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.

New York’s High Court Broadens ‘Foreign Substances’ That Cause Slippery Surfaces

New York’s highest court has put contractors and property owners on notice that they are responsible for slippery surfaces caused by substances that might be very different than the substances they typically worry about as creating a slip and fall …

Insurance Agency Denies Liability for Misrepresentations Related to Shooting

A Pennsylvania insurance agency is denying allegations by owners of a Pittsburgh apartment building that it is liable for the denial of a 2023 fire insurance claim and cancellation of the property’s policy because of misrepresentations related to a shooting …

Jury Must Decide If Virginia Sheriff’s Killing of Dog Was Constitutional

A Virginia deputy sheriff must face a jury over whether his shooting to death of a dog was justified or if it was unconstitutional before it can be determined if he is entitled to qualified immunity, a federal appeals court …

Fire Mitigation Industry Terror: NYC Gang Member Convicted of Extortion, Racketeering

A gang member who ran a fire restoration company has been convicted of using violence, threats of violence, and extortion to terrorize and dominate the fire restoration industry in New York City. After presiding over a two-week bench trial in …

Target, Hoverboard Maker Agree to $38.5M Settlement Over Fire That Killed 2 Girls

Retailer Target and the maker of a hoverboard the store sold have agreed to a $38.5 million settlement of a lawsuit claiming the scooter caused a Pennsylvania house fire in which two girls, ages 10 and 15, died. The lawsuit …

Uber Sues Drivers’ Insurer Alleging Its Claims Practices Have Fueled Tort Litigation

Uber Technologies last Friday sued its drivers’ auto insurer for defense and indemnification regarding multiple lawsuits that are seeking to hold Uber vicariously liable for accidents involving some of its drivers in New York. Uber’s complaint cites 23 lawsuits that …

New York’s High Court Backs Insurer’s Denial of COVID-19 Business Interruption Claim

New York state’s highest court has affirmed that there must be direct physical loss or damage, not just presence of a virus, to trigger coverage under a commercial property policy for COVID-19 business interruption losses. The Court of Appeals upheld …

Citing Immunity Law, Judge Tosses Body Parts Theft Claims Against Harvard

A Massachusetts Superior Court judge has dismissed negligence, infliction of emotional distress and other claims against Harvard and the operators of its medical school’s anatomical gift program by relatives of people whose donated bodies were allegedly abused, marketed and sold …

Bucks County Refused to Pay Ransom to Restore Systems After Cyberattack

Officials in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said the government refused to negotiate with the hackers claiming responsibility for the cyberattack on January 21 that shut down computer systems and the county never paid any ransom to restore the systems. Instead, the …

Teacher Who Held Mock Slave Auction in 4th Grade Class Settles Lawsuit for $75K

A New York teacher who staged a mock slavery auction of Black students in her fourth-grade classroom will pay $75,000 to settle claims on behalf of a 10-year old boy whose mother said he was emotionally damaged by being forced …