http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Headline Insurance Broker Liability Legal News from LexisNexis® en-us http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/images/lexismealeyslogo.gif 130 29 http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Copyright 2012 http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%201%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ATLANTA - The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 16 vacated a grant of summary judgment in favor of an insurance broker on an insured's claims for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty and remanded for reconsideration in light of the Florida Supreme Court's ruling on the application of the economic loss doctrine (Tiara Condominium Association Inc. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., et al., No. 09-11718, 11th Cir.; 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 7583). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%202%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - An Illinois federal judge on March 26 dismissed an insured's third-party claims against an insurance broker for breach of fiduciary duty and contribution but declined to dismiss a negligent misrepresentation claim (Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast and Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina v. HomeWorks Central Inc. v. TGI Enterprises Inc. a/k/a Trissel Graham & Toole, No. 12-4017, C.D. Ill.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42144). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%203%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Homeowners allege in a complaint filed March 21 in a Colorado state court that their insurer and its insurance agent left them underinsured for fire damage (Velma Rose and Ken Rose v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. and William Beadles, No. 2013CV1485, Colo. Dist., El Paso Co., 4th Jud.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%204%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' RICHMOND, Va. - A mortgage insurer asserts sufficient claims for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract against insurance agents, a Virginia federal judge ruled April 17, finding a property owner's assignment of rights to the insurer to be valid (The Cincinnati Insurance Co. as assignee of Hylton Hall Partners LLC v. John S. Ruch, et al., No. 12-877, E.D. Va.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55361). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%205%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' LOS ANGELES - An insurance broker wasn't liable to an investor who was unable to get coverage under a bankrupt real estate developer's business risk insurance policy for alleged vandalism and theft, a California appeals panel ruled April 17 (Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, et al. v. Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Nos. B243650 & B244334, Calif. App., 2nd Dist., Div. 3; 2013 Cal. App. LEXIS 295). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%206%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW YORK - An insurance broker breached its contract and acted negligently in failing to notify an insured that no policy existed for a certain period during which allegations that it solicited employees were made, a New York trial court ruled April 12, finding the broker liable to the insured for an underlying settlement (The IDW Group LLC v. Levine Insurance Risk Management Services Inc., et al., No. 603892/2009, N.Y. Sup., New York Co.; 2013 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1502). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%207%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ST. LOUIS - Insureds fail to sufficiently assert third-party claims for negligent failure to procure insurance and negligent misrepresentation against their insurance agent, a Missouri federal judge held March 26, dismissing the claims (Country Mutual Insurance Co. v. Terri L. Cronin, et al., No. 11-1851, E.D. Mo.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42208). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%208%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CHICAGO - A reinsurance broker owes $744,402.06 to the parent company of an insurer under a revenue-sharing agreement, an Illinois federal judge ruled March 29, finding that the broker breached its contract by failing to hand over some of the commissions money (Homeowners Choice Inc. v. Aon Benfield Inc., No. 10-7700, N.D. Ill.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45938). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%209%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ST. LOUIS - Reinsurance brokers do not owe an insurer an annual fee, the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed April 1, dismissing the insurer's breach of contract lawsuit against the brokers regarding money allegedly owed (Olympus Insurance Co. v. AON Benfield Inc. and Benfield Inc., No. 12-1974, 8th Cir.; 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 6447). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2010%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' WACO, Texas - A trial court did not abuse its discretion in assessing death-penalty sanctions against a former employee of an insurance agency because the trial court tested lesser sanctions with warnings against the former employee, a Texas appeals panel determined on March 28 (Jeffrey Scott Lockhart v. Dale Patrick McCurley d/b/a Midlothian Insurance Agency, No. 10-11-00073, Texas App., 10th Dist.; 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4075). