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

Rejecting ‘Absurd’ Argument, 5th Circuit Says Insurer Must Pay for Harvey Damage

While Hurricane Harvey dumped 60 inches of rain on the Houston area in August 2017, the authority that operates the Lake Conroe Dam opened the floodgates to release water at a rate almost equal to the flow over Niagara Falls. …

5th Circuit Rejects ‘Legal Gotcha’; Says Insurer Must Pay for Harvey Damage

While Hurricane Harvey dumped 60 inches of rain on the Houston area in August 2017, the authority that operates the Lake Conroe Dam opened the floodgates to release water at a rate almost equal to the flow over Niagara Falls. …

Carrier Can’t Subrogate Against Students Who Caused Dartmouth Dormitory Fire

An insurer that paid $4.5 million to Dartmouth College to restore a dormitory that was damaged by fire can’t seek recovery from two students whose negligence started the blaze, the New Hampshire Supreme Court decided. The high court ruled 3-0 …

Nordstrom Suit Tests Whether Civil Unrest Is Single Insurance Occurrence or Multiple

Nordstrom Inc. has filed suit seeking a court declaration that its insurers must treat nationwide civil unrest last spring and summer as a single occurrence rather that separate events that would require the department store chain to pay separate $1 …

Multidistrict COVID Business Interruption Case Against Society Insurance Advances

A federal judge in Chicago has denied Society Insurance’s motions to dismiss three “bellwether” lawsuits filed by hospitality businesses that were denied coverage for revenue lost because of COVID-19 public health orders. U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang, who was assigned …

Collision Course Body Shops Under Insurance Pressure

Waseem Tarabishi insists that employees at his San Diego-area collision repair shop take the online classes they need to maintain their technical certifications while on the clock so he can make sure they are paying attention. After buying CollisionTech in …

Judge Advances Multidistrict COVID Business Interruption Case Against Society Insurance

A federal judge denied Society Insurance’s motions to dismiss three “bellwether” lawsuits filed by hospitality businesses that were denied coverage for revenue lost because of COVID-19 public health orders. U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang in Chicago, who was assigned a …

Insurer Wins Covid-19 Business Interruption Case Filed by New Orleans Restaurant

A New Orleans judge has denied a motion for declaratory judgment that insurance coverage is owed to a restaurant for business income that was lost when it was required to close its dining room because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The …

Banks See Rise Rise in ‘Smash-and-Grab’ Thefts from Automated Teller Machines

Convicted bank robber Willie Sutton, when asked why he robbed banks, famously said, “because that’s where the money is.” In today’s socially-distanced world, criminals increasingly are turning their attention to the money inside automated teller machines — whether outside a …

GEICO Loses Appeal that Sought Coverage From Another Insurer for Lamborghini Crash

In a dispute between two insurers, a federal appellate court ruled that GEICO is solely liable for the cost of replacing a Lamborghini worth more than $100,000 that was totaled in a collision with another vehicle. A panel of the …