In a landmark victory for policyholders, the Supreme Court of Wyoming found that a subsidiary of Sinclair Oil can invoke statutory bad faith damages after prevailing in a coverage dispute with its insurer, Infrassure. The court rejected the district court’s analysis that supported the insurer’s narrow interpretation of the state’s insurance code. On certification from
G. Benjamin Milam
Ben Milam practices in the areas of financial services litigation and policyholder insurance coverage. Ben represents mortgage lenders on a variety of claims, including unfair trade practices, wrongful foreclosure, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). He also represents policyholders in insurance coverage disputes, including title and liability insurance matters.
The “Physical Loss” Requirement for Business Interruption Claims Amid the Coronavirus
The massive economic disruption caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic raises questions about insurance coverage for business interruption losses from communicable disease. Does viral contamination constitute the “physical loss” required to trigger this type of coverage? Although courts have not yet provided guidance specific to COVID-19, past rulings suggest that coronavirus contamination may constitute physical…
The Wait for NFIP Reform Continues
For the 11th time in the last two years, the House has passed yet another short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP remains the largest source of flood coverage in the U.S.; this extension through September 30, 2019, ensures that the program does not lapse during hurricane season.
The NFIP…