On September 24 2014, The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published the final report in its investigation into the private motor insurance market. The report covers the measures the CMA anticipates taking to increase competition in the car insurance market and reduce the cost of premiums.   
Read More UK: CMA publishes final report in car insurance market investigation

A spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury Department recently reaffirmed that the “[t]he Secretary has not determined that there has been an ‘act of terrorism’ under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act” with respect to the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombings.
Read More U.S. Treasury Department Maintains Stance on Boston Marathon Bombings With Respect to Certification Under TRIA

Recently, a Massachusetts federal court issued an opinion limiting the ability of one insurer to seek reimbursement from another insurer under the doctrine of equitable contribution. In the insurance context, equitable contribution allows an insurer to seek contribution from a co-insurer after the insurer pays more than its proportionate share of a loss on a claim that both insurers are obligated to indemnify or defend. 
Read More Massachusetts Federal Court Rules Limits Equitable Contribution Between Insurers

Edwards Wildman’s David Szabo, partner, in the Healthcare Practice Group discusses “Reminder: Update Your “Grandfathered” Business Associate Agreements By September 23, 2014” and “Final Meaningful Use Regulations Published” 
Read More Healthcare Update: Reminder: Update Your “Grandfathered” Business Associate Agreements By September 23, 2014; Final Meaningful Use Regulations Published

On Tuesday, September 16, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5461 by a vote of 327-97 (the “Bill”). Most significant to the insurance industry is Title I of the Bill, which clarifies the application of certain leverage and risk-based requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). 
Read More U.S. House Approves Amendments to Dodd-Frank Capital Requirements

On July 24, 2014, the Massachusetts Appeals Court issued an opinion arising out of a subcontractor’s clear-cutting of environmentally-sensitive property in Western Massachusetts. The decision in Pacific Indemnity Company v. Lampro, et al., 86 Mass. App. Ct. 60 (2014), is notable because the court declared, as a matter of law, that the subcontractor’s erroneous actions were not a fortuitous event for which liability insurance was designed but, rather, a normal, foreseeable, and expected incident of doing business. 
Read More Massachusetts Appeals Court Declares That Failure To Follow Contract Conditions Is Not An “Occurrence” Under Landscaper’s General Liability Insurance Policy

The Connecticut Supreme Court recently held that an insurer has standing to pursue a declaratory judgment action against another insurer of a common insured to determine the existence of a duty to defend and the allocation of defense costs among them. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of America, et al. v. The Netherlands Ins. Co., et al., No. S.C. 19089, — Conn. — (Conn. Aug. 5, 2014). A copy of the decision is available here
Read More Connecticut Supreme Court: Insurer Has Standing to Seek Declaratory Judgment Against Fellow Insurer of a Common Insured

In Robin & Barbara Bache and others v Zurich Insurance Plc [2014] EWHC 2430 (TCC), the court was asked to determine a preliminary issue concerning interpretation of a property development policy. The claimants agreed to lease flats yet to be built from a developer, paying a 10% deposit under the agreement. The defendant provided a policy to the developer, for the benefit of the claimants, which stated that “the policy protects you if your developer goes into liquidation…against the loss of contract exchange deposit”.   
Read More UK: Technology and Construction Court Interprets Policy in Favour of Insured