In Smerdon v. Geico Cas. Co., the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania examined an automobile insurer’s denial of an uninsured motorist claim. The claim concerned injuries sustained by the policyholder when she attempted to apprehend a robber of a store. Along with several other individuals, the policyholder chased the robber into the store’s parking lot. After the robber entered the vehicle, the policyholder opened the passenger door in an attempt to remove the keys from the ignition. The robber then started the vehicle, running over the policyholder and causing her to suffer serious injuries that
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California Appellate Court Reinstates Regulation Stipulating That Unfair Insurance Practices Act Claim May be Based Upon a Single Violation
In Pacificare Life and Health Ins. Co. v. Jones, the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth District reversed a trial court decision enjoining three recent regulations enacted by the California Insurance Commissioner with regard to the unfair claims settlement provisions of the state’s Unfair Insurance Practices Act. The first regulation at issue stated that the Act may be violated if a prohibited claims settlement practice is either “knowingly committed on a single occasion,” or “performed with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice.” The plaintiff insurer contended that this regulation was inconsistent with the Unfair Insurance Practices
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Middle District of Florida Applies Bar/Tavern Exclusion to Claim Tendered by Security Company
In Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Tactic Security Enforcement et al., the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida examined a claim for the defense and indemnification of two lawsuits against the policyholder security company, alleging inadequate security with regard to shooting incidents at a facility where the policyholder provided services. The subject policy contained language excluding coverage for “[a]ny and all operations involving bars, taverns, gentlemen’s clubs and nightclubs.” The plaintiff insurer brought an action seeking a declaratory judgment that it was not required to provide coverage. At trial, the sole issue for the jury was
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New Jersey Court Remands Summary Judgment in Favor of Insurers in Superstorm Sandy Policy Dispute Due to Trial Court’s Failure to Specify Grounds for Decision
In Doerfler v. Federal Ins. Co., the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court examined lawsuits brought by a policyholder against two insurers with regard to the denial of claims for damage to a residence arising from Superstorm Sandy. In each case, the insurer had denied coverage based upon the policy’s surface water exclusion. The policyholder asserted breach of contract and bad faith claims against the insurers. The bad faith claims were severed pending resolution of the breach of contract claims. Following discovery, the trial court granted the defendant insurers’ motions for summary judgment and denied the plaintiffs’ cross-motions
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Pennsylvania Superior Court Reverses $21 Million Verdict Against Automobile Insurer Regarding Decision to Repair Rather Than Total Vehicle
In Berg v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., the Pennsylvania Superior Court examined a lengthy dispute arising from a first-party automobile insurance claim. After an accident, the initial damage estimate determined that the insured vehicle should be declared a total loss. The insurer subsequently concluded that the vehicle was repairable and directed a collision facility to undertake repairs. The plaintiff policyholders alleged that the repairs were insufficient and that the vehicle was left with permanent frame damage rendering it unable to withstand a collision. The policyholders filed suit against the insurer and repair facility, asserting claims for breach of contract, insurance
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New Jersey Appellate Court Holds That Life Insurer is Not Equitably Estopped From Declining to Reinstate Policy When Policyholder Died Before Satisfying Policy Requirements for Reinstatement
In Nationwide Life Ins. Co. v. Thompson, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, considered a dispute over life insurance policy proceeds. The subject policy had been cancelled for non-payment of premium after two notices and the expiration of a sixty-one day grace period. Shortly after receiving notice of the cancellation, the policyholder contacted the insurer to request reinstatement. The policy language stated that the policy could be reinstated while the policyholder was alive if the policyholder applied for reinstatement within three years of cancellation, provided satisfactory evidence of insurability, and paid three months of premiums. The policyholder satisfied
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New Jersey Appellate Division Affirms Summary Judgment for Defendant in Premises Liability Action Due to Absence of Actual or Constructive Knowledge of Dangerous Condition
In Kurc v. All Star One, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court analyzed a lawsuit arising from an accident at a cheerleading practice. While walking to meet her granddaughter at the end of the practice, the plaintiff stepped on a mat in order to avoid a child sitting on another mat in the walkway. The mat moved as the plaintiff was stepping off it, causing her to fall and injure her wrist. The plaintiff brought a negligence action against several parties connected with the facility where the accident occurred. The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment,
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Statutory Cause of Action for Insurance Bad Faith Remains Under Consideration by New Jersey Legislature
In a recent note, we discussed the New Jersey Legislature’s consideration of the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, which would establish a statutory cause of action for the bad faith handling of insurance claims. On April 12, 2018, the New Jersey Senate approved an amendment of the bill to exclude insurance producers and public entities. The bill remains under consideration before the Legislature. We will continue to monitor the progress of the bill and advise of further developments.
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New Jersey Legislature to Consider Statutory Bad Faith Cause of Action for Insurance Claims
The New Jersey Senate will soon vote on a bill that would establish a statutory cause of action for the bad faith handling of insurance claims. If enacted, the New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act would create a private cause of action for “an unreasonable delay or unreasonable denial of a claim for payment of benefits under an insurance policy.” The Insurance Fair Conduct Act would also create a private cause of action for any insurance unfair trade practices prohibited by N.J. Stat. 17:29B-4, including: misrepresentations of policy contracts; false advertising; defamation; unfair discrimination; and unfair claim settlement practices. The
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New York Federal Court Holds That Arbitrators Must Decide Whether Party Waived Right to Arbitrate
In Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC v. Ins. Co. of North America, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York addressed an action against a liability insurer for coverage for asbestos claims. The policyholder first notified the insurer of the claims in 1999. The insurer responded with a reservation of rights letter explaining why the claims may not be covered. However, the insurer took no further action on the claims. In 2008, the policyholder made a formal demand for indemnification. In 2017, the insurer finally issued a denial of coverage. In its denial, the insurer asserted for
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