A panda is sitting in a bar, polishing off his dinner. He pulls out a gun, fires a shot in the air, and heads toward the exit. A stunned waiter demands an explanation. The panda pauses at the door and tosses the waiter a badly punctuated wildlife manual. “I’m a…
Policyholder Pulse
Colorado Court Enforces Statute that Presumes Faulty Workmanship Constitutes an Occurrence
Is damage resulting from faulty workmanship covered under your CGL policy? In the past, insurers have had success in certain jurisdictions arguing that construction defect cases did not constitute a covered “occurrence” because the damage was purportedly not unintended or unexpected. In recent years, however, courts have shifted course; the…
The Cyber Crystal Ball—Is There Insurance Coverage for the Top Threats of 2017? (Part II)
In our previous post, we started answering the question whether specialty cyber policies are likely to respond to two of the top five cyber threats for 2017 identified by Experian Data Breach Resolution in its industry forecast. In this one, we examine the remaining three. Continuing Health Care Sector Attacks…
The Cyber Crystal Ball—Is There Insurance Coverage for the Top Threats of 2017? (Part I)
Cyber sages tell us the question is not whether your business will suffer a data breach, but when. To prepare for the inevitable, businesses want to know what is the next threat on the horizon. In the past few months, experts have offered many views on the top cyber trends…
New Cybersecurity Regulations from the NY DFS: What Every Insured Should Know
The vaults of the world’s financial capital are getting stronger locks. On March 1, 2017, new “first-in-the-nation” cybersecurity regulations of the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) went into effect to protect consumers and the financial system from cyber attacks. While the regulations apply to covered finance and insurance…
“ERAL” or Early? It’s Not a Decision the Insured Must Make
Construction projects—especially those of any complexity—often experience unexpected delays, resulting in loss of use to the owner. Owners sometimes insure against this risk by getting “Soft Cost” coverage, which covers certain cost increases resulting from project delay (think higher finance costs). Typically, though, when a construction project experiences an unanticipated…
The Insurer’s Mixed-Coverage Burden: In for a Dime … Maybe In for a Dollar?
A few weeks back, we told you how South Carolina May No Longer Hold Insurers’ Reservations. In that post we left you with a teaser: “There’s more to this case.” In fact, Harleysville Group Insurance v. Heritage Communities, Inc. does more than just take insurers to task with regard to…
Judge Cites Pillsbury Legal Analysis in Decision
Readers of this blog have come to expect from our lawyers incisive and reliable analysis of the most important insurance coverage issues of the day. At least one judge apparently feels the same way. In a recent decision in the ongoing coverage dispute brought by TIAA-CREF against its various D&O carriers,…
Buyer Beware: Some Policies Do Not Cover What You Think They Do
Barely removed from the Super Bowl, football fans have begun their long hibernation in anticipation of next season. But the Patriots’ incredible comeback reminds me that it coincided with the tenth anniversary of one of the great NFL coach rants, courtesy of the late Dennis Green of the Arizona Cardinals.…
Cyberextortion/Ransomware Insurance Coverage: A Key Part of Your 21st Century Commercial Insurance Program
Out of the blue one morning, a destination hotel’s operator receives an email informing it that the hotel’s computer and electronic key systems have been infiltrated, leaving the hotel locked out of its own computer system and, even more distressing, preventing hotel guests from utilizing their key cards to gain…