In a recent opinion from the United States District Court for Kansas, the Court held that privileged communications given by an expert to opposing party’s counsel will remain protected under the work product privilege. The defendant’s expert in Lloyds of London Syndicate 2003 v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. of Ohio accidentally included in his expert...
In a recent decision issued by the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Garden City Apartments, LLC v. Xcel Plumbing of New York, Inc. et al., No. 15-cv-1380 Document 84 (E.D.N.Y. 2017), the Court emphasized that a common waiver of subrogation clause does not afford protection against claims for property damage generally,...
The Sixth Circuit recently held that it would not apply Kentucky’s economic loss doctrine to consumer purchases, and consumers are free to pursue tort claims against manufacturers even when damage occurs only to a product itself. The Sixth Circuit was sitting in diversity and ruled in State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Norcold, Inc.,...
Since recently departing from the economic loss rule, Washington courts have continued to expand the scope and applicability of the independent duty doctrine in a variety of circumstances. A recent appellate case, The Point at Westport Harbor Homeowners’ Association v. Engineers Northwest, Inc.,[1] further enlarges the doctrine to include scenarios where no actual property damage...
The Utah Appellate Court recently issued an opinion in a medical subrogation case that contained broad language regarding subrogation law in Utah. See Wilson v. Educators Mut. Ins. Ass’n., 2016 UT App 38. The decision, read out of context, can be used to suggest that a subrogation case in Utah must be brought in the...
Product vs. Improvement to Real Property: Which Statute of Repose Applies? Depending on the jurisdiction of your loss, the answer to this question may significantly impact the viability your claim. A quick review of the law in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee demonstrates the varying results across a small sample of jurisdictions in geographical...
Georgia has traditionally adhered to the “made whole” doctrine, which provides that, “[w]here the insurer or the insured must go unpaid to some extent, the loss should be borne by the insurer, since the insurer has already been paid a premium for assuming this risk and would have been obligated to pay medical expenses regardless...
The California Supreme Court recently addressed whether a party that voluntarily dismisses an action, in exchange for a settlement payment, is entitled to recovery of costs as “the prevailing party.” In deSaulles v Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula 2016 DJDAR 2364, the Supreme Court resoundingly answered that question in the affirmative. The deSaulles case...
In a recent decision, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland considered an issue of first impression regarding the doctrine of spoliation. Maryland appellate courts had “not established how to apply the spoliation doctrine in the context of a situation” “where the physical object . . . that was destroyed [was] itself the subject of...
Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services, Inc., the art warehousing subsidiary of the leading auctioneer company, Christie’s, has succeeded in obtaining a dismissal of negligence and breach of contract claims asserted by the property insurer of a trust which owned the extensive art collection of a deceased wealthy member of the Rothschild banking family. The art...
