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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Continental Casualty Co. v. Employers Insurance

Plaintiff insurance companies, Continental Insurance Co. and American Casualty Co. (CNA), initiated a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that they have no duty to indemnify Robert A. Keasbey Co. (Keasbey) for asbestos-related claims, arguing that all claims fall under exhausted products hazard/completed operations coverage. The defendant class of asbestos claimants sought coverage under a new 'operations' theory not subject to aggregate limits. The trial court ruled in favor of the claimants, but the appellate court reversed. The appellate court found that equitable affirmative defenses like laches applied against the claimants, who stood in Keasbey’s shoes. It further determined that coverage is triggered by 'injury-in-fact' rather than mere exposure to asbestos, and that the aggregate limits of the primary and excess policies were exhausted, thus absolving CNA of further indemnity obligations.

AsbestosInsurance Coverage DisputeDeclaratory JudgmentProducts HazardCompleted OperationsOperations CoverageAggregate LimitsExcess InsuranceBodily InjuryInjury-in-Fact
References
29
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 13, 2000

AIU Insurance v. American Motorists Insurance

This case concerns an appeal regarding primary liability coverage for HRH Construction Corp. and Hotel Grand Central in an underlying personal injury action. Plaintiffs, including their excess insurer AIU Insurance Co., sought to compel American Motorists Insurance Co. and St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. to provide primary defense and reimbursement. The court found American Motorists obligated to defend HRH and the Hotel, as their policy covered them as additional insureds for claims "arising out of" work performed by American Motorists' primary insured, Cord Contracting Co. However, St. Paul was not similarly obligated, as the injury did not "arise out of" work by its insured, Forest Electric Corp. Consequently, the court modified the prior declaration, vacating the plaintiffs' favor against St. Paul and dismissing Cord Contracting Co.'s cross-appeal.

Insurance DisputePrimary Liability CoverageExcess InsuranceAdditional InsuredPersonal InjuryConstruction SiteSubcontractorContractual ObligationDuty to DefendIndemnification
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 13, 1995

National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA v. State Insurance Fund

Plaintiff National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA (National Union) initiated a declaratory judgment action against The State Insurance Fund (SIF) to recover defense and settlement costs. These costs were expended on behalf of Regional Scaffolding and Hoisting Co., Inc., a mutually insured party in an underlying personal injury action. The Supreme Court initially denied National Union's motion for summary judgment and ruled in favor of SIF. However, the appellate court reversed this decision, concluding that the antisubrogation rule did not apply in this context. Consequently, it determined that National Union and SIF were co-insurers for Regional Scaffolding's common-law liability. The court granted National Union's motion for summary judgment in part, declaring SIF's duty to reimburse National Union for one-half of the reasonable settlement and defense costs, and remanded for a trial to ascertain these amounts.

Antisubrogation RuleDeclaratory JudgmentSummary JudgmentInsurance Coverage DisputeCo-Insurer LiabilityDefense Costs ReimbursementSettlement CostsEmployer's LiabilityComprehensive General LiabilityThird-Party Action
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 28, 1991

North River Insurance v. United National Insurance

This appellate decision addresses the apportionment of liability between North River Insurance Co. and United National Insurance Company arising from a settlement for an injured employee. The court clarified that North River, as the workers' compensation carrier, is solely responsible for its waived lien, reversing a lower court's finding. It further determined that both insurers' "other insurance" clauses called for pro rata contribution, not equal shares, for the $588,245 settlement payment and defense costs. The court calculated specific shares for each insurer and ruled that North River is entitled to interest from the original payment date in 1982. The Supreme Court's order was thus modified to reflect these findings.

Insurance disputePro rata contributionEquitable apportionmentWorkers' compensation lienDefense costsOther insurance clausesSettlement apportionmentInterest calculationAppellate decisionInsurer liability
References
10
Case No. 2015 NY Slip Op 06582 [131 AD3d 598]
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 19, 2015

Tully Construction Co. v. Illinois National Insurance

Tully Construction Co., Inc. (Tully) and Zurich American Insurance Company (Zurich) appealed an order and judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County. The Supreme Court denied their separate motions for summary judgment on the complaint and granted Illinois National Insurance Company's (Illinois) cross-motion for summary judgment. The dispute centered on Illinois's obligation to indemnify Tully under a commercial umbrella liability insurance policy, which was contingent upon the exhaustion of underlying insurance. The Supreme Court found that Zurich's Workers Compensation and Employers Liability policy had an unlimited liability provision. As a result, the excess coverage of Illinois's umbrella policy was never triggered. The Appellate Division affirmed the order and judgment, declaring that Illinois had no obligation to indemnify Tully and that Zurich must reimburse Illinois for $2,500,000.

