So many people are talking about ChatGPT — the artificial intelligence content creator — that awareness of it has trickled down even to us attorneys, well-known to be late adopters of all technology. I thought I’d give it a try. I signed up for ChatGPT (which took several attempts, none of which were my fault, and included one message that
SJC holds that under plain language of pollution policy there is no coverage for costs incurred to prevent business interruption after pollution event
Ken’s Foods, Inc. operates a manufacturing facility in Georgia. In 2018 its wastewater treatment system malfunctioned and wastewater flowed into a Georgia tributary. Ken’s Foods cleaned up and contained the pollution, incurring about $1 million in costs.Ken’s Foods also implemented a temporary wastewater treatment system that allowed it to continue its operations without interruption. It spent over $2 million on
A video primer on insurance claims for damage to buildings
Welcome to my first video on insurance issues. In this one I discuss basic issues in real property insurance claims.
Watch my recent webinar on Good Faith Claims Handling
On September 28, 2022 I gave a webinar on the topic Liability Insurance and Good Faith Claims Handling: What Every Massachusetts Attorney Should Know. This was a joint program of two of my favorite institutions, the Insurance Library (currently holding a Silent Auction) and the Social Law Library. You can access the video here.
US District Court for District of Massachusetts holds that Vermont Mutual's post-judgment settlement offers that were less than verdict were in bad faith; puts it on notice for future conduct
Fire in apartment and tenants’ underlying lawsuit against landlordChester Robinson and Lorraine Hames were tenants in a multi-unit apartment building owned by Edward Toland and Cogavin Associates. A fire forced them to move out. The tenants sued the landlords in Superior Court for negligence, breach of covenant of quiet enjoyment and violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch.
Invitation to my webinar on Liability Insurance and Good Faith Claims Handling: What Every Massachusetts Attorney Should Know
The webinar is on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 4 PM to 5:30 PM, and is co-sponsored by the Insurance Library and the Social Law Library. You can register through this link. Feel free to email me questions ahead of time and I’ll try to answer them in the webinar.I have a couple of comp tickets. If you want
US District Court holds insurer may be liable for treble underlying attorney's fees when it demands an examination under oath in bad faith; also discusses condominium loss assessment coverage
Seeking current or recent associates of color at insurance defense firms to speak at a Boston Bar Association panel on diversity
I am working with attorney Garrett Lee to put together a panel on diversity at insurance defense firms for the Boston Bar Association. We have partners with hiring responsibility from three major insurance defense firms who will be speaking about what they look for when hiring young associates, and what they look for in retaining and promoting such associates. How
Invitation to Boston Bar Association webinar I am moderating on Issues in Condominium Insurance Law
The webinar will be on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 2 PM. You can sign up to attend here. And here’s the description:Who hasn’t heard horror stories about condominium unit owners battling each other over tricycles left in common spaces or snap pea plants the guy in 3C had the nerve to plant in a flower garden? In a
In a not-really but supposedly coverage decision, SJC holds that police officer driving recklessly for fun not covered by Massachusetts Torts Claim Act
In Berry v. Commerce Insurance Company, 175 N.E.3d 383 (Mass. 2021), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that a police officer who recklessly drove his vehicle into a fellow officer during a training day was not protected by the Massachusetts Torts Claim Act, even though the injured officer received workers compensation for the accident.Why does a discussion of this