Insurance Coverage Litigation Lawyer & Attorney : Rivkin Radler Law Firm : Long Island, New York

I can't help it: I love insurance cases with weird facts. So, I enjoyed reading a case addressing whether insurance covers claims for “alienation of affections.” Pins v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 476 F.3d 581 (8th Cir. 2007).  In fact, I wrote about this case in my October 2007 Best’s Review column.  I don’t know what I found more amazing: the notion that insurance would cover an affair (the court rejected the notion) or the fact that people still bring alienation of affection suits in response to affairs. In any event, the case is a must-read for collectors of odd insurance cases.

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This morning's N.Y. Times includes an interesting story concerning a terrible pollution problem allegedly caused by Ford. Can Ford Clean Up After Itself? (Sunday Business p. 1, 7/29/07).
The article describes a serious pollution problem in New Jersey that is allegedly causing health problems for nearby residents. The article focuses on the cleanup, but the next issue will surely be insurance. Ford will seek to push the costs onto its carriers. It will be interesting to explore Ford's intentions and expectations relating to its dumping. Significant coverage defenses may exist.

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According to the July 19, 2007 L.A. Times, the Archdiocese's insurers will pay $227 million of the $660 million sexual abuse settlement.  Amazing.  If the policies were subject to standard "occurrence" language and intentional act limitations it would seem that several bars to coverage might apply.  Clearly, the acts were intentional.  The injuries would also be "expected", if not intended.  Settling insurers were undoubtedly concerned about a policyholder-friendly court ignoring fundamental restrictions on coverage.

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