In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the legal battles over business interruption claims took center stage in the property/casualty insurance industry. The latest example of these disputes is New Jersey Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of AC Ocean Walk LLC v....
Conn.: Court finds no duty to defend automobile crash injuries under home and umbrellas policies
Recently, the Court of Appeals of Connecticut affirmed a decision by a lower court, which granted a motion for summary judgment in favor of several insurance carriers. It confirmed that these carriers did not have a duty to defend and indemnify two policyholders under...
Illinois case changes court ruling on duty to defend?
Recently, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District found that two insurance companies did not owe a duty to defend an employer in an underlying class-action lawsuit centered on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.[1] The case In Nat’l Fire...
N.Y.: U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals upholds New York Black Car Operators Injury Compensation surcharge on noncash tips
In a victory for black car and gig drivers, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled 3-0 that the New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund has the statutory authority to impose a 2.5% surcharge on noncash tips. This ruling was made on...
Build a fallout shelter against nuclear verdicts
Have you heard of “nuclear verdicts”? No, it’s not a new military stratagem involving ballistic missiles, but they are about as devastating as one. Nuclear verdicts are rulings against companies with payouts in the millions. Over the past 10 years, two-thirds of these...
Think twice before you reply with an emoji … it could be a binding contract
Let’s face it … technology can be hard. Especially when you have no idea what things mean. Remember when Gen Z unofficially deemed millennial use of the 😂 emoji as “not cool,”[1] or dare I say…cheugy?[2] Or when almost every older-generation dad got called out...
Kia and Hyundai reach multi-million settlement with car owners due to lack of antitheft features
While you might not be familiar with the “Kia Boys” or “Hyundai Boys,” their notorious criminal activities have likely reached your attention. Since early 2021, viral videos on TikTok and YouTube have provided step-by-step instructions on stealing specific Kia and...
New York reaches settlement with Lyft, Uber
New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled two historic settlements valued at a combined $328 million with ride-sharing conglomerates Lyft and Uber on Nov. 1, 2023. These settlements mark the conclusion of extensive investigations into both companies, revealing...
N.J.: Federal court puts a hold on insurance mandate to carry firearms
The United States District Court for The District of New Jersey issued a decision on May 16, 2023, that will—at least temporarily—suspend enforcement of an insurance requirement for those applying for a firearm-carry permit for in the state. The case of...
N.Y.: City of Buffalo sues Kia and Hyundai
The City of Buffalo announced last week that it has filed a lawsuit against the car manufacturers, Kia America Inc., and Hyundai Motor America, over defects in both manufactures’ vehicles that led to an increase in auto thefts. The Buffalo Police Department reported a...