Do homeowner insurance policies cover a collapse of the home? It sounds like a simple question but as is illustrated in a 2020, opinion from the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, it is not as simple as it looks. The opinion is styled, Beatrice Stewart v. Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance…
Attorneys who handle insurance claims know that almost all insurance policies have a cooperation clause in them. This means that the insured has a duty under the policy to cooperate with the insurance company in its investigation of the claim. One of these duties is to file a proof of…
The law is as clear as it can be in the State of Texas. An insured has a duty to cooperate with his insurance company regarding the investigation of a claim. The next question is – Are there exceptions to this duty? Here is my response. The insurance contract may…
Lawyers handling roofing claims and damage to property need to know and understand 2020 case from the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division. The case is styled, Starco Impex, Inc. v. Landmark American Insurance Company. The legal backdrop to the case and the facts need to be read in the…
This case is a dispute over who is entitled to the life insurance proceeds. The case is from the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, and is styled, John Hancock Life Insurance Company v. Marilyn J. Greer, Individually, As Independent Executor of The Estate of Marilyn B. Greer, and As…
Recent Texas Supreme Court opinions have been helpful to Texas insureds. The help comes in the form of the Court deciding that an insurer by merely paying an appraisal award is no longer able to wash their hands of the case. The insured can still seek remedy under the Texas…
Yet another case after the passage of Texas Insurance Code, Section 542A.006, dealing with suing the adjuster in storm damage claims. This is an issue that will eventually be addressed by the 5th Circuit. For now, this case is from the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and is styled,…
Texas Insurance Code, Section 542A.006(c), is being a source of frequent litigation in Texas since it was en-acted. The various Federal Courts are treating it differently. Here is a case from the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, dealing with this issue. The case is styled, Shiv Partners LTD and…
Here is another of the cases where the insured is suing the insurance adjuster and the insurance company is arguing the new law found in the Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 542A governs the case. The case is from the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. It is styled, D.U.R. Properties…
Here is a case arising out of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) which involves life insurance. The case is from the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division. It is styled, Elizabeth Hernandez v. Unum Group v. Sara Hernandez and Jose Hernandez. The basic Facts are that Xavier Hernandez…