Insurance and ERISA Legal Issues Around Puget Sound
A cardinal principle of insurance law is that the fine print in an insurance policy must be interpreted consistent with the reasonable expectations of an ordinary person purchasing insurance. The Washington Court of Appeals recently emphasized that rule in its April 8, 2019 decision in Feenix Parkside LLC v. Berkley Nort Pacific. In the Feenix the Court …
Continue reading Insurer’s Misreading of Policy Terms Results In Win For Policyholder
The Washington Court of Appeals recently decided Poole v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, a case about fine print in a homeowner's policy. After the Pooles' home burned down, State Farm denied coverage under a technical reading of the words "similar construction." Washington's Court of Appeals disagreed with State Farm and emphasized the traditional …
California's increasingly-destructive wildfires are estimated to trigger billions of dollars in insurance claims. As of November 2018, estimates show 15 wildfires in California destroying nearly 7,000 homes and business; 31 people have been killed and nearly 300,000 evacuated. Beyond the loss of life and property damage implications for typical homeowner's insurance coverage, the fires and …
Continue reading Insured California Wildfire Losses May Exceed $6 Billion
Seattle may be famously dog-friendly, but there is a lot of uncertainty about whether or to what extent dog-related injuries are covered under traditional liability policies. Homeowner's coverage typically protects the insured against liability claims arising from injuries to other people for which the insured is legally responsible. But policyholders are increasingly learning that dog …
Continue reading Is My Dog Covered Under My Homeowner’s Policy?
Hawaii homeowners who incurred damage or lost their homes entirely now face uncertainty over whether their insurance will cover the damage. The Seattle Times recently interviewed several Hawaii residents who expressed concern over whether they will have any coverage. The eruption has so far destroyed about two dozen homes on Hawaii's Big Island. Authorities reported …
Continue reading Insurance Coverage Uncertain for Hawaii Homeowners After Volcanic Eruption
