The court dismiss the insured condominium association's challenge to an appraisal award. The Courtyards at Prairie Fields Condominium Association v. West Band Mut. Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS ___ (N. D. Ill. Sept. 22, 2023).     In July 2020, the insured filed a claim with West Bend for damage to the property's roof and other building components as a result of wind and hail. West Bend inspected and estimated the replacement cost for the damage was $60,989.54. This amount was paid to the insured minus the $10,000 deductible. The insured believed the damage was so sev ..read more

    The trial court's order granting the insured's motion to stay litigation and compel an appraisal was affirmed even though the insurer had not determined coverage on the insured's additional claims.Heritage Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Wellington Place HOA, 2023 Fla. App. LEXIS 6405 (Fla. Ct. App. Sept. 13, 2023).     The insured homeowner's association reported roof damage to its insurer, Heritage, after Hurrican Irma struck. Heritage agreed the damage was covered, but issued no payment because the amount of loss was less than the deductible.     The insured h ..read more

    The district court denied Travelers' motion for summary judgment and granted the insureds' motion in part regarding replacement of roof tiles damaged in a hail storm. Bertisen v. Travelers Home & Marine Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 159649 (D. Colo. Sept. 8,2023).      On May 8, 2017, the insureds' home was struck by a hailstorm that damaged their property. A Travelers inspector found damage to metal roof components, a deck, patio furniture and gutters. A partial payment of $6,381.04 was made. A further payment was made for personal property damaged by the st ..read more

    The Ninth Circuit certified a question on the interpretation of the pollution exclusion to the Alaska Supreme Court. Estate of Joshua Wheeler v. Garrison Prop. and Cas. Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 23648 (9th Circuit Sept. 6, 2023).     Josiah Wheeler moved into a cabin owned by Deborah Overly and Terry Summers in Tok, Alaska. Josiah was found dead in the cabin's bathtub. An autopsy showed that he died from acute carbon monoxide poisoning. The deputy fire marshal determined that the cabin's water heater had emitted the carbon monoxide. Summers had installed the water ..read more

    The insured's COVID-19 claim was dismissed under one policy, but survived a motion to dismiss under a second Restaurant Recovery Policy. Menchies Group, inc. v. Mass Bay Ins Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153933 (S.D. N.Y. Aug. 31, 2023).      Menchies owned and operated frozen yogurt shops throughout the United States. Beginning in March 2020, Menchies alleged that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted its business. First, COVID-19 caused direct physical loss of or damage to its properties by altering their physical conditions so that they were no longer safe to use. Second ..read more

    The lower court's decision finding no coverage based upon the governmental action exclusion was affirmed by the Appellate Court of Illinois. McCann Plumbing, Heating & Cooling v. Pekin Ins. Co., 2023 Ill.App. LEXIS 300 (Ill. App. Ct. Aug. 23, 2023).     McCann purchased a building to use for its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning business. The building was surrounded by two unihhabited properties which often flooded. The city determined that a building on the adjacent property had to be demolished. In the course of destruction, the McCann's building was dama ..read more

    The court rejected the insurer's motion for reconsideration attempting to set aside the appraisal award that determined the cause of loss. Mesco Mfg., LLC v. Motorists Mut. Ins. Co., 2023 WL 5334659 (S.D. Ind. Aug. 18, 2023).      Mesco suffered a loss to the roofs of its facilities due to hail damage. Mesco sued Motorists allegeding it breached the policy by failing to pay the full amount of the claim. The claim went to appraisal. The policy's appraisal provision reserved Motorists' right to deny the claim despite an appraisal going forward. The appraisal awa ..read more

    The First Circuit reversed the district court's granting of summary judgment to the insurer based upon a dispute over compliance with attending Examinations Under Oath. Philadelphia Indem. Ins. Co. v. BAS Holding Corp., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 21573 (1st Cir. Aug. 17, 2023).        An arsonist destroyed the State Building, a landmark building, owned by BAS Holding Corporation ("BAS"). BAS sought coverage from its insurer, Philadelphia. Philadelphia investigated the loss and became convinced that the State Building may not have been insured under the pol ..read more

    The federal district court granted, in part, the insurer's motion to exclude portions of expert testimony. Tundra M. Holdings, LLC v. Markel Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139952 (D. Alaska Aug. 10, 2023).         Plaintiff alleged a building it owned suffered damages consisting of building roof failure due to snow load. Plaintiff submitted a claim to Markel for its loss.      Plaintiff hired an engineering firm to conduct an inspection. The recommendation was to install snow guards and that 28 rafters be replaced with new beams. The ..read more

    The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's granting the insurer's motion for summary judgment on the duty to defend, but reversed the district court's ruling that there was no duty to indemnify. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Copart of Connecticut, Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 18674 (4th Cir. July 31, 2023).      Copart was an online car-auction company that sold used, wholesale and repairable vehicles. Copart owned several parcels of land in South Carolina on which it operated machine salvage junkyard and vehicle was facilities.      Eight propert ..read more