Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole: Answering questions policyholders frequently ask (or should ask) to ensure maximum recovery

At $40-70 billion in estimated insured losses, Hurricane Ian is the nation’s second most expensive natural disaster for the insurance industry. Less than two months later, Hurricane Nicole made landfall in Florida. Securing insurance coverage for these losses will be an important part of rebuilding and recovery.

Recently, Reed Smith’s insurance coverage lawyers hosted a webinar, “Maximizing Insurance Recovery after Hurricane Ian,” to answer several frequently asked questions policyholders ask (or should ask) to ensure maximum recovery after these natural disasters. We summarize a few of those answers below.

What type of insurance coverage applies? Property Damage? Business Income? Ordinance and Law? Service Interruption? All of the above?

Put simply, the answer is: It depends on the facts and the language of the policy, but one or more types of coverage may apply. For example, a policyholder may have property damage coverage if they sustained physical damage to buildings, business property (e.g., machinery, equipment, raw materials, etc.), or property of others in the policyholder’s control. That same policyholder may also have service interruption coverage if they experienced dislocation of utility or telecommunications service and suffered business income losses as a result.

All types of common coverages are discussed during the webinar, which can be viewed on demand.

Direct physical loss in COVID Coverage cases: Are policyholders seeing a litigation shift in favor of COVID-19 coverage?

By Connor O'Carroll, Elizabeth Bowman and David E. Weiss on 17 November 2022 Posted in Business interruption, COVID-19, Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented closures and losses for businesses throughout the United States. Naturally, policyholders have sought recovery for pandemic-related losses under their “all risk” commercial property policies. According to the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law Covid Coverage Litigation Tracker, there have been approximately 2,300 of these COVID-19 coverage cases filed to date. Early pre-trial court decisions overwhelmingly favored insurers; however, recent appellate and high court decisions have demonstrated a slight shift in favor of policyholders.

For example, one of the first COVID-19 coverage decisions was issued by a Michigan state court in the summer of 2020: Gavrilides Management Company LLC et al v. Michigan Insurance Company. The Gavrilides court rejected the policyholder’s arguments that (1) the loss use of property constitutes a “direct physical loss” covered by the policy and (2) the virus exclusion should not apply since the loss use was caused by government orders. This full dismissal was just the start of policyholders’ uphill court battles. Since Gavrilides, nearly 70% of state court merits hearings have resulted in a full dismissal with prejudice. In federal courts, that number jumps to nearly 87%.

Maximizing recovery for combined wind and flood damages in hurricane claims

By Maria Castro Sanchez and Matthew B. Weaver on 11 November 2022 Posted in Business interruption, Insurance General, Property Damage & Business Interruption

This year, Hurricane Ian swept through the Southeastern United States, causing extensive damage to property in the affected areas. While obtaining insurance recoveries for any loss can be a complex endeavor, recovery for hurricane loss is particularly complex, as it typically involves a mix of covered and excluded perils. Most standard homeowners or other property insurance policies provide coverage for wind-related losses, but exclude coverage for loss caused by flood. While some policyholders may have purchased standard flood insurance policies that provide coverage for flood losses; many have not. Whether the policyholder has a homeowner’s or general property policy, a flood insurance policy, or both, the question of recovery for damage caused by mixed wind and flood forces requires a complex analysis as both covered and uncovered causes may contribute to the damage to insured property.

Analyzing combined causes of loss

Where a loss stems from multiple causes, some covered and others excluded, coverage will depend on whether the causes are contributing, or separate and independent causes of loss.

Where separate perils combine to create one indivisible loss, these will be considered combined or contributing causes of loss and courts will generally apply one of two tests:

A majority of jurisdictions apply the efficient proximate cause test. This test permits recovery for loss caused by a combination of covered and excluded perils when the efficient proximate cause, i.e. the primary event producing the loss, is a covered cause of loss.
The concurrent cause doctrine, the minority approach, provides coverage for combined-peril claims so long as a covered cause of loss is a contributing cause of the loss, regardless of whether it is the primary cause or not.

