Insurance Law

Lawyers who didn’t notify insurance carrier of ‘nuisance case’ lose coverage appeal

Husband-and-wife West Virginia lawyers who practiced together in the same Charleston firm initially didn’t report to their insurance carrier what they subsequently described as a pro se “nuisance case” over a $290,000 check that the plaintiff said was wrongfully issued to one of the firm’s attorneys. But after the plaintiff,…

May 13, 2013 5:00 PM CDT

Fertilizer explosion caused some $100M in damage; plant had ‘pathetic’ $1M in insurance

As state and federal officials look into an apparent lack of regulatory scrutiny of a Texas fertilizer facility that exploded in a fiery blast last month, killing 15 people and injuring another 200, a further issue has come to the attention of outside lawyers representing victims of the disaster. The…

May 6, 2013 5:15 PM CDT

Big-bucks jury question: Did concert promoter select or supervise Michael Jackson’s personal doctor?

Opening arguments began Monday in a small Los Angeles courtroom in a wrongful death case that could involve millions, or perhaps even billions, of dollars in damages. At issue is whether concert promoter AEG Live had a role in hiring or supervising Dr. Conrad Murray, who served as Michael Jackson’s…

Apr 29, 2013 9:05 PM CDT

Volunteer lawyers helping Boston business owners note employee, insurance issues

Corrected: Business owners dealing with the aftermath of the Boston marathon bombings will be facing legal issues ranging from insurance coverage to compensation for injured employees. More than 400 businesses were forced to close during the bombing investigation and a handful suffered property damage, according to the Boston Globe. Insurance…

Apr 29, 2013 10:38 AM CDT

Lawyer learns the hard way about limits of bank safe-deposit box protection

The fine print in contracts for renting a bank safe-deposit box explain that valuables placed in them by customers, unlike ordinary checking and savings accounts, aren’t covered by the FDIC insurance. But a lot of people may not understand that. Among those who learned this information the hard way was…

Apr 26, 2013 4:35 PM CDT

Will the Boston Marathon bombings qualify as terrorism for insurance purposes?

President Barack Obama called the Boston Marathon bombings on Monday that killed three people and injured over 170 others “an act of terror.” But unless and until the secretary of the treasury, in conjunction with the secretary of state and the U.S. attorney general, certify that they agree, coverage won’t…

Apr 18, 2013 4:40 PM CDT

Jury awards record $524M in Hep C case; lawyer calls verdict a wake-up call to health insurers

In what is being billed as a record-high verdict in Nevada for a single case, a jury has awarded a total of $524 million to three individuals, two of whom said they got Hepatitis C as a result of treatment by a doctor who contracted with the defendant health insurer…

Apr 10, 2013 8:26 PM CDT

DC insurance boutique opens in NYC’s Chrysler Building, is looking for associates

A Washington, D.C.-based international insurance boutique has opened in New York City, where it signed a four-year lease for nearly 4,000 square feet of space in the Chrysler Building. Lewis Baach has been operational there for roughly a month, with partners Adam Kaufmann and Arthur Middlemiss already at work, according…

Apr 10, 2013 7:40 PM CDT

Closed by lack of power after Hurricane Sandy, law firm battles insurer over flooding exclusion

A New York law firm has brought an insurance coverage lawsuit against its own carrier after being forced to close temporarily by Hurricane Sandy. Great Northern Insurance Co. refused to pay a $250,000 business interruption claim because it said the damage was from flooding, which is excluded from coverage by…

Apr 5, 2013 4:55 PM CDT

Lawyer formed Freelancers Union after law firm refused to classify her as an employee

Sara Horowitz learned about the downside of working as an independent contractor when she went to work for a Manhattan law firm nearly 20 years ago. Horowitz was shocked to learn the firm was hiring her as an independent contractor rather than an employee, the New York Times reports. That…

Mar 26, 2013 11:15 AM CDT

SCOTUS: Class action plaintiff can’t avoid federal court by stipulating to amount in controversy

Federal courts aren’t bound by plaintiffs in proposed class actions who try to keep cases in state court by stipulating to the amount in controversy, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. The court ruled on Tuesday in a unanimous opinion (PDF) by Justice Stephen G. Breyer. Lead plaintiffs don’t have…

Mar 19, 2013 4:43 PM CDT

Lawyer takes plea in $279M no-fault auto insurance fraud case

One of three lawyers charged in what authorities have described as a record-breaking $279 million New York auto insurance fraud scheme has taken a plea. Sol Naimark, 54, pleaded guilty last week in federal court in Manhattan to conspiracy to commit health fraud and faces up to 20 years when…

Mar 19, 2013 4:00 PM CDT

Insurers are hiring lawyers, with an eye on privilege

Take heart, legal job seeker. You may have a future as a claims adjuster, if you don’t mind taking center stage in the occasional discovery dispute. Once considered a humble plan B for low-ranking graduates, jobs in the claims departments of insurance companies look more like a safe haven amid…

Mar 1, 2013 9:20 AM CST

Gun owner liability insurance would be mandatory under proposed laws

Proposed laws in at least six states would require gun owners to buy liability insurance for their weapons. Backers of the legislation hope insurance would encourage responsible behavior, the New York Times reports. Advocates say accidental shootings could be reduced if insurers set lower premiums for weapons deemed less dangerous…

Feb 22, 2013 12:33 PM CST

Hurricane Sandy caused losses that East Coast solos are struggling to offset

After Hurricane Sandy blasted the East Coast last year, Miles Winder lost power in his law office for 10 days. Though Sandy did no permanent damage to Winder’s office, it did damage his bottom line. Now the Bernardsville, N.J., solo is hoping that client worries about the “fiscal cliff” will…

Feb 1, 2013 8:40 AM CST