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2011%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' MINNEAPOLIS - A district manager for an insurance company breached his contract by writing insurance policies with a competing insurer in violation of an appointment agreement, a Minnesota federal judge held on April 18 (Farmers Insurance Exchange, et al. v. Theodore West and Tedd West Insurance Agency Inc., No. 11-2297, D. Minn.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55611). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2012%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A New York appeals panel on April 17 affirmed a lower court's dismissal of an insurance agency's third-party complaint seeking contractual indemnification from an insurer in a dispute over claims that the agency failed to inform an insured of a change in employee dishonesty coverage (South Bay Cardiovascular Associates v SCS Agency, Inc., et al., Nos. 2012-01964, 2012-05203, N.Y. Sup., App. Div.; 2nd Dept.; 2013 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2503). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2013%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ATLANTA - The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on March 25 affirmed a preliminary injunction entered against a former employee of an insurance broker to enforce nondisclosure and noncompetition covenants in an employment agreement (Arthur J. Gallagher Service Co. and Risk Placement Services Inc. v. Thomas Egan, No. 12-14857, 11th Cir.; 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 5875). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-2%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2014%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' OXFORD, Miss. - A federal judge in Mississippi denied an insurance agent a new trial on March 31 based on the agent's arguments that he was given allegedly faulty advice from his attorney in the U.S. government's kickback lawsuit against the agent (Ken Nowlin v. United States of America, No. 07-108, N.D. Miss.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%201%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The economic loss rule does not preclude an insured's lawsuit against an insurance broker where the parties are in contractual privity with one another and the damages sought are solely for economic losses, a majority of the Florida Supreme Court ruled March 7, finding that the application of the economic loss rule is limited to products liability cases (Tiara Condominium Association Inc., et al. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., et al., No. SC10-1022, Fla. Sup.; 2013 Fla. LEXIS 343). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%202%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' GULFPORT, Miss. - There is no evidence that insurance brokers shared in allegedly undisclosed commissions received, a Mississippi federal judge ruled March 5, granting summary judgment to the brokers on breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims (Trinity Yachts LLC v. Thomas Rutherfoord Inc. and Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, No. 11-507, S.D. Miss.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29205). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%203%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' DETROIT - A federal judge in Michigan declined on March 6 to reconsider his ruling granting summary judgment to an insurance agent and his entities as well as an attorney regarding their alleged breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of trade secrets in the selling of "uncollectible chargeback" insurance policies (Dominic Tampone and International Commerce Solutions Inc. v. Gregory Richmond, et al., No. 10-11776, E.D. Mich.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%204%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania federal bankruptcy judge on March 20 denied summary judgment to an insolvent insurer on its request of $1.5 million, which is the amount an insurance agency allegedly wrongfully transferred to a third party (In re: Black, Davis and Shue Agency Inc.; Frontier Insurance Co. in rehabilitation v. Black Davis and Shue Agency Inc., Chapter 11, No. 06-00051, Adv. No. 11-00160, M.D. Pa. Bkcy.; 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 1050). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%205%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A former employee of an insurance broker sufficiently asserts a claim for breach of contract against his former employer for terminating his benefits under a departure agreement, a West Virginia federal judge ruled March 21 (Andrew J. Paterno v. Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc., et al., No. 12-04692, S.D. W.Va.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39058). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%206%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A Connecticut federal judge on March 18 denied in part a motion for sanctions filed in a breach of contract lawsuit against an underwriter, an insurance agency and two insurance agents pending the submission of additional information (Franklin Lord and Sharon Schumann v. International Marine Insurance Services, et al., No. 08-1299, D. Conn.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36715). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%207%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A California federal judge on March 1 granted an insurer's request to intervene in another insurer's breach of contract and negligence lawsuit against an insurance brokerage specializing in marine insurance (Gemini Insurance Co. v. Western Marine Insurance Services Corp. v. Alliant Insurance Services, et al., No. 10-3172, E.D. Calif.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28641). