Month

October 2012
This recurring series will discuss various materials, including engineered plastics, woods, metals, polymers, bio-polymers, and other composites, and evaluate real world failure modes and provide practice tips for the recovery professional. The first material discussed is cellulose insulation. Cellulose is an organic material derived from wood, and commonly used in the building industry to insulate.  Cellulose...
Local government units, like municipalities, are protected from liability for tortious conduct under Illinois’ Local Government and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. In general, an Illinois city or county cannot be held liable for acts considered discretionary government functions like the formation of policy and plans. However, local governments may be held liable for negligently performed acts...
This summer, in reviewing a filed lawsuit, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals made a determination as a matter of law on a matter of first impression, specifically holding that property owners in New York City have a non-delegable duty to maintain the structural integrity of adjoining walls, including party walls. According to the papers...
On October 10, 2012, Toyota Motor Corp. announced a worldwide safety recall of over 7.4 million vehicles, including approximately 2.5 million vehicles sold in the U.S., for a fire hazard associated with the power window controls. The recall is the result of an investigation launched in June 2012 by the United States National Highway Traffic...
The Supreme Court of Georgia recently held that stigma damages are potentially covered under a property insurance policy, leading to the possibility that the property insurer could pursue such damages in a subrogation action. Royal Capital Development LLC v. Maryland Casualty Company, 291 Ga. 262, 728 S.E.2d 234 (Ga. 2012). In Royal Capital, the insured...