Bad Faith Blog

Summary: Hamilton Properties owned the Dallas Plaza Hotel, which was insured by American Insurance Company (“AIC”) when a hail storm struck Dallas in July 2009. Hail damage was covered by the policy, but losses were to be reported promptly. The District Court found that the hail loss first reported at least 19 months after the storm was prejudicially late barring coverage plus the extra-contractual damages claims. The Fifth Circuit affirmed.

Summary: An employer’s excess insurer brought an action for bad faith against the primary insurer, which had defended the employer against a worker’s personal injury action that resulted in a settlement in excess of the primary insurer’s limits. The excess insurer alleged the primary insurer should have settled the case within the primary carrier’s policy’s limits. The trial court dismissed the claim finding it was not actionable when there was no excess judgment entered against the insured. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded.