Good Samaritan Liability
Following the Bible parable, a Good Samaritan is a person who reaches out and takes care of someone when he or she has no obligation to do so. Generally, Good Samaritans are to be praised, while those who pass on …
Liability Insurers and Rights of Reimbursement
Liability insurers face three especially difficult litigation problems. One of them arises when an insurance contract provides that an insurer has a duty to defend, and it is not clear from the plaintiff’s petition whether that duty is triggered. The …
Who Owns A Customer’
The American economic scene is characterized by at least three general trends. There may be more. First, many large businesses are cutting back. Almost every day one reads in the paper that some huge, well-known corporation will soon have fewer …
Liability Coverage for Breaches of Contract
Knowledgeable people think that liability insurance is for accidents. Standardized liability insurance policies-homeowners, auto and commercial general liability-are worded so that the idea of an accident is at the heart of the central coverage. Under this part of the contract, …
Liability Coverage for Breaches of Contract
Knowledgeable people think that liability insurance is for accidents. Standardized liability insurance policies-homeowners, auto and commercial general liability-are worded so that the idea of an accident is at the heart of the central coverage. Under this part of the contract, …
Legal Malpractice Insurance
There are a huge number of lawyers in Texas. Many of them are not very good. For every lawyer there is probably at least one paralegal. Many of them are as proficient as the lawyers they assist, though usually less …
Restraining the Departed’
When Agents Divorce Their Insurance Company Insurance companies and insurance brokerage houses (employers) use a variety of devices to try to prevent departing agents from competing against them. Sometimes smaller agencies do this, too. The three principal theories in these …
An Agent’s Nightmare Continues
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a story that appeared in our Sept. 25 issue. The first story described the facts of the case, up to the point of verdict and judgment. This column describes the verdict and …
An Agent’s Nightmare: Who Knew Forwarding Lawsuit Papers Could Get So Sticky
Insurance agencies mediate between insurance companies and policyholders all the time. One of the most important focal points for this kind of activity has to do with forwarding suit papers. An insured gets sued. He hands the lawsuit to the …
When Agents Go Bankrupt
Commissions structures can pose serious problems for agents going through bankruptcy. Protect yourself before you need protection. I admit it. I have a bearish streak. When I was a boy, I firmly believed that everything always came out for the …