Amy’s Kitchen: A step in the right direction

By Adrienne N. Kitchen and Douglas C. Rawles on 19 October 2022 Posted in COVID-19, Insurance Coverage, Insurance General, Property Damage & Business Interruption

On October 4, the California First Appellate District in Amy’s Kitchen, Inc. v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, 2022 Cal. App. LEXIS 836, reversed a trial court’s order granting the insurer’s demurrer in a COVID-19 property damage claim, and remanded to allow the policyholder to amend its allegations of loss under a communicable disease coverage extension. In so doing, the court applied correctly the pleading standards in California, and a process of careful evaluation of the policy language in context, existing physical loss or damage law in California, ultimately applying the clear language in the policy in a common sense manner. The Amy’s Kitchen decision is important because it interpreted the policy in the way a reasonable layperson would read its language, focusing on the actual policy language, not terms of art defined by case law.

The facts

Amy’s employs more than 2,500 people to manufacture meals at facilities in California, Oregon and Idaho. As alleged in Amy’s complaint, COVID-19 was present at Amy’s locations because some of Amy’s employees had confirmed cases, prompting Amy’s to take measures to mitigate, contain, clean, disinfect, monitor and test for COVID-19. Public health orders also required Amy’s to implement various measures, including decontamination, disinfection and sanitization of its facilities to continue operating.

Pay and pay without delay – Section 13A of the Insurance Act 2015

By Margaret Campbell and Eleanor Ruiz on 13 October 2022 Posted in Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

How often have we seen insurers raise spurious defences, ask further questions and delay payment of good claims for years? For obvious reasons, the insured’s priority when making a claim under any type of insurance policy is that the claim is successfully and promptly resolved. However, it was not until 2016 that any statutory guidance was developed in England on the subject of what is a reasonable time to investigate, evaluate and settle a claim.

Introduced by the Enterprise Act 2016 which came into force on 4 May 2017, Section 13A of the Insurance Act 2015 implies a term into every contract of insurance (concluded after 4 May 2017) that “the insurer must pay any sums due in respect of the claim within a reasonable time”, which is allowed to include “a reasonable time to investigate and assess the claim”.

Section 13A requires insurers to justify the time they take to reach a determination on claims. However, prior to this year, the meaning of “reasonable time” remained undefined in either the legislation or case law.

Calculating business income losses for a business interruption claim

By Evy Wild and Anthony Newman on 10 October 2022 Posted in Business interruption, Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

Many commercial property insurance policies require that policyholders submit a Sworn Statement in a Proof of Loss (also referred to as “Proof of Loss”) in order to receive benefits under the policy. A Proof of Loss provides the insurer with specific information about the incident giving rise to the claim, such as the cause, the nature of any damage sustained, and the financial impact to the business, if any. In the event a policyholder suffers a financial loss as a result of an insured event, it is essential that the policyholder understands how to calculate business income losses covered under its policy so it can attest to that amount in the Proof of Loss. Ultimately, the specific language in the policy will dictate the policyholder’s approach for calculating business income losses, but there are two general approaches typically used by insurance industry experts.

Top-Down or Gross Receipts Method

The first approach is referred to as the “Top-Down or Gross Receipts Method”. Under this approach, the policyholder must (1) calculate the lost sales resulting from covered property damage and then (2) subtract expenses that were saved as a result of not achieving those sales.

(1) Projected Sales – Actual Sales = Lost Sales

(2) Lost Sales – Saved Expenses = Business Income Losses

Projected Sales

“Projected Sales” (also referred to as “but for revenue”) is the revenue the policyholder would have earned between the date covered property damage forced the policyholder to suspend its operations and the date when the policyholder resumed, or reasonably could have resumed, normal operations (the “Period of Restoration”) if the insured event had not occurred. To develop a foundation for Projected Sales, the policyholder may consider:

(a) the history of sales in the years leading up to the incident;

(b) the pre-loss average monthly sales achieved in those years;

(d) the rate of inflation; and

(e) any other factors that could influence the expected sales volume or price offered for impacted products

These other factors may include seasonality, growth, industry trends, and other outside factors (e.g., political changes, changes in industry regulations, competition, economic forecasts and conditions, etc.).

