SDV Insights

Court Narrowly Interprets "Faulty Workmanship" Provision

In a recent victory in their home state of Connecticut, Saxe Doernberger & Vita partners, Jeffrey Vita and Theresa Guertin, representing owner-developer 777 Main Street, LLC, overcame a summary judgment motion filed by Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The Connecticut Superior court refused to adopt the insurer's broad interpretation of the "faulty workmanship" exclusion in an all-risk builders' risk insurance policy.

Read More +

CA Supreme Court Set to Rule on Important Occurrence Issue Certified by Ninth Circuit

The California Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments over whether an insurer is required to cover allegations that a builder negligently failed to supervise an employee who sexually assaulted a middle school student while working at the student's school.

Read More +

NY Court Holds Excess Liability Coverage Could Never be Triggered Where Employers' Liability Policy Provided Unlimited Insurance Coverage

A New York court held that an employers' liability policy providing unlimited coverage was unambiguous and that, as a result, the insured's excess liability policy could not be triggered. This unusual result highlights the need for careful review of insurance policies to ensure that there are no unexpected exhaustion issues when a claim is made.

Read More +

A New Hope - You Now May Have Coverage for Punitive Damages in Connecticut

On December 19, 2017, the Pasiak decision of the Connecticut Supreme Court opened the door to finding coverage for punitive damages under an insurance policy related to certain common law claims. While the case involves a homeowner's policy, other policyholders may be able to use the court's reasoning when seeking coverage for punitive damages. The case also clarifies the amount of proof required for an insurer to prove that a policy exclusion bars coverage.

Read More +

Whose Lease Is It Anyway: Physical Occupancy Not Required in Landlord-Tenant Dispute

When a prospective tenant alleged a wrongful interference claim against a landlord, the landlord sought coverage under the "Personal and Advertising Injury" coverage section of his CGL policy. Unfortunately, the insurer denied defense, arguing that the coverage required the tenant to have physically occupied the space. In the ensuing coverage action, a Texas Federal district court judge made a surprising ruling that is now up on appeal to the Fifth Circuit.

Read More +

Confirming Coverage: The Importance of Vetting Downstream Insurance

The cost of insurance is often a critical factor driving subcontractor pricing. While alternative risk transfer schemes--such as consolidated insurance programs--have grown in popularity, the typical upstream/downstream structure where owners and general contractors contractually require downstream entities to procure insurance remains a common approach.

Read More +

Case Alert Update: SDV Case Tabbed as One of New York's Top Three Cases to Watch

Argument before the Court of Appeals has now been scheduled for February 7, 2018, in Gilbane Building Co. v. St. Paul Insurance, with a long anticipated decision by New York's highest court to be issued shortly thereafter.

Read More +

Top 10 Insurance Cases of 2017

From elephant mistreatment, misleading marketing and its effect on the nation's opioid problem, to wiring money overseas to fraudsters, it's been an eventful year in insurance law. Read on to hear about SDV's Top Ten Insurance Cases for 2017 as well as some key cases to watch in 2018.

Read More +

Florida Supreme Court: Notice of Right to Repair is a CGL

The New Year started off with a bang for Florida construction insurance policyholders. In late December, the Florida Supreme Court acknowledged a contractor's right to a CGL defense during Florida's right-to-repair process.

Read More +

New York High Court: "Issued or Delivered" Includes Policies Insuring Risks in New York

On November 20th, the New York Court of Appeals expansively interpreted the language of New York Insurance Law Section 3420 by holding that the statute, which applies to policies "issued or delivered" in New York, extends to policies insuring risks in New York, not just policies that originated from or were actually handed over to the insured in the state.

Read More +

CONTACT US


The email you are sending does not create an attorney-client relationship with SDV. We do not agree to representation until we have performed a check for conflicts of interest and expressly agree to provide services in a particular matter via an engagement letter. The information submitted to us via this website will NOT be treated as confidential or privileged as a lawyer/client communication and our receipt of this information does not prevent us from representing a client related to the subject of your inquiry.

Northeast

35 Nutmeg Drive
Trumbull, CT 06611

203.287.2100

233 Mount Airy Road
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

973.446.7300

Southeast

999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Ste 603
Naples, FL 34108

239.316.7244

West Coast

One BetterWorld Circle
Temecula, CA 92590

951.365.3145

SDV is headquartered in Connecticut, with regional offices in New Jersey, Florida, and California to better serve our clients. We are ready to answer your questions and are eager to assist you in developing solutions.