Recent Publications
March 23, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 23, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 23, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 23, 2017 |
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,
Read MoreMarch 23, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 21, 2017 |
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.
Read MoreMarch 21, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 21, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 15, 2017 | | |
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.
Read MoreMarch 15, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 10, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 10, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 7, 2017 |
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
Read MoreMarch 6, 2017 |
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
Read MoreFebruary 28, 2017 |
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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