‘Stranger Liability’ For California Wholesalers Settled, but Not Done

A few wholesalers groups are breathing a brief sigh of relief following a recent Los Angeles Superior Court decision in a lawsuit involving “stranger liability.” The issue was brought to light in Hull & Co. v. Superior Court, a case involving duty of care to a third party and an appeal to the California Supreme Court of a ruling that imposed a tort duty on wholesale insurance brokers not only to their retail broker customers but also to the insured, an entity with whom the wholesale broker has no contact. The case involved a shooting at a Dave and Busters bar and entertainment establishment in Southern California.