Hostile/Warlike Action Exclusion Not Applicable to Russian Cyber Attack The Superior Court of New Jersey, applying New Jersey law, granted summary judgment to the insured, Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”), holding that the Hostile/Warlike Action Exclusion in Merck’s all-risk policy did not bar coverage for losses resulting from a 2017 cyber-attack. Merck suffered losses totaling more than $1.4 billion due... Read More

Retro Date Applies to Bar Coverage Because Emissions Not Separate “Pollution Conditions” The Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, in an opinion written by Justice Zenoff, applying Illinois law, affirmed an order of the circuit court of Lake County granting judgment on the pleadings in favor of the plaintiff, Illinois Union Insurance Company (“Illinois Union”). The insured, Medline Industries, Inc.... Read More

Policyholder May Select Which Concurrent Excess Insurer Must Pay Indemnity Post-Settlement, Summarizing Existing Liberal IL Selective Tender Rights The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in an opinion written by Judge Alonso, applying Illinois law, upheld an insured’s right to “target tender” to a particular insurer to pay a settlement. In the instant case, two insurers—Acuity... Read More

Charlie Philbrick Joins Hoke LLC as Partner: “Charlie’s Long Record of Successful Policyholder Recoveries is a Perfect Fit with the Hoke Team. Read More » N.D. Ill / BIPA: ERP Exclusion Bars Coverage for BIPA Allegations Against McDonald’s Operator. Read More » COVID CASE TRACKER: 7th Cir. Affirms Dismissal of Six Claims. Read More » IL App 1st / Misrepresentation:... Read More

Products and Completed Operations Hazard Exclusion Doesn’t Bar Take-Home Asbestos Case The Court of Appeals of South Carolina, applying South Carolina law, affirmed the circuit court’s order granting partial summary judgment to the insured, Covil Corporation, holding that the insurer, Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company (“Penn”), owed coverage for take-home asbestos exposure claims. Covil, now defunct and acting through... Read More

No Rescission of Renewal Policy after Single Policy Term The Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, in an opinion written by Justice Pucinski, applying Illinois law, affirmed the Circuit Court’s dismissal of an insurer’s motion for summary judgment, holding that the Illinois Insurance Code precluded the insurer, United Equitable Insurance Company (“UEIC”), from rescinding an insurance policy despite material misrepresentations... Read More

Barbeque Restaurants Failed to Allege Direct Physical Damage The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, applying Texas law, affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of two insured restaurants’ claims for coverage in the wake of government shutdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fifth Circuit instead held that the insureds, Terry Black’s Barbeque L.L.C. and Terry Black’s Barbeque... Read More

No Business Income Coverage for Art Gallery and Dealership The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, applying New York law, affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of a claim for coverage made by a brick-and-mortar art gallery and dealership, holding that the art gallery suffered no direct physical harm as a result of New York’s statewide shutdown orders... Read More

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, applying Illinois law, joined four other U.S. circuits in dismissing various insureds’ claim for coverage for losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, the Seventh Circuit held that the plaintiffs failed to adequately allege physical damage or loss caused by the coronavirus and that several exclusions, discussed... Read More