In an unusual step, the FDIC, the federal regulator responsible for insuring and supervising depositary institutions, has weighed in on financial institutions’ purchase of D&O insurance. The FDIC’s October 10, 2013 Financial Institutions Letter, which includes an “Advisory Statement on Director and Officer Liability Insurance Policies, Exclusions and Indemnification for Civil Money Penalties” (here
D & O Insurance
E&O Insurance: Acts Alleged in Underlying Claim Did Not Involve Insured Services
One of the recurring coverage issues that arises in connection with Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance is the question of whether or not the activities that are the basis of the underlying claim involve Insured Services (or Professional Services) as that term is defined in the policy. In a September 27, 2013 decision (here…
D&O Insurance: How Many Different Ways Can Coverage Be Precluded for a Single Case?
Due to the complexity both of the D&O insurance policy and of the kinds of claims that can arise, the question of whether and to what extent a particular claim may be covered is often disputed. Sometimes though a particular claim is simply not covered. That was the case in a recent coverage dispute in…
D&O Insurance: Insured vs. Insured Exclusion Unambiguously Precludes Coverage for FDIC Failed Bank Lawsuit
One of the recurring D&O insurance coverage issues that has arisen during the current wave of failed bank litigation has been the question whether coverage for an action by the FDIC in its role as receiver of a failed bank against a failed bank’s directors and officers is precluded by the Insured vs. Insured exclusion…
Advisen Releases Private Company D&O Study
There is a great deal of information available about the liabilities of publicly traded companies, as well as about the D&O insurance implications arising from those liabilities. It can be a bit of a challenge to locate the same of information concerning private companies. For that reason, it is fortunate that Advisen and AIG have…
Bankers’ Professional Liability Insurance Does Not Cover Overdraft Fee Class Action Settlement
A recurring question under the management liability insurance protection that banks typically acquire is the extent of the protection afforded under their policies’ professional liability provisions. One particular question that often arises is whether the policy affords coverage for customers’ excessive overdraft fees claims.. An August 7, 2013 decision by Northern District of Georgia Judge…
Reps and Warranties Insurance: Why You Need It
In recent years, the uptake for M&A representations and warranties insurance has increased. Just the same, even now, the participants in the M&A transaction often do not always fully understand what they need to know about the insurance. In particular, some transaction parties don’t always appreciate why they need reps and warranties insurance protection.
A …
D&O Insurance: What May Be Considered In Deciding Whether Claims Are Interrelated?
In yet another insurance coverage dispute in which a D&O insurer denied coverage for a claim based on the assertion that the claim was interrelated with a prior claim first made before its policy period, District of Massachusetts Judge Rya Zobel has ruled that BioChemics is not entitled to summary judgment on the issue of…
When the D&O Insurer Denies Coverage
A D&O insurer’s denial of coverage for a claim against corporate officials can leave the individuals in a very difficult position, as illustrated by a recent high-profile case in the U.K. According to an August 4, 2013 Financial Times article entitled “Call to Reform Directors’ Insurance as iSoft Four Left With Bill” (here), four…
D&O Insurance: Because Policy Clauses Conflict, D&O Insurer Must Cover Interrelated Claims
My beat here at The D&O Diary requires me to read many insurance coverage decisions. I am well accustomed to the idea that the court opinions can be varied lot. But every now and then I run across a decision that is a real head-scratcher. A July 16, 2013 decision out of a Texas intermediate…