When Gov. Kathy Hochul called for action on A.6063/S.4423—legislation that would have amended New York state’s wrongful-death statute significantly—PIANY members immediately mobilized. While well-intentioned, the bill posed serious concerns for...
Special relationships happen on a case-by-case basis: A look at standard-of-care lawsuits
I have written before of my love of the legal lexicon. My dedicated readers know I have some favorite legal words, like champerty and tortfeasor.[1] But as every Ying needs a Yang, there are some legal words that I shudder to see—particularly in a legal opinion. My...
Conn. Supreme Court clarifies broker duties on nonrenewal: What producers need to know
In a significant decision for Connecticut insurance professionals, the Connecticut Supreme Court has clarified the obligations of insurance brokers regarding policy nonrenewal notifications. The ruling in Deer v. National General Insurance Co., offers new guidance on a question that has long vexed producers: What, if any, duty does a broker have to notify clients when their homeowners insurance policy is not renewed?
A lot can happen in a month: what the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ means for PIA members
Can you believe it’s been just over a month since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4? It practically shipped with fireworks—and for those of us in the insurance world, it brought more than a few sparks. Some were good, a...
Update: PIANJ-backed litigation funding bill reported out of committee
A PIANJ-supported bill to bring transparency and accountability to third-party litigation funding in New Jersey has cleared a key hurdle. S-4374, which was introduced earlier this year as part of PIANJ’s broader push for tort reform, has been reported out of the...
New York Legislature passes PIANY-priority consumer protection bill
The New York state Legislature passed S.1104A/A.804-C, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-56, Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-129, respectively—the Consumer Litigation Funding Act. The legislation, a PIANY-priority, marks the latest in a string of wins PIANY as it...
N.Y. court expands liability for dog bites: What producers need to know
In a landmark decision with wide-ranging implications for dog bite claims and insurance liability, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in Flanders v. Goodfellow that plaintiffs may pursue negligence claims against pet owners, in addition to strict liability, for...
Why PIANJ supports comparative negligence protections for insurance producers
When insurance agents or brokers are sued for professional negligence, their defense should be as fair and balanced as any other party in a civil lawsuit. But in New Jersey, that’s not always the case. Insurance producers face a unique and often unjust hurdle: they’re...
Buyer beware: The haunting Ackley Manor case
The Halloween season is well underway. It’s a time for spine-chilling tales and eerie encounters with the supernatural. When I am looking to scratch my supernatural itch, I don’t reach for Frankenstein or Dracula—I reach for my good old copy of the Appellate Division...
Federal court for the Northern District of Texas strikes down FTC’s noncompete rule
A recent ruling from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas has significant implications for the future of noncompete agreements in the U.S. In the case of Ryan LLC v. Federal Trade Commission, the court set aside the Federal Trade...