Insurance coverage for sexual abuse in New York

By John Berringer on 29 September 2022 Posted in Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

With the passage of New York’s Child Victim’s Act (the “CVA”) and similar revival statutes around the United States, there have been literally thousands of formerly time-barred actions commenced against institutions such as churches and other religious organizations, schools, camps, and other groups working with children for damages on account of sexual abuse by their employees, volunteers or agents allegedly occurring years or even decades in the past. When these institutions turn to their insurers seeking coverage under old insurance policies for injuries occurring during the relevant policy periods, they are often confronted with the defense that, because the institution may have been aware of an alleged perpetrator’s “propensity” to commit acts of abuse, the resulting injury was “expected and intended” and, therefore, excluded from coverage.

Abuse claims generally allege that the institution failed to use due care to protect children from abusive perpetrators for whom the institution is alleged to be responsible. Sexual abuse complaints typically allege that, as a result of the policyholder’s negligence in hiring, retention, supervision, or training, the claimants suffered bodily injury for which the policyholder is legally liable. In resisting coverage for sexual abuse claims, insurers typically assert that, if the institution knew of a perpetrator’s “proclivities” or “propensities,” then the injury arising from child abuse should not be deemed an “occurrence” because it should be considered “expected or intended” from the standpoint of the insured.

Negligent conduct is insurable

These arguments ignore the very high burden insurers must carry on such a defense. Like environmental litigation that preceded it, the insurers attempt to use a modern lens to evaluate policies and procedures adopted many decades earlier. While a church might have at one time believed that a perpetrator could be safe to return to the care of children after an intensive religious retreat and/or psychiatric treatment, one would be unlikely to find any now holding similar views. Thus, what might now seem outrageous, should be seen as negligent (and eligible for insurance coverage) in light of the understanding at the time the conduct occurred.

This is the approach adopted by New York courts. As an initial matter, New York holds that negligence in hiring or retaining an employee who commits a sexual assault can constitute an “occurrence” that is not “expected or intended” from the standpoint of the insured. See RJC Realty Holding Corp. v. Republic Franklin Ins. Co., 808 N.E.2d 1263 (N.Y. 2004). In the context of a suit against a massage parlor, the court explained that, although the assault was not an “accident” from the masseur’s point of view because he expected and intended it, the masseur’s expectations or intentions were irrelevant in determining the applicability of the insurance policy to his employer. Under New York law, the perpetrator’s abusive conduct is not imputed to his employer. Judith M. v. Sisters of Charity Hosp., 93 N.Y.2d 932 (1999). Instead, the institution is only liable for its own negligence in hiring or retaining such perpetrators. Accordingly, the court did not ascribe the masseur’s expectations or intentions to his employer in determining the applicability of the insurance policy. Id. See also Jewish Cmty. Ctr. of Staten Island v. Trumbull Ins. Co., 957 F. Supp. 2d 215, 233-34 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (following the RJC court’s interpretation of “accident” in the context of sexual harassment and assault of children at a community center); NYAT Operating Corp. v. GAN National Insurance Co., 46 A.D.3d 287, 287-88 (1st Dep’t 2007) (“[it] does not avail [the insurer] to argue that the assault was foreseeable.”).

Key considerations for companies in procuring or renewing D&O coverage

By Miranda Jannuzzi and Andy Moss on 20 September 2022 Posted in D&O, E&O, Professional Liability, Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

Directors’ and Officers’ liability (“D&O”) insurance offers key protections to a company’s board members and management by serving as a financial backstop for their indemnification rights as well as their personal assets in the event directors or officers are the subject of claims or investigations based on their service to the company. D&O insurance also adds value and financial protection directly to the company that purchases it, including by reimbursing the company when it indemnifies a director or officer, and insuring the company directly against its own liability for securities claims or (in the case of private companies) certain other claims.