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%208%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' BALTIMORE - A third-party beneficiary of a life insurance policy cannot bring a negligence claim against an insurance agent, a Maryland federal judge ruled March 19, dismissing the claim; however, the judge permitted the insured's breach of contract claim to proceed against the agent (Margaret A. Colden v. West Coast Life Insurance Co. and Michael H. Crawford, No. 12-1691, D. Md.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37817). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%209%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - There are issues of fact regarding farmers' justifiable reliance on an insurance agent's statements concerning crop insurance that did not end up covering the farmers' damages, an Arkansas federal judge ruled March 4 (David Pelzer, et al. v. ARMtech Insurance Services Inc. v. LDC III Inc. and Larry D. Church, No. 11-00108; Larry Hunt, et al. v. ARMtech Insurance Services Inc. v. LDC III Inc. and Larry Church, No. 12-00346, E.D. Ark.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29230). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2010%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW ORLEANS - A life insurer is entitled to premium payments for canceled life insurance policies, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed March 18, dismissing a university charitable organization's breach of contract, negligence and fraud claims against the insurer and its insurance agents (Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. v. Management Compensation Group Lee Inc., et al., No. 12-10360, 5th Cir.; 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 5322). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2011%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' BALTIMORE - A commercial general liability insurer failed to assert claims for tortious interference with contract, tortious interference with economic relationship based on an insurance broker's alleged misrepresentation of assault and battery coverage, a Maryland federal judge held Feb. 25 (Doodson Insurance Brokerage of TX LLC v. Indemnity Insurance Corporation RRG v. Axis Insurance Co., No. 12-1606, D. Md.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27145). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2012%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' WASHINGTON, D.C. - A class action plaintiff adequately pleaded a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, but otherwise fails to state a claim against insurance brokers, a District of Columbia federal judge found March 1 (Andrea Cannon, on behalf of herself and all other similarly situated v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al., No. 12-465, D. D.C.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27927). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2013%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CONCORD, N.H. - Insurers are entitled to judgment in the amount of $592,084.33 for an insurance agent's failure to remit premiums for surety bonds, a New Hampshire federal magistrate judge ruled March 7 (Washington International Insurance Co. and North American Specialty Insurance Co. v. Ashton Agency Inc., No. 10-526, D. N.H.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31593). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=9-1%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2014%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' TRENTON, N.J. - A New Jersey appeals panel on March 7 affirmed a ruling that revoked an insurance agency and its owner's insurance producer licenses and imposed fines and costs for violations of the New Jersey Insurance Producer Licensing Act (IPLA) of 2001, New Jersey Statutes Annotated Sections 17:22A-26 to -48 (Steven M. Goldman, commissioner of Banking and Insurance v. Jose D. Uribe and Inter-America Insurance Agency LLC, No. A-1285-11T1, N.J. Super. App. Div.; 2013 N.J. Super.Unpub.LEXIS 519). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%201%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' DENVER - A settlement agreement was sufficient to establish that an insured incurred damages for purposes of its negligence and negligent misrepresentation claims against an insurance broker, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Feb. 14, reversing the entry of summary judgment to the insurance broker (DC-10 Entertainment LLC n/k/a LLMJ LLC v. Manor Insurance Agency Inc., No. 11CA2637, Colo. App.; 2013 Colo. App. LEXIS 167). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%202%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' DALLAS - A Texas federal judge on Feb. 19 refused to remand homeowners' breach of contract lawsuit, finding that an in-state insurance adjuster for a State Farm insurance company was improperly joined to the lawsuit (Ronald DeCluette and Annie DeCluette v. State Farm Lloyds and Ruben Gallegos, No. 12-4449, N.D. Texas; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21942). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%203%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW YORK - A New York appeals panel on Jan. 16 affirmed the denial of summary judgment to an insurance broker on negligence and breach of contract claims (Gerald Gagliardi, et al. v. Preferred Mutual Insurance Co. and Coughlin Enterprises Inc., d/b/a Robert B. Collins Agency, No. 1629/08, N.Y. Sup., App. Div., 2nd Dept.; 2013 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 195). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%204%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' RALEIGH, N.C. - An insured failed to show that it specifically requested vandalism coverage from an insurance agency establishing a special relationship, a North Carolina appeals panel ruled Dec. 18, affirming summary judgment to the agency on breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims (Rayfield Properties LLC v. Business Insurers of the Carolinas Inc., No. COA12-791, N.C. App.; 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 1429). