No Bad Faith When Insurer Relied on Opinion of Independent Consultant

Alycen A. Moss and Elliot Kerzner | Property Insurance Law Observer The Court of Appeals of Georgia recently held that an insurer’s reliance on the report of an independent consultant creates a presumption that it did not act in bad faith in denying coverage. In Montgomery v. Travelers Home and Marine Ins. Co., 859 S.E.2d 130… Continue reading No Bad Faith When Insurer Relied on Opinion of Independent Consultant

Court Affirms Summary Adjudication of Bad Faith Claim Where Expert Opinions Raised a Genuine Dispute

Christopher Kendrick and Valerie A. Moore | Haight Brown & Bonesteel In 501 East 51st Street etc. v. Kookmin Best Ins. Co., Ltd. (No. B293605, filed 4/2/20, ordered pub. 4/16/20), a California appeals court affirmed summary adjudication and dismissal of a bad faith claim based on the genuine dispute doctrine. 501 East 51st Street Long-Beach-10, LLC (501)… Continue reading Court Affirms Summary Adjudication of Bad Faith Claim Where Expert Opinions Raised a Genuine Dispute

Sanctions Award Against Pro Se Plaintiff Upheld

Tred R. Eyerly | Insurance Law Hawaii     The plaintiff’s failure to timely name an expert witness in his bad faith action led to sanctions being awarded against him in favor of the insurer. Black v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 2020 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2477 (Cal. Ct. App. April 23, 2020).     After… Continue reading Sanctions Award Against Pro Se Plaintiff Upheld

A Catch 22: The Interplay Between Bad Faith And Removal

Shayla Bivins | Drew Eckl & Farnham Federal diversity jurisdiction is established where 1) the opposing parties to a lawsuit are citizens of different states and 2) the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.1 To successfully remove a state court action to federal court based on diversity jurisdiction, defendants must prove by a preponderance of the… Continue reading A Catch 22: The Interplay Between Bad Faith And Removal

A New Bad Faith Trend Emerges in COVID-19 Business Interruption Litigation

Gregory Gidus | Property Casualty Focus With governments across the world ordering the shutdown of restaurants, bars, and other “non-essential” businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, business interruption insurance claims are, not surprisingly, on the rise. While typical commercial property policies require “direct physical loss or damage” to property — a requirement that is unlikely satisfied… Continue reading A New Bad Faith Trend Emerges in COVID-19 Business Interruption Litigation