Illinois Insurance Claims News (Page 8)

State Farm Faces Possible Class Action Suit Over ‘Arbitrary’ Adjustment Of Total Loss Claims

State Farm is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit that accuses the nation’s largest auto insurer of systematically underpaying thousands of total loss claims by applying a percentage discount to the value of comparable vehicles to account for ‘typical negotiation.’

March 28, 2022 Auto Insurance Industry Illinois

Vehicle Thefts Rise, Carjackings Increase By Triple Digits In Some Large Cities

Major cities across the US have seen an ‘unprecedented’ surge in auto thefts and carjackings in recent years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has warned.<br /><br />Testifying before a US Senate Committee on the issue of car thefts, NICB president and CEO David Glawe spoke not only of the rise in auto theft cases, but also discussed the apparent connection between car stealing and other serious violent crimes.

March 9, 2022 Auto District Of Columbia Illinois Louisiana New York Pennsylvania

Family Of Georgia Couple Killed In Train Derailment Sues Amtrak

The family of a Georgia couple who were on a trip celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary when they died in an Amtrak train derailment in Montana has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Amtrak and BSNF Railway, which owns the tracks.

February 25, 2022 Liability Litigation Illinois Montana

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Does Not Bar An Employee’s Claim Under BIPA

In McDonald v. Symphony Bronzeville Park, LLC, 2022 IL 126511, the Illinois Supreme Court issued an opinion finding the exclusive remedy provisions of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (‘Compensation Act’) 820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. does not bar an employee’s claim for statutory damages under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (‘BIPA’), 40 ILCS 14/1 et seq.<br /><br />An employee filed a class-action lawsuit against her employer for violating BIPA. Her employer required its employees to use a biometric timekeeping system in order to scan an employee’s fingerprint for purposes of authenticating an employee and tracking their time at work. The employee alleged that her employer never obtained her written consent to store her biometric information or informed her how the information will be stored.

February 24, 2022 Litigation Workers' Compensation Illinois

100+ Vehicle Pileup on Icy Illinois Interstate Under Whiteout Conditions

More than 100 cars and semis crashed on a slippery stretch of interstate in central Illinois Thursday, according to state police. The crashes stretched several hundred yards along Interstate 39, local news outlets reported.

February 18, 2022 Auto Illinois

Illinois Court Finds Notice Requirement Not Applicable to Additional Insured

In West Bend Mutual Insurance Company v. Community United School District 300, 2021 IL App (2d) 210108, the insurer sought a declaration that it had no duty to defend an additional insured, a school district, in connection with several lawsuits filed on behalf of minors.

February 17, 2022 Litigation Illinois

Lawsuit Filed Against Amazon Over Illinois Tornado Death

Lawyers on Monday filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Madison County, Illinois against online retailer Amazon and two other companies on behalf of the family of delivery driver Austin McEwen, who was killed Dec. 10, 2021, when a tornado struck the Amazon fulfillment center where he was working.

January 18, 2022 Liability Litigation Illinois

Did A Recent Court Ruling Doom COVID Biz Interruption MDL?

Nearly 60 lawsuits against Society Insurance suffered a fatal blow this month when a federal appeals court tossed pandemic-related claims for business-income interruption benefits against four other insurance companies, Society’s lawyers at Crowell & Moring and Purcell & Wardrope said in a Monday-night filing in federal court in Chicago.

December 23, 2021 Litigation Property Illinois

The 2021-2022 Judicial Hellholes Report

In its recently released annual report, the ATRA identified 8 jurisdictions on its 2021 hellholes list â€“ which, in order, include: (1) California (with the plaintiffs’ bar taking advantage of unique California laws like the Private Attorney General Act); (2) New York City (particularly regarding Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility claims and an activist attorney general battling climate change with energy companies), (3) Georgia....

December 10, 2021 Litigation California Georgia Illinois Louisiana Missouri

Ruling Is Instructive Of Biometric-Related Claims And Insurance

As part of the larger trend of invasion of privacy claims asserted by employees or consumers against businesses, several states have recently passed legislation that sets forth requirements for the collection, storing and dissemination of biometric information such as fingerprints, voice recordings and even keystroke patterns.

December 1, 2021 Liability Litigation Illinois New York Washington

D&O Policy’s Professional Services Exclusion And Contract Exclusion Do Not Bar Coverage For Claims Arising from Trade Show Cancellation

Applying Illinois law, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has held that a D&O policy’s professional services and contract exclusions do not bar coverage for lawsuits seeking damages for fees and expenses paid to the insured in connection with a cancelled trade show.

November 10, 2021 Excess & Surplus Lines Litigation Illinois

Some States, Insurers Limit Dog Breed Discrimination For Homeowners Policies

When it comes to homeowners insurance, a lot of policies leave certain ‘aggressive’ dog breeds out in the cold. Now, animal advocacy groups, that’s starting to change. For years, most insurers have limited coverage or downright denied policies to homes in which there’s a dog they deem to be of a potentially dangerous breed.

November 10, 2021 Legislation & Regulation Liability Illinois Nevada New York