Blog

In early 2020, even as the COVID-19 virus spread beyond China and took root on the North American continent, industry analysts confidently predicted that U.S. property insurers would largely escape the pernicious effects of this pandemic in light of their policies’ "direct physical loss" requirements as well as virus exclusions that were adopted in the aftermath of the 2003 SARS pandemic.

In early 2020, even as the COVID-19 virus spread beyond China and took root on the North American continent, industry analysts confidently predicted that U.S. property insurers would largely escape the pernicious effects of this pandemic in light of their policies’ "direct physical loss" requirements as well as virus exclusions that were adopted in the aftermath of the 2003 SARS pandemic.

The two risks that most insurers are least interested in underwriting are nuclear accidents and war. While nuclear accidents have been blessedly infrequent (sorry, Karen Silkwood), the scope and import of war exclusions have a long and curious history, ranging from marine losses to raiders during the American Civil War to airline hijackings by the PLO during the 1970s.

Morrison Mahoney Partners Michael Aylward, Chris Martin and New Jersey Of Counsel Lina Corriston won a major victory in New Jersey’s intermediate appellate court.

Morrison Mahoney Partner and MassDLA Insurance Law Co-Chair Michael F. Aylward analyzes the Supreme Judicial Court's announcement that it will review an insurer's right to recoup defense costs where the insurer is later found not to have owed a duty to defend in Holyoke Mut. Ins. Co. v. Vibram USA, Inc.

Morrison Mahoney Partner Michael Aylward obtains summary judgment in case involving insurance coverage of an attorney and a serial litigator

Morrison Mahoney Partner Michael Aylward obtains a defense verdict in a bench trial

Morrison Mahoney Partner Michael F. Aylward on a Colorado court's exploration of first-party property insurance coverage for loss of marijuana plants

Morrison Mahoney Partner Michael Aylward discusses a provocative new opinion by the New York Court of Appeals which refuses to impose bad faith on an insurer for negotiating a settlement that negated class-action coverage

Boston Partner Michael Aylward examines an unusual proposed class action law suit, which claims that over one hundred insurers conspired over the years to eliminate coverage for damage to home foundations constructed with defective concrete.