Insurance coverage disputeUmbrella liability insuranceWorkers' Compensation policyEmployers Liability policySummary judgment motionIndemnification obligationPolicy exhaustionExcess coverage triggerPrimary insurer vs. excess insurerAppellate Division Second Department
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 16, 1982

Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. v. Michigan Mutual Insurance

Hartford, an excess insurer, initiated a lawsuit against primary insurer Michigan Mutual, D.A.L. Construction, and a law firm, Montfort, Healy, McGuire and Salley, seeking to recover a $400,000 settlement portion it paid in an underlying construction site explosion case. The underlying action involved injured parties (the Gobins) who sued entities L.A.D. Associates and DeFoe Corporation, all of whom, along with D.A.L. (Mr. Gobin's employer), were insured by both Michigan Mutual and Hartford. Hartford's claim was predicated on D.A.L.'s potential Dole v Dow Chem. Co. contribution liability, arguing Michigan Mutual or the attorneys should have impleaded D.A.L. in the original suit. Justice Silverman, in a dissenting opinion, argued that an insurer cannot subrogate against its own insured, thus precluding Hartford's claim against D.A.L. and justifying Michigan Mutual's failure to implead. However, the appellate court's final order modified the appealed decision by denying motions to dismiss and for summary judgment, thereby reinstating Hartford's complaint in its individual capacity against Michigan Mutual and Montfort, Healy.

SubrogationExcess InsurancePrimary InsuranceContributionIndemnificationSummary JudgmentImpleaderWorkers' Compensation ExclusionInsurer vs. InsuredRelated Corporations
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Perth Amboy Drydock Co. v. New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance

This case concerns the interpretation of an insurance policy issued to Perth Amboy Drydock Co. by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance. The policy provided workmen's compensation and employer's liability coverage, primarily for 'shipwright work' employees. The core dispute revolved around an endorsement that expanded liability limits. While the endorsement's heading mentioned 'Masters or Members of the Crews of Vessels', a typewritten addendum at its foot broadened its application to 'Shipwright Work and operation of Tugboats'. The court affirmed the order and judgment, holding that the typewritten statement should prevail, resolving any ambiguity in favor of the insured. A dissenting opinion argued against this interpretation, asserting that the language was clear and restricted to maritime employees.

Insurance PolicyWorkmen's CompensationEmployer's LiabilityPolicy EndorsementContract InterpretationAmbiguityShipwright WorkMaritime LawAppellate ReviewDissenting Opinion
References
2
Case No. 2017 NY Slip Op 04774 [151 AD3d 504]
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 13, 2017

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. v. U.S. Underwriters Insurance Co.

This case concerns an insurance coverage dispute where Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Artimus Construction Corp., Inc., as subrogees, sought coverage from U.S. Underwriters Insurance Company. The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed the lower court's decision to dismiss the complaint. The court found that the plaintiffs were collaterally estopped from relitigating insurance coverage issues because these matters had been decided in a prior declaratory judgment action. The majority concluded that Nationwide's subrogor, Artimus, and Artimus's subrogor, Armadillo, had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the coverage issues previously. Furthermore, the court held that the doctrine of res judicata also barred the claims, applying a transactional analysis which dictates that all claims arising from the same transaction that could have been raised in prior litigation are precluded.

Insurance CoverageSubrogationCollateral EstoppelRes JudicataAppellate ReviewDeclaratory JudgmentPersonal Injury ActionEmployer Liability ExclusionLate Notice of ClaimPrivity
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Transcontinental Insurance v. State Insurance Fund

This case involves a dispute between two insurers, Transcontinental Insurance Company (plaintiff) and State Insurance Fund (defendant), regarding their contribution to the defense and settlement of an underlying personal injury action. Transcontinental, which insured the contractor Master, sought a declaration that State Insurance Fund, Master's workers' compensation insurer, should contribute as a co-insurer for expenses incurred defending and settling the action on behalf of NYPA. The Supreme Court dismissed the complaint, applying the antisubrogation rule. The Appellate Division modified the judgment, vacating the dismissal but affirming the application of the antisubrogation rule, declaring that State Insurance Fund is not obligated to reimburse Transcontinental for the expenses.

Insurance DisputeAntisubrogation RuleDeclaratory JudgmentCommercial General Liability PolicyWorkers' Compensation InsuranceIndemnificationCo-insurancePersonal Injury ActionAppellate ReviewContractual Obligation
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 12, 1995

Wausau Underwriters Insurance v. Continental Casualty Co.

This case addresses a dispute between Wausau Underwriters Insurance Company (Wausau) and Continental Casualty Company (Continental), along with The Hartford Insurance Group. Wausau, as the employer's liability carrier for H. Sand & Company, successfully argued that a third-party action by Slattery-Argrett, subrogor of Continental, against H. Sand & Company, constituted an impermissible subrogation claim by an insurer against its own insured. The underlying matter involved a personal injury sustained by an employee of H. Sand & Company. Continental had initially disclaimed coverage for Sand in the third-party action. The Supreme Court granted Wausau's motion for summary judgment, declaring the subrogation action a violation of public policy and awarding Wausau damages. The appellate court affirmed this judgment, distinguishing the present case from prior rulings like *North Star Reins. Corp. v Continental Ins. Co.*, and emphasizing the distinction between claims for indemnification and contribution within insurance policy exclusions.

Subrogation ClaimInsurance Coverage DisputeIndemnification vs. ContributionPublic Policy in InsuranceSummary JudgmentEmployer LiabilityGeneral Liability InsuranceExcess Liability InsuranceConstruction AccidentWorkers' Compensation Carrier
References
9
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