The foundation of a policyholder’s agreement to pay premiums for a standard commercial general liability policy (CGL) is the insurer’s agreement to defend the policyholder against lawsuits and shoulder the costs of the defense. The insurer has “the right and duty to defend any ‘suit’” containing any allegation that potentially falls within the policy’s coverage.
This is the first in a series of discussions about issues that arise on a regular basis after policyholders file an insurance claim.
Many liability insurance policies require the insurer to defend the insured. This “duty to defend” usually includes the right to select defense counsel – typically “panel counsel” from a list of pre-approved
On November 17, 2017, a U.S. district court in Florida narrowly construed personal and advertising injury coverage for data-breach claims under a commercial general liability policy. In Innovak International, Inc., v. The Hanover Insurance Company, the court held that The Hanover Insurance Company (the insurer) has no duty to defend Innovak International, Inc. (the