Construction Archives - The Insurance & Reinsurance Report

May 22, 2018 Policy Conditions, Considerations, Construction, and Formation

A Window Opens? Are Defective Product Construction Defect Claims Covered Under Pennsylvania Law?

A recent decision from a Pennsylvania court highlights tension in Pennsylvania law regarding whether a construction defect claim involving consequential damages caused by a defective product involves a covered “occurrence.” Sapa Extrusions, Inc. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2018 WL 2045496 (M.D. Pa. May 1, 2018).

In this coverage action, the insured, a window frame manufacturer, sought a declaratory judgment that it was owed coverage for an underlying action brought by a customer that used the window frames to manufacture windows. The customer alleged …

May 19, 2016 Policy Conditions, Considerations, Construction, and Formation / Reservation of Rights

No Prejudice Needed When an Insured Settles Without the Insurer’s Consent

In Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. Stresscon Corp., 2016 Colo. LEXIS 419 (Colo. April 25, 2016), Colorado was faced with a choice: enforce the plain and unambiguous terms of an insurance policy or extend the requirement that an insurer prove it was prejudiced by its insured’s breach of the policy’s conditions before denying coverage. The Colorado Supreme Court choose the former and held that an insurer seeking to deny coverage for a breach of the no-voluntary-payments provision does not need to prove …

June 1, 2015 Uncategorized

Illinois Appellate Court Determines Unsigned Agreement Can Still Constitute a Written Contract and Trigger Additional Insured Coverage

In West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. v. DJW-Ridgeway Building Consultants, Inc., 2015 IL App (2d) 140441 (May 19, 2015), the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District affirmed a trial court decision and held that West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. had the duty to defend DJW-Ridgeway Building Consultants, Inc. (Ridgeway) as an additional insured.

The underlying dispute arose out of any injury suffered by a construction worker at a worksite where Ridgeway was the general contractor. Ridgeway subcontracted with Jason the Mason, Inc. to provide masonry …

November 21, 2013 Policy Conditions, Considerations, Construction, and Formation

Written Construction Contract Clarifies Competing Additional Insured Endorsements

The plaintiff, Lamp Incorporated (Lamp), brought a declaratory judgment action against Navigators Insurance Company (Navigators), seeking a declaration that Navigators breached its duty to defend Lamp in an underlying personal injury lawsuit stemming from a construction site accident (underlying lawsuit). Navigators filed a third-party complaint against West Bend Mutual Insurance Company (West Bend) seeking a declaration that West Bend, and not Navigators, provided primary, non-contributory coverage to Lamp and owed the duty to defend Lamp in the underlying lawsuit. Navigators also sought a declaration that …