Bad Faith Blog

Summary: In August 2012 a fire destroyed thirty-six apartment units owned by Summit Park Apartments, LLC (“Summit Park”). Great Lakes Reinsurance (“Great Lakes”) insured Summit Park and the policy provided for construction costs, loss of business income, and out-of-pocket expenses. The policy also obligated Great Lakes to pay out claims within thirty days.

Summary: The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s denial of Seneca Specialty Insurance Company’s (“Seneca Specialty”) motion to dismiss. Seneca Specialty relied upon New York’s restrictive bad faith requirements for this commercial property loss even though the insured’s building was located in Ohio. The prevailing conflicts of law rule provides that whenever the insured risk is located entirely within one state, that state’s law will control the litigation.

Summary: James Glenn and Latia Ballard were injured in a car accident on February 6, 2001. Glenn was driving and Ballard was a passenger. Both qualified as insureds under Glenn’s policy issued by Nationwide. Glenn and Ballard both submitted claims on the policy’s medical benefits coverage, which provided up to $5,000 to pay for medical services. At first, Nationwide allowed Glenn’s claim and issued him a check. After Glenn’s attorney returned the check asking that be made out to the medical provider, Nationwide denied both Glenn’s and Ballard’s claims.

Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Wright purchased a home in an exclusive golf club development and purchased homeowners’ coverage from State Farm. The home’s roof was damaged by a storm and had to be fully replaced as a result of the homeowner’s association’s restrictive covenants. After State Farm only paid for the repairs to the roof, the Wrights sued. Summary judgment was entered in favor of State Farm on plaintiffs’ breach of contract, misrepresentation and contractual bad faith claims. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the summary judgment in all respects.