Insurance Disputes

On July 17, a Texas appellate court partially revived a lawsuit between Kenyon International Emergency Services Inc. and Starr Indemnity and Liability Company. Although a trial court judge granted an early victory to Starr in May of 2017, the appellate panel overruled that decision, stating there’s a factual issue as to whether Starr must cover…

When you buy an insurance policy for your property – no matter whether that property is commercial or residential – that policy is most likely going to have an appraisal clause. Although few people take advantage of the appraisal process, nearly all insureds have the option of using appraisal to resolve disputes over the “amount…

On March 16, 2018, an Illinois federal judge ruled that an “earth movement” exclusion in a commercial building’s insurance policy allowed Acuity Mutual Insurance Company to avoid paying the repair costs for damages to its Insureds’ building. What was this insurance case about? Back in August 2013, SSV and Temperature Service performed excavation around their…

A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled on March 9, 2018 that Cincinnati Insurance Company didn’t have to pay out more than $100,000 to its policyholder Wescott Electric Co. regarding a multi-million-dollar theft. U.S. District Judge Gene Pratter pointed out that Wescott should have been aware of the discontinuation of grace periods for claims reporting in their…

Over the next few months, insurance experts and policyholders should pay attention to some key decisions expected by the courts. Several rulings set to come out over the next few months include decisions on insurance bad faith, coverage for data breaches, interpretation of computer fraud provisions, and settling a dispute over covering asbestos-related injuries. Some…

Let’s start with the basics. If you, as a homeowner, sustain property damage or losses because of a covered event (like a fire, for example), you will need your home repaired. You choose a contractor or restoration company to do the work – but the check from the insurance company has not come through yet,…

Utilizing the services of an experienced local appraiser is very important when you are purchasing commercial real estate. An appraiser’s job is to perform a market analysis on the property to arrive at its appraised value. This appraisal value reflects the property’s condition and the current market – all of which can help you make…

California suffered the most devastating series of wildfires in its history during 2017. The losses are sobering in terms of human life and property loss. Regarding the latter, home and business owners who have incurred losses may be up for some challenges when it comes to obtaining a satisfactory insurance claim result. As of mid-December,…

In order to ensure you are adequately protected in the wake of significant fire damage to your home or property, it is essential first and foremost to buy and maintain property insurance. Make sure that your policy provides protection for your various assets and that the coverage amounts are sufficient. Secondly, be sure to keep…