Articles by Andrew G. Simpson

Fireman’s Fund Must Defend ‘Lottery Lawyer’ in Fraud Case

As the criminal trial of a New York lawyer charged with bilking lottery winners out of millions of dollars got underway this week in a federal court in Brooklyn, one insurer was likely watching closely as it will be picking …

NY Gov. Hochul Mulls Bill that Would Expand Damages in Wrongful Death Cases

As New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mulls whether to sign legislation that will expand the types of damages that could be won in wrongful deaths cases, businesses including insurers are warning the change could mean higher liability insurance costs in …

Mass. Supreme Rules Attorney Fees are Not Part of Insured Damages

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that attorney’s fees from a consumer protection lawsuit are not covered as part of bodily injury damages under a business liability policy, reversing a lower court that had found they were covered. Attorney’s …

Proposed Settlement Would Provide $300K to Each Victim of Sex Abuse by Clergy

Insurers and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester have agreed on a schedule for discovery and a bankruptcy court trial regarding a proposed $147 million settlement to cover sex abuse claims against the church. The proposed settlement was reached after …

Doctors’ Group Accuse Insurers of Using ‘Junk Science’ to Deny COVID Business Claims

The medical profession in New Hampshire is accusing the insurance industry of using “junk science” in justifying its denials of Covid-related business insurance claims. In an amicus brief in a case between a hotel chain and eight insurers, the New …

Massachusetts Health Firm Reports Cyber Attack

A major medical imaging and outpatient surgery firm in Massachusetts has reported a cyber attack that may have compromised the medical data and identity of millions of patients. Shields Health Care Group said it recently became aware of suspicious activity …

Insurer’s Probe of Boat Claim Uncovers Evidence Used in Murder Charges

A boat insurance claim denial and fraud investigation have surfaced as integral pieces of the murder case being brought against a 28-year-old Vermont man charged with killing his grandfather and mother for inheritance money. In addition to facing two murder …

Mass. Finds Virus Caused No Physical Loss, the 1st State High Court to Rule

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in the first state high court ruling on the question, has sided with an insurer and an insurance agency in finding that the COVID-19 losses claimed by three restaurants were not “direct physical loss of …

N.Y. Appellate Court Upholds Denial of Coverage for Restaurant’s COVID-19 Claim

An insurer has been upheld in its denial of coverage in a first ruling on Covid-19 business interruption insurance by a New York appellate court. The appeals court upheld a New York county court—and said it agreed with various other …

Related Claim Exclusion Doesn’t Require ‘Fundamentally Identical’ Actions in Delaware

The Delaware Supreme Court has ruled that solar panel manufacturer First Solar, which faced two securities class actions, is not entitled to have its insurance policies cover both because the later-issued of its policies excluded coverage for related actions. The …