We’ve selected five recent insurance decisions for this month’s update.

Foreign insurers will be pleased with the Second Circuit’s revamped view of the New York Convention. In finding that the international treaty is self-executing, the court opened a path for these insurers to arbitrate coverage disputes, even where state law prohibits insurers from doing so.

If you have a loved one with special needs, you know that caring for him or her can, at times, feel totally overwhelming. Presumably, you have retained an attorney to guide you through the special education process in your district. Now it is time to consider meeting with a special needs planning attorney to ensure

Selling goods or services online can be a challenge, as there are various legal issues to consider. Here are my top 10 recommendations for protecting your rights when using the internet as a tool for sales or licenses:

1. If you are selling an original work of authorship or using one to promote or advertise

Southern District Finds No Additional Insured Coverage, Insurer Did Not Waive Non-Existence Of Coverage Defense, And Insurer Not Estopped From Disclaiming Coverage Where No Prejudice

Utica National Assurance Company issued a liability policy to Bond Painting Company. Bond’s employee was injured working at a construction project at premises leased by Amazon.com Services Inc. and filed

Jeff Kaiser’s article, “COVID-19 Pandemic Fraud Enforcement Efforts Overview,” was published on the Lexis Nexis legal research tool, Practical Guidance.

In the article, Jeff offers a comprehensive overview of enforcement efforts related to COVID-19 pandemic fraud.

We touch upon several issues in this month’s update.

Negligent breach of contract: Courts recognize that a CGL policy does not cover breach of contract claims. But where the insured is accused of negligently performing its obligations, courts are divided over whether that claim qualifies for coverage. The answer depends on whether there is an

Just last week, we reported that the 2025/26 NYS Budget Bill did not include a provision that would have increased the requirements for seeking Department of Health (DOH) approval of a material healthcare transaction (which generally means one that increases revenues from healthcare services by at least $25 million) [here]. We have previously written about

We recently wrote about proposed legislation that would have substantially increased the existing reporting requirements for material healthcare transactions in NYS that have existed since Public Health Law (PHL) Article 45-A was enacted two years ago. We provided a detailed review of the current PHL 45-A here and here.

The proposed legislation would have amended PHL 45-A and

May is mental health month, the perfect time to address this important topic. Mental health and substance abuse disorders affect many families. These issues need to be considered in estate planning.

Mental health and substance abuse disorders cannot be “cured,” but they can be managed with proper support. Frequently, “relapse” is a facet of the

The Supreme Court recently issued an opinion, resolving a circuit split, narrowing the sovereign immunity exception by limiting a trustee’s ability to pursue avoidance actions against the government when such action invokes the rights of a creditor holding an unsecured claim to set aside a transfer that is “voidable under applicable law”. The effect of

A Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision refused an attempt to expand the scope of an insurance policy’s arbitration provision, creating the need for extra caution when interpreting policies.

In Ehrenberg v. Allied World National Assurance Co. (In Re: Orion HealthCorp, Inc.), 24-2511 (2d. Cir. April 15, 2025), the Second Circuit affirmed the judgment

Picture this: You’re sitting in your office checking your email for the third time to see if your client returned a notarized affidavit that needs to be e-filed by end of day. While time is ticking, you wonder how something so routine can suddenly feel so urgent.

After not hearing back for another hour, you

Trustee selection for a beneficiary with special needs presents unique challenges. The decision includes practical considerations: the proposed trustee’s geographic proximity to the beneficiary; familiarity with the needs of the beneficiary; and the time, inclination and ability to properly execute the duties that are unique to a trustee administering a trust for a person with

Southern District Finds No Coverage For Legal Malpractice Action And Rejects Insured’s Argument That Insurer Improperly Handled Coverage Claim

John H. Fisher and his P.C. represented a client in a medical malpractice action filed on February 15, 2019, alleging that the defendant medical providers failed to provide proper prenatal care to the client, causing the

As temperatures in the Northeast have made it feel more like winter than spring, it’s only fitting that we begin our April Insurance Update with a case from Alaska. There, the Alaska Supreme Court decides for the first time whether a claim involving carbon monoxide poisoning is barred by the pollution exclusion. The court acknowledged