Florida Enacts Significant Reform Impacting Property Insurance Claims

Scott Seaman and Daniel Shatz | Insights for Insurers Earlier this month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law S.B. 76, enacting significant property insurance claim reform in the State of Florida that becomes effective on July 1, 2021. We summarize some of the highlights below. Regulation of Contractors and Public Adjusters Section One creates Florida… Continue reading Florida Enacts Significant Reform Impacting Property Insurance Claims

Appraisal Process Tolls Contractual Suit Limitation Period Even For Non-Covered Claims

Alycen A. Moss and Elliot Kerzner | Property Insurance Law Observer The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that, under Georgia law, an appraisal process tolled a commercial property policy’s two-year contractual suit limitation period even for non-covered claims. In Omni Health Solutions, LLC v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., No. 19-12406, 2021 WL 2025146 (11th… Continue reading Appraisal Process Tolls Contractual Suit Limitation Period Even For Non-Covered Claims

A Look Inside Florida’s Recent Property Insurance Reform

John Daid Dickenson and Chad A. Pasternack | Property Insurance Law Observer Two years after implementing meaningful assignment of benefits reform, Florida enacted broader property insurance claim reform. On June 11, 2021, Governor DeSantis sign S.B. 76, which takes effect on July 1, 2021. S.B. 76 focuses on reducing insurance claim litigation by, amongst other things,… Continue reading A Look Inside Florida’s Recent Property Insurance Reform

“Multiple Claims” Provisions on Contractor’s Professional Liability Policy Creates a Trap for Policyholders

Michael V. Pepe | SDV Insights In Berkley Assurance Company v. Hunt Construction Group, Inc., 465 F.Supp.3d 370 (S.D.N.Y., 2020), professional liability insurer Berkley sued its insured, Hunt, a construction management firm, seeking a declaration that it did not owe Hunt a duty to defend and indemnify against breach of contract claims. The United States District… Continue reading “Multiple Claims” Provisions on Contractor’s Professional Liability Policy Creates a Trap for Policyholders

California Court Rules Jury Must Resolve Dispute Between Homeowner and Subcontractor Insurer Over When Claim Occurred

Blake Robinson | Davis Wright Tremaine The California Court of Appeal recently reversed a trial court’s dismissal of a lawsuit, concluding that because there was a dispute over when a homeowner’s claim “occurred” for purposes of an insurance policy, that dispute must be resolved by a jury. Case Background Guastello v. AIG Specialty Insurance Co.1 involved… Continue reading California Court Rules Jury Must Resolve Dispute Between Homeowner and Subcontractor Insurer Over When Claim Occurred