks under the Professional Services Exclusion

Although a construction manager’s scheduling and liaison responsibilities do not require specialized training, such tasks may be sufficiently related to the actor’s other roles to be excluded from coverage under a liability...more

Wiley Rein LLP

Claim Against Physician Arising out of Criminal Misconduct in the Sexual Assault of a Patient Does Not Involve Covered...

Wiley Rein LLP on

An Illinois Appellate Court has ruled that an insurer had no duty to defend an insured in connection with a lawsuit arising out of criminal sexual misconduct charges even though the lawsuit contained negligence claims. Prof’l...more

Zelle  LLP

Opioid Case May Guide Climate Change Insurance Suits

Zelle LLP on

The rising tide of climate change lawsuits is sure to bring with it a wave of declaratory judgment actions on the issue of whether liability insurers have an obligation to defend fossil fuel producers and other climate change...more

Goldberg Segalla

Caused, in Whole or In Part, By: Additional Insured Coverage in the Wake of Burlington v. NYCTA

Goldberg Segalla on

Obtaining additional insured coverage is one critical tool in the risk transfer toolbox. Owners and contractors on construction projects routinely ask “downstream” contractors and subcontractors to sign contracts wherein the...more

Wiley Rein LLP

Intentional Acts Exclusion Bars Coverage for Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Wiley Rein LLP on

A federal district court, applying Missouri law, has held that an insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify an insured because the underlying litigation alleged intentional conduct that was barred by an intentional acts...more

Hinshaw & Culbertson - Insights for Insurers

Does Tilted Turtle's Slow Payment and Carapace Response Entitle Insurer to Liability Policy Rescission?

A California federal court has ruled that an insured's misrepresentation in a Statement of No Loss in support of reinstatement of its liability insurance policy provided the basis to rescind the policy reinstatement, but not...more

Cozen O'Connor

When 1% Equals 100%: New York Rejects Fault Based Approach to Additional Insured Coverage

Cozen O'Connor on

When a named insured is only 1% responsible for an accident, what percentage of indemnity coverage is owed to an additional insured? A recent New York federal court says 100%. In New York, additional insured coverage may very...more

Cozen O'Connor

Extrinsic Evidence and the Duty to Defend in Texas: To Be or Not to Be?

Cozen O'Connor on

In July of 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit revisited and affirmed its prediction that Texas courts will not allow extrinsic evidence to determine an insurer’s duty to defend where such evidence...more

Gould + Ratner LLP

Suburb's Citizens Out of Luck Against Contractor's Insurer for Contaminated Water

Gould + Ratner LLP on

Under established Illinois law, an insurer must defend a legal action filed against its insured unless it is clear from the face of the underlying complaint that the allegations fail to state facts which bring the case...more

Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP

No Duty to Defend Claims of Retailer’s Own Negligent Mislabeling Under Supplier’s Indemnity Agreement or Vendor’s Endorsement

In Target Corporation v. Golden State Ins. Co. Limited (No. B279995, filed 10/10/19), a California appeals court held that there was no duty to defend or indemnify a retail pharmacy against allegations that it had mislabeled...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Federal Court Enters Powerful Duty to Defend Order in Maine

In addition to being a great place to find lobster, Maine may also be one of the country’s best jurisdictions for a policyholder seeking defense from its commercial general liability carrier. In Zurich American Ins. Co. v....more

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP

Allocating Responsibility for Defense and Indemnity Costs Among Multiple Insurers

Analysis of Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. S.-Owners Ins. Co., 248 F. Supp. 3d 1268, 1276 (M.D. Fla. 2017) - In a dispute between two insurers arising from an underlying premises liability action, a federal district court applied...more

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP

A Theoretical Safety on the Trigger of the Duty to Defend

The Eleventh Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals recently decided Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast v. William P. White Racing Stables, Inc., et al., 2017 WL 6368843 (December 13, 2017), a case addressing...more

Butler Snow LLP

Finally, a happy Additional Insured!

Butler Snow LLP on

We have noted, again and again, examples of disappointed Additional Insureds. Today we report that at least one Additional Insured has left the Courthouse smiling. It was, however, to paraphrase Wellington, a near-run...more

Carlton Fields

Despite No Allegations of Bad Faith or Tortious Conduct, Liberty Mutual Owes Millions for Breaching the Duty to Defend

Carlton Fields on

In Hyland v. Liberty Mutual Fire Ins. Co., No. 1:15-cv-01264-JES-JEH, 2017 WL 3388161 (C.D. Ill. Aug. 7, 2017), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois granted plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment for...more

Cozen O'Connor

Pennsylvania Federal District Court: Insurer’s Reliance on “Reasonable” Interpretation of Law Does Not Automatically Bar Bad Faith

Cozen O'Connor on

On March 13, 2017, the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, rejected the argument that an insurer does not act in bad faith if it relies on a reasonable interpretation of unsettled case law. The...more

Pullman & Comley, LLC

Too Soon! First Circuit Finds No Duty To Defend Before Suit Is Filed

Pullman & Comley, LLC on

Can something short of the filing of a complaint trigger an insurer’s duty to defend? It’s not an idle question. Uncertainty on this issue could produce an unintended breach, and, in some jurisdictions, breach of the duty to...more

Carlton Fields

Accrual to be Kind: Pennsylvania Appellate Court Addresses Statute of Limitations for Declaratory Claim

Carlton Fields on

A Pennsylvania appeals court recently addressed a nuanced procedural question: the applicable statute of limitations in a declaratory action of a coverage dispute. In Selective Way Ins. Co. v. Hospitality Group Svcs, Inc.,...more

Troutman Pepper

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Denies Appeal In Coverage Dispute; Superior Court Decision Recognizing a Duty to Defend Where Tort...

Troutman Pepper on

In a per curiam decision without a published opinion, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh’s (“National”) appeal from a Superior Court decision holding that National had a...more

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