Business Torts › Commercial Real Estate › Insurance

Can an Intervening Insurance Company Sue for Breach of Contract?

If a party in litigation has a default judgment entered against it, can its insurance company still file a motion to intervene and use the same defenses that would have been available to the insured if not procedurally barred...more

Superstorm Sandy Is Causing New York and New Jersey Legislators to Reconsider Passing Legislation that Would Establish a Private...

Policyholders in New York and New Jersey presently have no private right of action against insurance companies for alleged violations of each state’s respective statutory claim handling guidelines – New York’s Unfair Claim...more

Prompt Payment of An Appraisal Award Bars Bad Faith Per Austin U.S. District Court, Although Some Acts By An Insurer May Leave The...

The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin recently held that an insurer’s timely payment of an appraisal award bars the insured’s extra-contractual tort claims. Michels v. Safeco Ins. Co. of...more

Maryland establishes tort duty of care for title companies

On January 29, 2013, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a decision that your title company can now be sued for negligent title searching, and for preparation of an incorrect or incomplete title commitment. This duty of...more

MARYLAND TITLE COMPANY CAN BE LIABLE IN NEGLIGENCE FOR TITLE SEARCH ERRORS

Does a title company owe a tort duty of care to its customer when conducting a title search? And, if such a duty exists and is breached, is a title insurance company vicariously liable for the title company’s negligent title...more

Insurance Coverage For Long Tail Injuries In California

The California Supreme Court recently ruled, in a case involving environmental damage at a State controlled waste site, that multiple insurers, who provided coverage to the State at different periods between 1964-1976, are...more

Drilling a Dry Well Is Not an Occurrence Under a CGL Policy

In PPI Technology Services, LP v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2012 WL 130389 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 17, 2012), the Southern District of Texas held that there was no "occurrence" of covered "property damage" arising from underlying claims...more

Capital Finance Adds Financial Institution Bond, Title Insurance and Escrow Expert

Capital Finance is very pleased to announce that Terry S. Kaplan, Esq. has become associated with our firm as a consulting expert witness specializing in Financial Institution Bond, Title Insurance and Escrow litigation...more

Miller-Davis v Ahrens Construction Inc

Supreme Court to Address Whether "Statute of Repose" for Actions Against Contractors Applies to Implied "Tort" Claims for Injuries...

The Michigan Supreme Court heard oral argument to consider whether MCL 600.5839, the statute of repose, for “any action” against architects, engineers, or contractors to recover damages for “any injury to...more

Keeping Your Company in Compliance with "The Man"

Proper procedures and checks to ensure you maintain corporate formalities can help prevent anyone from "piercing the corporate veil" and suing you individually....more

Insurance Physical: Worth the Check-up!

An appropriate review of your construction and business insurance policies can minimize your risk in the event of a lawsuit....more