Rachel E. Hudgins and Scott P. DeVries | Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog For policyholders, insurance is meant to provide peace of mind—a promise that when disaster strikes, they’ll have financial support to rebuild and recover. But as two recent cases show, the question of what qualifies as covered “direct physical loss or damage” can lead… Continue reading Where There’s Smoke, Is There Coverage? A Closer Look at Bottega, LLC v. National Surety and Gharibian v. Wawanesa
California Appellate Court Rules Wildfire Debris Does Not Qualify as “Direct Physical Loss” Under Homeowners Insurance Policy
Novera H. Ahmad | PropertyCasualtyFocus The Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal recently affirmed a lower court ruling that wildfire debris on an insured’s property did not qualify as “direct physical loss” within the meaning of a homeowners insurance policy, as there was no burn damage to the property. The ruling, Gharibian v.… Continue reading California Appellate Court Rules Wildfire Debris Does Not Qualify as “Direct Physical Loss” Under Homeowners Insurance Policy
A Warning To Carriers On The Risks Of Undefined Terms In Policies
Erik Tomberg and Spencer Hoisington | Wilson Elser On December 13, 2024, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued a ruling in a business interruption coverage case that strayed from the national trend of courts finding in favor of insurance carriers following government-ordered business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, in North State Deli, LLC, et… Continue reading A Warning To Carriers On The Risks Of Undefined Terms In Policies
First Circuit Broadly Interprets Exclusion in Commercial General Liability Policy Under Current Massachusetts Law
Bill Wilson | Construction Law Zone In Admiral Insurance Co. v. Tocci Building Corp., 120 F.4th 933 (1st Cir. 2024), the federal Court of Appeals ruled that, under current Massachusetts law, a general contractor’s Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy does not cover damage to non-defective work resulting from defective work by subcontractors. The defendant contractor was… Continue reading First Circuit Broadly Interprets Exclusion in Commercial General Liability Policy Under Current Massachusetts Law
Winning Construction Disputes: Strategic Negotiation for Better Outcomes
Mohamed Asker | The Dispute Resolver Construction projects are inherently complex, and disputes seem to be inevitable. Whether it’s a disagreement over defective work, delayed payments, or unforeseen site conditions, effective negotiation can mean the difference between a favorable settlement and an expensive, drawn-out battle. While many in the industry rely on traditional bargaining tactics… Continue reading Winning Construction Disputes: Strategic Negotiation for Better Outcomes