The widespread denial of coverage under first-party property insurance policies for business interruption losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been extensively reported, but so far less attention has been paid to related third-party claims and attendant coverage issues arising
Policyholder Pulse
Policyholder Pulse, published by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, focuses on issues relevant to insurance policyholders, including coverage disputes, risk management strategies, and emerging insurance risks. The blog addresses topics such as long-tail liability claims, self-insured retentions, bad faith claims against insurers, and the interpretation of insurance policy language. It also covers developments in environmental liability, transactional risk insurance, and complex claims management. The content is aimed at helping policyholders navigate insurance challenges and understand evolving legal and regulatory landscapes affecting insurance coverage and claims.
Latest from Policyholder Pulse - Page 11
Insurability Update: New York High Court Affirms Coverage for Settlement Amount Labeled “Disgorgement”
Last month, we discussed a decision by the Northern District of Illinois finding an amount labeled “restitution” in a settlement between a pharmaceutical company and the DOJ was insurable loss under a D&O policy. Shortly after that post, the New…
An Update on Recent PFAS Regulation and Enforcement and the Resulting Insurance Implications
In August, we provided an overview of the recent increase in regulatory and private litigation activity around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), colloquially known as “forever chemicals,” and potential insurance coverage for PFAS liability. There have been important developments on…
The Benefits of Mediating Complex Insurance Claims in a Post-Pandemic World
In my December 18, 2017, blog post, I wrote about “choosing the right path” to settle complex insurance claims and emphasized the benefits of private structured negotiation, a type of negotiation undertaken without the assistance of mediators. At that…
In Another Blow to the “Uninsurability” Defense, Court Holds that Settlement Labeled “Restitution” Is Insurable
In previous posts, we have emphasized the continued judicial trend rejecting insurer arguments that losses purportedly sounding in restitution or disgorgement are “uninsurable” under D&O policies. Despite that trend, insurers continue to invoke “uninsurability” under state law or vague notions…
Biometric Privacy, BIPA and the Battle for EPLI Policy Coverage
Do employees have a privacy right in the shape of their faces, the color of their eyes, or the texture of their fingertips? In many states, the law now says yes—leading employers to ask: Are resulting biometric privacy claims covered…
Federal Court Holds Allegations of Coronavirus on Premises Sufficiently Allege Physical Loss of or Damage to Property
In Novant Health, Inc. v. American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Co., Judge Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina made the right call by allowing a large hospital system policyholder to litigate…
Flooded by Ida? Many Policyholders Can Expect Increased Premiums for Flood Insurance
After hitting the shores of Louisiana with winds of up to 172mph in late August, Hurricane Ida’s remnants barreled up to the northeastern United States, leaving waves of destruction in its wake. The deluge of rain—more than half-a-foot fell in…
Couch’s “Physical Alteration” Fallacy: Its Origins and Consequences
Look at virtually any COVID-19 case favoring an insurer, and you will find a citation to Section 148:46 of Couch on Insurance. It is virtually ubiquitous: courts siding with insurers cite Couch as restating a “widely held rule” on the meaning of
…
Your CGL Policy May Provide Coverage for a Data Breach
As cybercrimes and data breaches continue to cause significant damage to companies of all types, policyholders are looking to their various insurance policies for coverage to help weather the storm and recoup losses. A recent decision by the U.S. Court…