Articles by Jim Sams

Sams is editor of ClaimsJournal.com, the online resource and daily newsletter for property/casualty insurance claims professionals. ClaimsJournal is a member of the Wells Media Group. Sams can be reached at jsams@wellsmedia.com

4th Circuit Affirms Decision Rejecting Art Studio’s COVID-19 Claim

Another federal appellate court ruled Monday that a business interruption caused by COVID-19 does not amount to a physical damage or loss covered by a commercial property insurance policy. A panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the …

APCIA: Inflation Outpacing Premium Increases for Auto and Homeowners Lines

US Insurers — already hammered by extraordinary losses caused by natural disasters — are also failing to raise premiums at a pace that matches an historic inflation rate, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association said Friday. APCIA said private property …

Texas Supreme Court Allows For Exception to 8-Corners Rule

For more than 50 years, insurers have known that their duty to defend a Texas policyholder from a lawsuit must be decided based only on the language of the insurance contract and the allegations made by the plaintiff. The so-called …

Social Inflation Increased Commercial Auto Claim Costs by $20B Over 10 Years

The insurance industry is ringing alarm bells about the cost of social inflation again, this time with the help of an actuarial analysis that concludes the phenomenon added more than $20 billion to the cost of commercial auto claims over …

7th Circuit: Liberty Must Defend USA Gymnastics in Nassar Lawsuits; Coverage May Be Limited

Larry Nassar is accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of girls and young women while working with USA Gymnastics, resulting in his criminal conviction and hundreds of lawsuits that forced the organization into bankruptcy. Liberty Mutual Underwriters must defend USAG against …

Kansas Court Rules Insurer had No Duty Pay Policy Limit Before Demand Was Made

A claims adjuster’s sub-standard investigation of a potential fatal accident claim does not warrant a multi-million award of damages against an insurer that issued a policy with a $25,000 limit, the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled. An appellate panel on …

Actuaries: Social Inflation Increased Commercial Auto Claim Costs by $20B Over 10 Years

The insurance industry is ringing alarm bells about the cost of social inflation again, this time with the help of an actuarial analysis that concludes the phenomenon added more than $20 billion to the cost of commercial auto claims over …

8th Circuit: Insurer Owes Nothing to Arkansas Man Who Lied on Proof of Loss Statement

After his house burned down in 2015, Rick Merechka turned in a sworn proof of loss statement telling his insurance company that the replacement value of his household goods was $607,640. But in December 2010, Merechka and his wife at …

How Car, Home Inflation Is Driving Up Loss Costs for Insurers

The two possessions that most concern insurers — homes and motor vehicles — happen to be the largest contributors to the historic 7.5% inflation rate. Perhaps that should be no surprise. “It’s the things that we all spend the most …

Wisconsin High Court Limits Bodily Injury Coverage to Insured Persons

An auto insurer is not required to pay underinsured motorist benefits to the son of man who was killed in an auto crash because the father was not insured by its policy, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in an …