The photos from Hurricane Michael show catastrophic loss from not only the storm surge, up to fourteen feet in some areas, but from winds and rain as well. For those that live far enough inland where surge and flood was not an issue, but still sustained water damage from rain, you may think your homeowners … Continue Reading
If you’re a news junkie like I am, you have probably heard about the FBI recovering a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the filming of The Wizard of Oz. By way of background, the shoes were stolen from The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota thirteen years ago. At … Continue Reading
For the past few days, it’s been raining cats and dogs in New Jersey. Being stuck inside, I was scrolling through my social media feed and came across a video of multiple new cars being washed down what appeared to be a river from a car dealership. This led to a lively discussion on my … Continue Reading
Merlin Law Group is closely monitoring a case pending before the South Carolina Supreme Court to see how it answers the question: “Does South Carolina law support application of the ‘at issue’ exception to the attorney-client privilege such that a party may waive the privilege by denying liability in its answer?”… Continue Reading
More states across the country are implementing legislation allowing for the legal use of cannabis. Currently 23 States and the District of Columbia allow for medical use with four of the states and D.C. also allowing recreational use. The conflicts between state and federal law have left businesses uninsured and often without access to bank … Continue Reading
As spring heats up and amusement parks gear up for an influx of summer visitors, a reminder to amusement park owners to make sure the amusement rides and equipment have been added to your policy.… Continue Reading
One of the most common questions we hear from our clients has to do with the differences between “actual cash value” and “replacement cost value.” Replacement cost value on its face seems relatively straight forward, but what is “Actual Cash Value” determined under New Jersey law?… Continue Reading
With New York and New Jersey gearing up for what might be the third Nor’Easter in three weeks, now is a good time to review your insurance policies to aid in either making claim if you’ve already suffered damage, or to know what is covered if further damages occur.… Continue Reading
This weekend, I was binging on the Netflix show “The Defenders.” In one of the first episodes, an earthquake hits New York City and a character comments: “Not a lot of people have earthquake insurance up here.” This got me thinking about endorsements to policies, and how likely is it that an earthquake large enough … Continue Reading
As everyone watching the news knows, there were horrific mudslides in Santa Barbara County this week caused by flash flooding in the fire-scarred Santa Ynez Mountains. Due to the fires that have ravaged Southern California in the past month, the scorched earth—lacking shrubs that can absorb water—is especially susceptible to mudslide when there is a … Continue Reading
We received a request for a blog related to decisions on roof matching under homeowner’s policies of insurance. In 1997 the Insurance Commissioner’s Office of Montana took a position on roof matching under the contractual duty to make a policyholder “whole” again, and the query was whether Montana had case law or statutory provisions at … Continue Reading
Recently, we received an inquiry on the hazards associated with New Hampshire’s Insurance-to-Value Policy Rules. For those not familiar with value-policy laws, I refer you to a prior article for a refresher on what a valued policy is, and how it affects claims in New Hampshire.… Continue Reading
Currently, policies of insurance for flood, even if purchased through your insurance agent or normal insurance company, are Federal Flood Insurance Policies issued through the National Flood Insurance Program, if your community is participating in the NFIP. Because the program is federally subsidized, homeowners on floodplains are able to purchase the polices at rates much … Continue Reading
Contrary to most New York policies which require notice to be given “promptly”, Connecticut policies tend to require notice “as soon as practical.”… Continue Reading
As discussed in my previous blog post regarding the tropical storm watch issued for parts of Long Island because of Hurricane Jose, as soon as damage is discovered, it should be reported to the insurance company, even if you think it is minor and not something that the insurance company will bother with.… Continue Reading
In advance of Hurricane Jose, a tropical storm watch was issued for parts of the Long Island and Connecticut. Although the storm is expected to stay out to sea, the area is expecting rain, rough surf, and wind and beach erosion.… Continue Reading
As I watched Hurricane Irma coverage on CNN, following the landfall in Naples, I was reminded of a problem many insureds faced following Superstorm Sandy: “Is the water the result of flood or rain?” While Naples was in the eye of the storm, CNN showed a six block stretch of water covering streets where rain … Continue Reading
While most of our readers are familiar with Business Income loss claims as a result of a natural event such as fire or hurricane, what protects a business when forced to cease operations or can’t get the supplies needed to manufacture goods because of a political event?… Continue Reading
Recently we received a request from a reader inquiring as to who has the responsibility to determine whether a sustained covered loss to a dwelling can be repaired or must be replaced? We always urge a thorough reading of the policy first, to determine what coverages exist, but not all policies are clear. Here’s a … Continue Reading
Recently, Connecticut has had an increase in insurance claims for crumbling foundations due to faulty foundations poured in the 1980s and 1990s. Some foundations poured during this time frame contained a mineral, pyrrhotite, which can cause cracking when it reacts with oxygen and water. It is estimated nearly 20,000 foundations poured contain the mineral.… Continue Reading
As I sit in what is currently a frozen tundra (the New York/ New Jersey Metropolitan area) my dreams of the spring and summer boating season were aroused by a case out of Florida, currently before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.1… Continue Reading
A common question by insureds has to do with depreciation, and how it is defined when calculating an Actual Cash Value (“ACV”) payment for property loss. For an underlying discussion of Depreciation Values, I direct you to Chip Merlin’s post on November 21, 2016: Determining Depreciation–Are Policyholders Getting Ripped Off?… Continue Reading
For my clients in the shipping industry, be sure to read your renewal policy to ensure that your shipments are covered; don’t assume that your agent or broker will notify you of policy changes, and be especially aware that they (the broker or agent) may not even have a duty to alert you to the … Continue Reading
Mario Lopez was a guest host on the Today show the other day, and described his recent property loss where his backyard collapsed into the street. Photos of the loss are available on Mr. Lopez’ Instagram or the Los Angeles Times. What struck me as blogworthy, other than the horrific loss of his yard, was his … Continue Reading
