Category: Insurance Law
What to Do If Your Home or Business Sustains Hurricane Damage
As we enter what appears to be a robust and record-setting hurricane season, it is important to think about what business and homeowners should do in the event they sustain property loss as a result of a covered peril. Here is a short list of what to do immediately after a loss: Know Your Insurance…
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PA Plaintiff Dismisses BI COVID Class against Eerie Insurance Exchange
The world of COVID-related business interruption litigation changes rapidly, particularly with regard to class pleadings. A Pennsylvania proposed class action filed against an Erie Insurance Exchange seeking coverage related to COVID-19 was voluntarily dismissed by the restaurant plaintiff, Sieb’s Pub. The plaintiff alleged it suffered business income loss as a result of COVID-19 and its…
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Insurer Seeks to Avoid COVID-19 Business Interruption Class Action in Washington Federal Court
Given the nationwide momentum in COVID-19 related BI claims, it is important to keep an eye on the classes on-file and how courts deal with the insurers’ arguments to strike them. In Germack v. The Dentists Insurance Co., case number 2:20-cv-00661, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the insurer, The…
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Texas Supreme Court Confirms Prompt Payment Protections for Appraisal Awards – Another Win for Policyholders
One source of protection for policyholders is the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act (TPPCA), which places various deadlines on an insurance company’s claims processing. In order to encourage that claims are timely paid, the TPPCA penalizes insurers who break those deadlines. Recently, the Texas Supreme Court decided several cases which raised the question of…
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Business Interruption Insurance and The Coronavirus: What Does It Mean to Small Businesses Everywhere?
There is no question the coronavirus will have lasting impacts upon just about every aspect of our lives—health and safety, social, emotional, and economic. This virus may likely be our generation’s defining moment that we will teach our kids and grandkids about for decades to come. The economic toll of the virus on small businesses…
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Texas Supreme Court Confirms “Eight-Corners Rule,” A Win For Policyholders
The “eight-corners rule” has often been cited in Texas courts by insurance lawyers for the proposition that an insurer’s duty to defend is determined by the claims alleged in the petition and the coverage provided by the policy. The “eight-corners” refers to the four corners of the policy and the four corners of the petition. …
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Houston Warehouse Explosion Leaves Tremendous Damage
A warehouse explosion in west Houston caused multiple people to jolt out of bed this Friday morning as reports show the event left excessive damage and could be felt miles away. The incident happened at 4:30 A.M inside the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing factory, which makes valves and provides thermal-spray coating for various professional equipment….
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Dallas Is Still Handling Damage from October Tornadoes
It was on October 20th, 2019 when many Texans had their daily lives changes forever. That Sunday night a recorded 10 tornadoes tore through the North Dallas area. The National Weather Service surveyors determined that the tornadoes were on the ground for more than 15 miles and tore up a path of about three-quarters of…
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TWIA Wind Insurance Rate Analysis
It’s not surprising that storm-related insurance rates are increasing with the growing frequency of severe storms along the coast of Texas. Included among growing insurance claims in Texas are wind damage issues. Nearly every year the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) gears up for their annual August gathering and their rate analysis determines that the…
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Why Hire a Lawyer Instead of a Public Adjuster?
When the unexpected happens, we rely on our insurance to provide us with the support we need to overcome, rebuild, and thrive again. From the time we initially invest in any property, our first instinct is to find the proper policy that fits our specific needs. We seek out peace of mind. Assurance that should…
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