Margaret Thomas

Firm/Organization: Wiley Rein LLP

Latest Articles

Two Lawsuits Based on Real Estate Broker’s Dual Representation of Buyers and Sellers in Same Transaction Arise from Same Wrongful Act

By Margaret Thomas on May 14, 2019

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, applying California law, held that two lawsuits against a real estate broker involving his dual representation of buyers and sellers in the same real estate transaction arose from the same wrongful act, such that the second suit was deemed a claim first made at the time the first suit was filed—prior to the inception of the broker’s claims-made errors and omissions policy. Martin v. QBE …

Executive Summary Blog

Warranty Exclusion Bars Coverage Where Start-Up Made Material Misrepresentations in Application about Potential Acquisitions

By Margaret Thomas on April 15, 2019

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, applying California law, held that a warranty exclusion barred coverage where a start-up company made material misrepresentations regarding contemplated acquisitions in its policy application. Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. CSC Agility Platform, Inc., 2019 WL 1452910 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 4, 2019). The court further held that the insurer did not waive its right to enforce the warranty exclusion, nor was it estopped from doing so.…

Executive Summary Blog

Claims Arising out of Insured’s Contractual Obligation to Provide Employee Benefits Plans Are Not Because of a Wrongful Act

By Margaret Thomas on March 12, 2019

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, applying California law, has held that neither fiduciary nor employment benefits liability coverage applied to claims seeking benefits under an insured company’s employee benefits plan because the company’s liability arose, not from negligent acts or breaches of fiduciary duty, but from its contractual obligation to provide employees with benefit plans. Erickson-Hall Constr. Co. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 2019 WL 719204 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 20, 2019)…

Executive Summary Blog

Eighth Circuit Affirms No Coverage for Lawsuit for Breach of Noncompetition Covenant

By Margaret Thomas on December 18, 2018

Applying North Dakota law, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has held that an insurance policy issued to a parent company and several of its commonly owned affiliates did not provide coverage for a lawsuit against the owner of the companies and one of the insured subsidiaries for breach of a noncompetition covenant in an asset purchase agreement. Mau v. Twin City Fire Ins. Co., — F.3d –, 2018 WL 6379281 …

Executive Summary Blog

Negligent Supervision of Funds Exclusion Bars Coverage for Trust Investment Losses

By Margaret Thomas on October 23, 2018

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, applying Virginia law, has held that a professional liability policy’s exclusion for “negligent supervision” of funds applied to bar coverage for damages resulting from an insured attorney’s reckless investment of trust assets. ALPS Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Farthing, 2018 WL 4927366 (E.D. Va. Sept. 26, 2018). The court also held that the insurer was entitled to recoup defense costs paid…

Executive Summary Blog

Resident’s Three Claims Against Condo Association Spanning Multiple Years Deemed Single Claim Subject to Single Limit

By Margaret Thomas on September 21, 2018

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has held that three claims brought by a resident against a condominium owners’ association for alleged discrimination and retaliation involved related wrongful acts and therefore are properly treated as a single Claim deemed first made during the claims-made policy period when the first such claim was asserted. Great Am. Ins. Co. v. State Parkway Condo. Ass’n et al., 2018 WL 433623 (N.D. Ill. Sept. …

Executive Summary Blog

Montana Supreme Court Holds Insurer Does Not Have Statutory Right to Rescind Lawyers’ Professional Liability Policy

By Margaret Thomas on September 6, 2018

The Supreme Court of Montana has held that a Montana statute allowing insurers to “prevent a recovery” under an insurance policy in certain circumstances, including when the insured made misrepresentations or omissions in its application, does not provide a right to rescind the policy ab initio. ALPS Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. McLean & McLean, PLLP, 2018 WL 3737950 (Mont. Aug. 7, 2018). The court also held that an innocent insured attorney had…

Executive Summary Blog

Delaware Supreme Court Holds Texas Law Applies to Comprehensive Insurance Program Issued to a Texas Corporation and Its Subsidiaries

By Margaret Thomas on July 16, 2018

In a case that was briefed and argued by Wiley Rein in the trial court and on appeal, along with Fox Rothschild LLP as Delaware local counsel, the Delaware Supreme Court held that Texas law applies to a comprehensive insurance program issued to a Texas corporation and its subsidiaries nationwide. The Travelers Indemnity Company v. CNH Industrial America, LLC, No. 420, 2017 (Del. July 16, 2018). The Court reversed a decision of the Superior…

Executive Summary Blog

6th Circuit Affirms No Coverage Where Insured Concealed Claim and Underlying Facts Before Giving Untimely Notice of Claim

By Margaret Thomas on July 10, 2018

In a case that was briefed and argued for the primary carrier by Wiley Rein at the trial court level and on appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit unanimously affirmed summary judgment on behalf of the insurers where the insured bank concealed key facts concerning a government investigation until the eve of settlement, holding that the insured failed to provide timely notice of a Claim or adequate notice of a potential…

Executive Summary Blog

Insurer Obligated to Defend Entire Suit Where Covered Claim Could Stand Independent of Non-Covered Claims

By Margaret Thomas on July 3, 2018

The United States District Court for the District of Colorado, applying Massachusetts law, has held that an insurer had a duty to defend an entire suit against an au pair sponsor because the negligent misrepresentation claim asserted in that suit fell within the scope of the policy’s insuring agreement and could stand independent from other claims that were excluded from coverage by a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exclusion and an intentional conduct exclusion. Cultural …

Margaret Thomas

Two Lawsuits Based on Real Estate Broker’s Dual Representation of Buyers and Sellers in Same Transaction Arise from Same Wrongful Act

Warranty Exclusion Bars Coverage Where Start-Up Made Material Misrepresentations in Application about Potential Acquisitions

Claims Arising out of Insured’s Contractual Obligation to Provide Employee Benefits Plans Are Not Because of a Wrongful Act

Eighth Circuit Affirms No Coverage for Lawsuit for Breach of Noncompetition Covenant

Negligent Supervision of Funds Exclusion Bars Coverage for Trust Investment Losses

Resident’s Three Claims Against Condo Association Spanning Multiple Years Deemed Single Claim Subject to Single Limit

Montana Supreme Court Holds Insurer Does Not Have Statutory Right to Rescind Lawyers’ Professional Liability Policy

Delaware Supreme Court Holds Texas Law Applies to Comprehensive Insurance Program Issued to a Texas Corporation and Its Subsidiaries

6th Circuit Affirms No Coverage Where Insured Concealed Claim and Underlying Facts Before Giving Untimely Notice of Claim

Insurer Obligated to Defend Entire Suit Where Covered Claim Could Stand Independent of Non-Covered Claims

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