Recent Publications


New Jersey Joins Majority of Courts Holding That Anti-Assignment Clauses Do Not Apply After a Loss
March 23, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

The New Jersey Supreme Court, joining the majority of courts, has ruled that an anti-assignment clause in an “occurrence” insurance policy did not bar the assignment of a post-loss claim even if the claim had not been reduced to a money judgment.

The Case

Givaudan Fragrances Corporation faced liability as a result of environmental contamination

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Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act Did Not Permit Insureds to Sue Their Insurers for Regulatory Violations Alone, State’s Highest Court Says
March 23, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

The Supreme Court of Washington has ruled that the state’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act (“IFCA”) did not permit insureds to sue their own insurers for violation of regulations adopted under the IFCA in the absence of an unreasonable denial of coverage or benefits.

The Case

A driver injured in an accident sued his insurer under

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Texas Supreme Court Enforces Insured-Versus-Insured Exclusion in D&O Liability Insurance Policy
March 23, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that an insured-versus-insured exclusion in a directors and officers (“D&O”) liability insurance policy applied to preclude coverage of a lawsuit brought against a former director and treasurer of a condominium association by an assignee of the association.

The Case

After Robert Primo resigned as a director and treasurer of

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Public Policy Did Not Prohibit Enforcement of Indoor Air Exclusion, Oklahoma Supreme Court Decides
March 23, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

The Oklahoma Supreme Court, in response to a question certified by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, has ruled that the public policy of Oklahoma did not prohibit enforcement of an indoor air exclusion in a commercial lines insurance policy.

The Case

Several guests inside a hotel in Siloam Springs, Arkansas,

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Excess Insurer Was Not Bound by Primary Insurer’s Interpretation of “Prior Acts” Exclusion, Maryland’s Top Court Rules
March 23, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

Maryland’s highest court, the Maryland Court of Appeals, has enforced a prior acts exclusion in a primary insurance policy and ruled that an excess insurer was not bound by the primary insurer’s interpretation of that language.

The Case

A class action lawsuit filed against Cristal USA, Inc., on April 12, 2010, alleged that Cristal had

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Democratic State Senators among the Latest to Fall Prey to Ransomware Attack
March 21, 2017 | Privacy, Data & Cyber Law

The Democrats in the Pennsylvania State Senate recently fell victim to a ransomware attack that locked lawmakers and their staffs out of their computer, data, email and website. Hackers were able to infect the party’s network with malware and demanded a ransom payment in bitcoin in order to remove the virus and unlock the files.

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FTC Continues to Focus on Data Protection
March 21, 2017 | Privacy, Data & Cyber Law

During 2016 the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced six formal enforcement actions. All involved corporate failures to protect sensitive personal information (health, financial or other) belonging to customers, other consumers or employees. These included proceedings against the owners of AshleyMadison.com (failure to protect the information of 36 million dating site users) and ASUS TeK

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FDA Addresses Cyber-Security Risks in Connected Medical Devices
March 21, 2017 | Privacy, Data & Cyber Law

The “Internet of Things”  has pervaded every facet of our society thereby introducing unanticipated cyber risks into everyday life. Often overlooked and particularly disconcerting are the cyber risks inherent in connected medical devices. Nevertheless, caregivers and patients alike should be aware that any medical device that depends on interactive computer technology may be vulnerable to

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Principles of Judicial Estoppel May Constrain the Assignability of Legal Malpractice Claims to Former Litigation Adversaries
March 15, 2017 | Insurance Coverage | Complex Torts & Product Liability | Professional Liability

In a recent decision, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York considered whether principles of judicial estoppel may prevent an assignee of a legal malpractice claim from prevailing on a claim against his former adversary’s attorneys. Molina v. Faust Goetz Schenker & Blee, LLP, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13568 (S.D.N.Y.

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Employee Relations Law Journal – From the Courts
March 15, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

Tenth Circuit Upholds Pension Trust’s Decision to Honor IRS Levies

When the plaintiffs in this case retired, they began receiving monthly benefits from the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust, a pension plan in which they participated. However, after the trust received notices of levy for both of them from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the trust

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Trump Administration Issues New Regulations for Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplaces
March 10, 2017 | Health Services

On February 17th, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) released proposed new regulations aimed at stabilizing the individual and small business insurance marketplaces set up under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). According to the proposed rule, the marketplaces “have recently been threatened by issuer exit and increasing rates in many geographic areas.” The

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OIG Rejects Laboratory’s Offer to Provide Free Labeling to Dialysis Facilities
March 10, 2017 | Health Services

The U.S. Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued Advisory Opinion No. 16-12 (the “Opinion”) regarding a proposed arrangement between a laboratory and a dialysis facility. Briefly stated, the laboratory proposed to offer the dialysis facility free labeling of test tubes and specimen collection containers, a task which is typically performed by the dialysis

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New York Insurance Coverage Law Update
March 7, 2017 | Insurance Coverage

Claims-Made Policy Afforded Insured 60 Days After End Of Term To Notify Insurer 

An employee of New York Institute of Technology (“NYIT”) sued NYIT for defamation on February 26, 2009, and NYIT received notice of the action on August 6, 2009. NYIT’s claims-made-and-reported insurance policy ended on September 1, 2009. NYIT notified its insurer of

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Social Media Is Shining Light on Fraudulent Insurance Claims
March 6, 2017 | Appeals

My January column, “Insurers Using Technology to Fight Insurance Fraud,” N.Y.L.J. Jan. 5, 2017, discussed various new forms of technology that insurance companies are using to fight insurance fraud.

These efforts are producing results for insurers—and, in appropriate instances, for federal, state, and local prosecutors—in the battle against insurance fraud. This month’s column highlights a

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New York City To Make History With New Legislation Protecting Independent Contractors
February 28, 2017 | Labor & Employment

On May 15, 2017, New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act (“FIFA”) will take effect, and make history as the first law of its kind. FIFA establishes significant protections for freelance workers, or independent contractors by requiring a written contract, timely payment and anti-retaliation provisions. The law will provide many of the protections afforded to

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