Articles by Andrew G. Simpson

Simpson is a freelance writer and editor. He retired as Chief Content Officer for Wells Media Group in July, 2022 after 18 years with the company.

Motorcycle Rally Organizers Lose Bid for Coverage for Auto Accident

A three-judge panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court ruling that Berkshire Hathaway’s Covington Specialty Insurance Co. had no duty to indemnify its insureds against personal injury claims stemming from an auto accident at …

TikTok, Transit Agencies Face Wrongful Death Suit Over New York Teenager’s Death

Chinese company ByteDance and its popular social media platform TikTok are facing a wrongful death suit in New York over the 2022 death of a teenager. The suit alleges that TikTok sent thousands of unsolicited suicidal videos to 16 year-old …

Court Blasts Accident Board for Unsupported Order to End Worker’s Drug Therapy

The Superior Court of Delaware has reversed an order of the Industrial Accident Board (IAB) that an injured former employee stop her doctor-prescribed morphine treatments within six months. The court blasted the IAB for “clearly” abusing its discretion with its …

Workers’ Compensation Must Reimburse for Medical Marijuana Costs in Pennsylvania

Injured workers in Pennsylvania are entitled to be reimbursed for medical marijuana costs under the state’s workers’ compensation law. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has ruled that while the Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) does not require insurers or self-insured employers …

How Much Is a Picture Worth? Let Jury Decide in Personal Injury Claim, Says Court

Photos of damaged vehicles are relevant to the likelihood and degree of personal injury in a car accident case and they are admissible at trial, even when no expert witnesses are around to testify about them, the Massachusetts high court …

Physical Abuse Must Involve ‘Imbalance or Misuse of Power’ for Exclusion: Court

An act of physical abuse is not excluded by an abuse and molestation exclusion in a homeowners insurance policy unless the act involves “an imbalance or misuse of power in addition to being physically harmful,” the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court …

Court Affirms Insurer, Agent Have Duty of Care But Not Fiduciary Duty in GEICO Case

A licensed insurance agent, and the insurer she represents, owe a duty of care to a customer to explain coverages but neither the agent nor the insurer has a fiduciary duty to an insured under Connecticut law. U.S. District Judge …

New York State, City Lawmakers Look to Curb Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

Lawmakers in Albany and New York City are pushing measures they hope will curb incidents of lithium-ion battery fires, which have risen in the past few years. They include measures requiring that all batteries and chargers being sold be certified …

Show Must Go On for Broadway Theaters’ Covid Loss Claim, Federal Judge Rules

A New York federal judge has refused to lower the curtain on a Covid-19 business loss claim by the owner of five Broadway theaters because the entertainment insurance policy language is ambiguous as to whether the theater company suffered one …

Should a State Surcharge Insurers That Underwrite Fossil Fuel Risks?

Connecticut lawmakers are considering imposing a surcharge on insurers’ premiums from the fossil fuel industry. The proposal (SB-1115) calls for a tax of 5% of any premiums any insurer licensed in the state receives from fossil fuel companies annually. The …