California appellate court restricts coverage for wildfire smoke claims

In recent years wildfire smoke claims have become more than a cottage industry in California and some other states. Policyholders owning buildings outside the area burned by a wildfire contend
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California Changes Summary Judgment Rules for 2025

On July 15, Governor Newsom signed AB 2049, which changes the rules for summary judgment motions in state court effective January 1, 2025. While there are a number of deadline
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Class action Lawsuits in the United States against insurance companies

In the United States, it is now somewhat common for an insured-claimant, seeking to be designated as class representative, to initiate a putative class action lawsuit against an insurance company,
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Significant California Decision Enforcing Statutory Prohibition on Liability Coverage for Willful Acts

  California has long had a statutory prohibition of insurer liability for a policyholder’s willful acts in Insurance Code § 533. On April 19th California’s First District Court of Appeal held
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Our Exclusive Member in California Co-edits the Third Edition of the ABA’s Property Insurance Litigator’s Handbook

Our Exclusive Member in California Co-edits the Third Edition of the ABA’s Property Insurance Litigator’s Handbook Bullivant Houser Shareholder Andy Downs is one of the three co-editors of the third
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California Legislators Attempt to Create Business Income Coverage for COVID-19 by Reversing Burdens of Proof

One of the less exciting components of litigation is the burden of proof. The lack of excitement, however, masks its importance. In many instances, which party is assigned the burden
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Pandemic’s Impact on Case Evaluations

As we have seen to tragic effect around the world, the COVID-19 virus has proved to be unpredictable, with guidelines from state and federal governments and health agencies evolving from
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Small Business Employer and Employee Options in This Uncertain Time

Many small U.S. businesses are facing uncertainty about continued viability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. An important part of this deliberation is how these small businesses can not
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Mediating in a Social Distancing Environment

Life as we know it changed in January of this year upon confirmation that the Coronavirus had reached the US. As of this writing the United States has seen at
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Paycheck Protection Program An Economic Lifeline During an Unprecedented Crisis

The U.S. Treasury Department released new implementation guidance on April 6, 2020 regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including changes to interpretations for loan amount calculation. Additionally, the new guidance
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