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Assault and Battery Exclusion Bars Coverage for Claims Arising from Alleged Tavern Fight
December 31, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

The assault and battery exclusion in a tavern’s commercial general liability (“CGL”) insurance policy excluded coverage for claims asserted by a person allegedly injured in a fight at the tavern, a federal district court has ruled.   

The Case 

A person allegedly injured in a fight at TJ Coffey’s, a tavern located in Buffalo, New York,

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Computer Systems Fraud Rider Covers Hackers, Not Authorized Users’ Fraudulent Activity, Court Finds
December 31, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

A New York court has ruled that a Computer Systems Fraud rider to a Financial Institution Bond did not cover alleged fraudulent activity by authorized users of the insured’s system.   

The Case 

Universal American Corp. offered a variety of insurance products to health care providers, including “Medicare Advantage Private Fee-For-Service” plans (“MA-PFFS”). The MA-PFFS plans

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Accountant Not Covered for Claims after Computer Disc with Clients’ Confidential Information Was Stolen from Her Car
December 31, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

While employed as an accountant at an accounting firm, Jeanne Hentz had a compact disc belonging to the firm stolen from her personal vehicle, which was parked at her house. The compact disc contained confidential information belonging to some of her employer’s clients. Those clients sued Hentz in Illinois state court for credit monitoring and

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Settlements With Underlying Insurance and Forfeiture of Excess Insurance
December 31, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

Michael Kotula, a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, authored an article entitled Settlements With Underlying Insurance and Forfeiture of Excess Insurance as well as excess insurance case notes in the ABA TIPS Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance General Committee Winter 2013 quarterly newsletter.  Michael is the Chair-Elect and Newsletter Editor of the

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“New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act Notice Requirements”
December 31, 2012 | Labor & Employment | Appeals

The New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act (“WTPA”) remains in effect, which means that employers have until February 1, 2013 to provide the required written notice to employees.  Pursuant to the WTPA, New York employers must provide New York employees with a written notice and acknowledgment of pay rate and payday on an annual

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Courts Confront the Question of Service by Facebook
December 18, 2012 | Professional Liability | Intellectual Property | Complex Torts & Product Liability

Under New York law, service of process may be effected by: (1) personal service; (2) delivery to “a person of suitable age and discretion at the actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode of the person to be served” and mail; (3) service on an agent; or (4) so-called “nail and

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Due Diligence On Execs, Board Vital When Sizing Up Companies
December 12, 2012 | Health Services

Please click the link below to view Due Diligence On Execs, Board Vital When Sizing Up Companies. Adobe Reader is required to view the bulletin. If Adobe Reader is not installed on your PC, click here to download and install.

Due Diligence On Execs, Board Vital When Sizing Up Companies

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New York Insurance Coverage Law Update
December 1, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

Alleged Injury As Woman Exited Bus Did Not Arise Out Of Its “Use Or Operation,” NY Court Of Appeals Rules

The Court of Appeals has held that a woman who allegedly injured her ankle as she exited a New York City bus and stepped into a hole could not recover no-fault benefits because her

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Umbrella Insurer Failed to Show That Primary Policies Had Been Fully Exhausted, Court Rules
November 30, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

A federal district court in Colorado has ruled that National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, was not obligated to reimburse Scottsdale Insurance Company for a portion of the $4.35 million that Scottsdale had contributed to the settlement of an underlying lawsuit against Northwest Construction Company.  

The Case 

The underlying lawsuit involved the construction

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Reservation of Rights Letter Received after Home’s Second Fire Was Timely, Court Rules
November 30, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

A federal district court in Ohio has ruled that a reservation of rights letter that a homeowner’s insurance carrier sent to its insureds after a second fire at their home was timely.  

The Case 

State Farm Fire & Casualty Company issued a homeowner’s insurance policy to Mark and Brenda Gibney that contained a “Concealment or

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Insured’s Expenses Were Not “Reasonable and Necessary Cleanup Costs,” Court Decides
November 30, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

A federal district court in Michigan was asked to consider whether certain expenses incurred by the insured fell within the definition of “cleanup costs” required by governmental regulation resulting from a release of contaminants into the ground from scheduled storage tank systems. 

The Case

After H & M Petro Mart discovered a “release” of contaminants

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No Coverage for Claims Alleging that Insured Conspired to Falsely Accuse Ex-Husband of Child Sex Abuse
November 30, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

A court has ruled that claims that an insured engaged in a conspiracy to falsely accuse her former husband of child sex abuse were not covered by her insurance policy because they did not constitute an “occurrence” and because claims for emotional distress damages were not for “bodily injury.”  

The Case 

A woman who was

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No Coverage for Either Negligence or Intentional Claims against Archdiocese, Court Rules
November 30, 2012 | Insurance Coverage

Are excess insurers obligated to indemnify a religious institution for a negligence-based claim? A federal district court in Missouri has determined that there was no coverage in these circumstances.  

The Case 

The plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Robert J. Carlson alleged that a former priest and employee of

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Employee Wellness Program Did Not Violate ADA, Circuit Court Decides
November 30, 2012 | Insurance Coverage | Labor & Employment | Appeals

Several years ago, employees of Broward County, Florida, who enrolled in the county’s group health plan became eligible to participate in a new employee wellness program sponsored by Broward’s group health insurer, Coventry Healthcare. The employee wellness program consisted of two components: a biometric screening, which entailed a finger stick for glucose and cholesterol, and

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Regulation Barring Health Care Providers From No-Fault Program
November 2, 2012 | Appeals | Insurance Coverage

The Superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services, Benjamin Lawsky, has issued an emergency regulation that may make it easier to bar health care providers ? temporarily and permanently ? who are suspected of engaging in no-fault insurance fraud from demanding payments from insurance carriers for services they claim to have provided. If

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