In this month’s update, we discuss Russian-seized planes, Starbucks-caused traffic jams, a squabble over the use of a family name, a restaurant’s pandemic-based loss, a poorly built house, and whether insurance covers any of these claims.

We begin with the restaurant’s business interruption claim.  There, the California Supreme Court had to decide whether a virus

Fourth Department Finds That Insurer Failed To Meet Its Burden Of Proving That Insureds Failed To Cooperate

Merchants Preferred Insurance Company filed a declaratory judgment action in New York seeking a declaration that it had no duty to defend or to indemnify its insureds in an underlying Florida personal injury action arising from a

We touch upon various issues in our August insurance update.

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts considers the meaning of “surface waters” and whether the sublimit for floods applies when pooled water on a roof infiltrates a building.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals considers whether a pollution exclusion applies to a gasoline leak at a

Second Circuit Applies “But For” Test To Exclusion In Finding No Coverage Under D&O Policy

Paraco Gas Corporation purchased an insurance policy for Directors, Officers and Private Company Liability (“D&O”) from Ironshore Indemnity, Inc. that covered certain acts of Paraco’s officers and directors. Paraco shareholders filed a derivative action against two Paraco officers alleging that

It’s not often that the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on insurance issues. That’s because the McCarran-Ferguson Act gives states the primary authority to regulate the business of insurance. So when the Supreme Court speaks on insurance, even in the context of a bankruptcy plan, it’s noteworthy for insurers.

That’s why we begin with the

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 6, 2024, held that an insurer with a financial responsibility for bankruptcy claims is a party in interest and has standing to raise and be heard on issues in a Chapter 11 proceeding.

In Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Gyspum Co., Inc., et al., No. 22-1079, the Supreme Court

Second Department Finds Duty To Defend But No Bad Faith And That Insurer Did Not Have An Obligation To Advise Insured Of Right To Independent Counsel

The parent of an infant sued Kim Eichle for Eichle’s alleged negligence in serving alcohol to her houseguest, Jacob Russo, who allegedly assaulted the infant, and for negligence

Most pandemic-related businesses interruption insurance claims failed because policyholders could not show a direct physical loss. But some California courts issued conflicting decisions. The California Supreme Court has now clarified California law and joins the majority of jurisdictions finding no coverage for these types of claims.

A scooter rider sought PIP benefits under New Jersey’s

Lost Business Income Not Covered Because Not Caused by Direct Physical Loss Or Damage, Third Department Finds

87 Uptown Road, LLC owned an apartment complex with 11 apartment buildings in Ithaca, New York, which were insured by Country Mutual Insurance Company. A fire destroyed one building (Building D), and the owner made a claim for

Careening race cars, missing diamonds, and gold treasure provide some of the backdrop for insurance issues that courts had to decide this past month.

We begin in Pennsylvania where the state’s high court reined in some loose analysis by the lower courts.  If a controlled substances exclusion applies to “bodily injury” claims and “bodily injury”