SDV Insights

Contractor professional liability coverage insures against liability that derives from the technical aspects of a construction project - including architectural, engineering, and survey work. It is especially valuable in circumstances where the contractor has design responsibility as part of its project scope, such as in the case of "design build" projects or where "design assist" work is undertaken.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals provided valuable insight on coverage available through ensuing loss exceptions to faulty work and design exclusions in builder's risk insurance policies. In Balfour Beatty, the Court held that, in order to the ensuing loss must be causally distinct from the original excluded loss.

The Depp v. Heard trial featured salacious and surprising testimony that riveted the country, but arguably the most surprising aspect of the case was that Ms. Heard's homeowners policy insurer, Travelers Commercial Insurance ("Travelers"), paid for her defense against Mr. Depp's claims.

With the ever-increasing usage of technology in the construction and energy industries, risks to business operations have also increased. Property developers and construction contractors rely on electronic data and communications more than ever to streamline projects, ensure efficient and timely supply chain delivery, and facilitate immediate communications between parties.

How much time do our clients have to bring a bad faith action against an insurer? Although we are not frequently asked this question, it is one that we constantly analyze before asserting a bad faith claim.

Hollywood producer turned convicted felon Harvey Weinstein has brought a legal malpractice suit against his counsel, claiming they failed to inform him that the dismissal of a charge in his 2020 trial would result in the forfeiture of insurance coverage. The suit alleges that Abelson Herron Halpern LLP ("AHH") was contractually required to provide Weinstein "with legal counsel regarding certain insurance coverage in connection with a criminal proceeding ...."

As a policyholder, you may have heard the term "bad faith" in the context of litigation against your insurer. Bad faith in the insurance context is a catch-all term for a broad category of claims that can be brought against your insurer.

Some hot topics dominating the construction industry today include the impacts of COVID-19, government testing and vaccine mandates, cyber security, and the evolving role of general counsel.

Technology is the driving force behind industry and growth for all businesses, but its advantages come with risks. Downed computer systems and lost data can have significant financial impacts. Security breaches, viruses, and information theft by computer hackers also pose a serious problem. Thousands of cyberattacks occur in the US every day, and no business is immune from this threat.

In June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida collapsed, killing nearly 100 individuals (the "Collapse"). As experts uncover more information regarding the cause of the Collapse, those individuals who have filed lawsuits as well as the potentially culpable defendants are looking to insurers for coverage of their bodily injury and property damage claims.