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%205%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' MINNEAPOLIS - Insurance brokers waived their defense for lack of personal jurisdiction by failing to properly raise it, a Minnesota appeals panel held Jan. 14, affirming the denial of a motion to dismiss a breach of contract action filed by the brokers' competitors (Aon Corp., et al. v. Paul B. Haskins, et al., No. A12-0495, Minn. App.; 2013 Minn. App. Unpub. LEXIS 22). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%206%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A New York appeals panel on Jan. 8 vacated a previous decision, finding that an insured raised triable issues of fact regarding whether a special relationship existed between it and an insurance agent and whether the agent breached the resulting implied contract (QP Inc. v. The Flanders Group Inc., No. 12-00420, N.Y. Sup., App. Div., 4th Dept.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%207%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' DENVER - A Colorado federal magistrate judge refused on Feb. 5 to dismiss third-party negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims against insurance agents (Country Mutual Insurance Co. v. Rocky Mountain Construction Company LLC, et al., No. 12-00453, D. Colo.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16102). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%208%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' HOUSTON - An insured failed to assert claims against an insurance agent for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, negligence, breach of the Texas Insurance Code, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and malice, a Texas federal judge held Feb. 11, dismissing the claims (The Landing Council of Co-Owners v. Federal Insurance Co. and Higganbotham Insurance Agency Houston Inc. d/b/a The Essential Insurance Group LLC, No. 12-2760, S.D. Texas; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17884). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%209%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A partial summary judgment ruling entered in favor of an insurance agency and its employee regarding their alleged negligence and breach of contract in the procurement of workers' compensation insurance is not ripe for appeal, a Missouri appeals panel ruled Feb. 5 (Ice Castles Inc. v. Gross Insurance Agency Inc. and Belinda "Wendy" Bradley, No. WD74776, Mo. App., W.D.; 2013 Mo. App. LEXIS 156). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2010%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' BOSTON - An insured failed to establish that an insurance agent acted negligently and breached a contract with regard to the procurement of insurance coverage for a warehouse fire, a Massachusetts appeals panel concluded Feb. 6 (Rose Fayette, v. Jose S. Castelo Insurance Agency Inc., No. 12-P-208, Mass. App.; 2013 Mass. App. Unpub. LEXIS 150). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2011%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' HOUSTON - Insureds are not entitled to judgment for $75,000 in out-of-pocket damages, $350,000 in attorney fees, exemplary damages and pre- and post-judgment interest against insurance brokers based on their allegedly negligent conduct, a Texas appeals panel ruled Jan. 31 (George E. Guidry and Dwight W. Andrus Insurance Inc. v. Environmental Procedures Inc. and Advanced Wirecloth Inc., No. 14-11-00090-CV, Texas App., 14th Dist.; 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 957). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2012%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania federal judge on Feb. 6 granted an insurer's motion to reconsider a ruling that previously dismissed breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims against insurance agents based on applicable statute of limitations (Lincoln General Insurance Co. v. Kingsway America Agency Inc. f/k/a Avalon Risk Management Inc. and Mattoni Insurance Brokerage Inc., No. 11-1127, M.D. Pa.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20292). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2013%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ST. LOUIS - A Missouri appeals panel on Jan. 29 found that there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether insurance brokers procured the insurance policy that a boxing promoter requested and as to whether the boxing promoter understood that the policy it received did not cover injuries to boxers, once again reversing and remanding a lower court's ruling in favor of the brokers after the case was retransferred from the Missouri Supreme Court (Gateway Hotel Holdings Inc., et al. v. Chapman-Sander, Inc., et al., No. ED97066, Mo. App., Eastern Dist., Div. 3; 2013 Mo. App. LEXIS 112). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2014%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' DALLAS - A Texas federal judge on Jan. 25 ordered two insurance agencies to pay $16.5 million in damages to a reinsurer on the reinsurer's tortious interference claim (Lincoln General Insurance Co. v. U.S. Auto Insurance Services Inc., et al., No. 10-2307, N.D. Texas). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=8-12%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Ins.%20Broker%20Liab.%2015%20(2013)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW ORLEANS - The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Feb. 11 affirmed a lower federal court's ruling on bad faith and business interruption claims in favor of excess insurers in a coverage dispute arising from Hurricane Katrina damage (Claude C. Lightfoot Jr., substituted as Trustee of the MBS Unsecured Creditors' Trust formed in connection with the bankruptcy of MBS Management Services Inc. v. Hartford Insurance Co., No. 12-30443, 5th Cir.).