In a July 31, 2014 opinion (here), Central District of California Judge Fernando M. Olguin, applying California law, granted a professional liability insurer’s motion for summary judgment in a coverage lawsuit brought by the Blum Collins LLP law firm and Craig M. Collins dba the Collins Law Firm for breach Judge Olguin
NY Court of Appeals Reverses Itself, Holds Insurer’s Breach of Duty to Defend Doesn’t Waive Coverage Defenses After All
In an unusual development in a closely watched case, K2 Investment Group, LLC v. American Guarantee & Liability Ins. Co., the New York Court of Appeals has reversed its own June 2013 ruling in the case in which it held that a legal malpractice insurer that breached its duty to defend is barred from
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
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
Professional Liability Insurance: Problems with Pure Claims Made and Reported Policies
The difficulty with pure “claims made and reported” insurance coverage was put into sharp relief in a recent decision out of the South Carolina federal court. The question before the court was whether there is coverage for a claim made during the policy period of one claims made and reported policy but not reported to
Guest Post: Settlor Capacity v. Fiduciary Capacity — Does Wearing Two Hats Mean You May be Denied Coverage?
I am pleased to publish below a guest post from Rhonda Prussack, Executive Vice President and Product Manager, Fiduciary Liability, for Chartis, and her colleague at Chartis, Larry Fine, Global Head Professional Liability Claims, Financial Lines Claims. Rhonda’s and Larry’s guest post is written in response to a recent guest post on this blog about the
Guest Post: More About the Duty to Advance and the Duty to Defend
In an August 27, 2012 post (here), I discussed Central District of California Judge James Selna’s August 21, 2012 decision in Petersen v. Columbia Casualty, and in particular Judge Selna’s consideration of the insurer defendant’s duty to advance under its liability policy. Following my publication of the post, I was contacted by Jeffrey
The Duty to Advance Defense Expenses vs. The Duty to Defend
There is a host of well established legal principles that govern insurers’ defense obligation under the standard liability insurance policy where the insurer has the duty to defend the insureds. But many professional liability insurance policies are not written on with the duty on the insurer to defend (which is usually described as a “duty