Given the importance of D&O insurance to a company’s corporate governance and risk management, it is critical that companies carefully approach the procurement and renewal process for their D&O insurance. Unlike many other types of insurance policies, D&O policies are neither standardized nor regulated, and the procurement and renewal process can be more complex to navigate. Although, the individual facts and circumstances of each particular company will dictate the coverages that are needed, there are a number of key issues and policy provisions that should be at the forefront for every company engaged in the procurement or renewal process. We address a few of these considerations here.

Key definitional terms

Certain key definitions found in D&O policies impact whether and when coverage will be owed, including who is an insured and the types of matters that constitute a “Claim” for which coverage may be owed.

With respect to the term “Insured Person” (or similar terms), definitions vary widely as to who qualifies for coverage. Despite being called “directors and officers” insurance, D&O policies often insure individuals who are neither directors nor officers of the company. To determine what policy language is necessary for a particular company, it is imperative to closely evaluate the proposed language and ensure that the definition captures the company’s decision-makers—whether that includes just directors and officers, or other employees or consultants beyond those individuals.

A tightening cyber insurance market: War exclusions in the wake of Merck v. Ace

By David Cummings, Andrew Barrios and Andy Moss on 7 September 2022 Posted in Cyberliability, Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

As cyber risks continue to grow and evolve, the cyber insurance market is increasingly likely to take steps to limit its risk profile, often in the form of new or broadened policy exclusions. Cyber insurers are continuously evaluating, amending, and restructuring their insurance products (including their capacity, and, importantly, their pricing) to reflect what they perceive to be growing risks and threats to the bottom line.

A perceived new risk: Merck v. Ace

In some cases, insurers perceive an evolving risk through a development in court decisions interpreting policy terms. The decision of a New Jersey Superior Court earlier this year in Merck & Co., Inc. et al. v. Ace American Ins. Co. et al., Case No. UNN-L-2682-18, appears to exemplify this type of situation. There, the court determined that a “hostile or warlike action” exclusion did not preclude coverage for losses caused by a “NotPetya” ransomware attack, despite insurance company arguments that the malware used in the NotPetya attack was an instrument of the Russian government “as part of its ongoing hostilities with Ukraine.” The court reasoned that “hostile or warlike action” required “actual hostilities” and that “no court has applied a war (or hostile acts) exclusion to anything remotely close to the facts herein.”

Although Merck involved a first-party property insurance policy, its holding elicited a significant reaction from the cyber insurance market because it involved a coverage dispute related to a cyberattack. With the warning provided by Merck that courts may not be inclined to interpret traditional war exclusions as precluding coverage for state-backed cyberattacks, some insurers appear to be reevaluating their existing war exclusions and amending their policy forms to respond to Merck.

A policyholder win: Court finds coverage for COVID-19 related losses

By Nat Ochoa and David E. Weiss on 31 August 2022 Posted in Business interruption, COVID-19, Insurance Coverage, Insurance General

Recently, a California federal court issued a favorable decision for policyholders seeking coverage for losses arising from COVID-19 who paid significant premiums to purchase substantial coverage limits including “coverage for business interruption losses from a virus.” Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. v. Endurance Am. Spec. Ins. Co., Case No. SACV 20-02185 (C.D. Cal., June 15, 2022).

The facts

In Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., the Boston Marriott Long Wharf (the “Marriott”) hosted a three-day conference in February 2020. Following the event, the Boston Public Health Department informed the hotel that three attendees tested positive for COVID-19. Sunstone, the operator of the Marriott, timely filed an initial notice of loss with Endurance under its environmental impairment liability policy for the losses stemming from the presence of COVID-19.

In exchange for the placement of the policy, Sunstone paid a significant premium for an aggregate maximum of $40 million limit of insurance to protect itself against all kinds of events, including $25 million for “business interruption losses from a virus.”

After receiving the notice, Endurance denied the claim in full. Following the notice but prior to denial, the Boston public health authorities informed the Marriott that the City would force it to quarantine and close immediately if the hotel failed to suspend its operations. The Marriott thereafter suspended its operations for a period of 14 days. Prior to the hotel’s reopening date, the State of Massachusetts issued a governmental order mandating the closure of all non-essential businesses, which included the hotel. The Marriott thus remained closed until July 7, 2020, when the State permitted it to reopen at limited capacity.