The 2021-2022 Judicial Hellholes Report

In its recently released annual report, the ATRA identified 8 jurisdictions on its 2021 hellholes list – 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

Insurer Wins First Jury Trial On COVID-19 Business Interruption Losses

An insurer has won the first jury trial on coverage for Covid-19 business interruption losses after a federal jury in the Western District of Missouri issued a verdict in favor of The Cincinnati Insurance Company . . .
November 5, 2021 Litigation Missouri

Storms Trigger Flooding, Spawn Tornadoes In Southern Plains, Missouri, Arkansas

Flooding and confirmed tornadoes caused damage in parts of Oklahoma and Missouri overnight and into Wednesday afternoon. Flooding was reported in Branson, Missouri, as well as several other areas, including Abilene, Texas, and Bentonville, Arkansas.
April 28, 2021 Auto Property Arkansas Missouri Oklahoma Texas

Toyota’s Fuel Pump Recall Now Covers Nearly 6M Vehicles Worldwide

Toyota expanded a worldwide fuel pump recall to a total of 5.84 million vehicles for a defect that could cause the part to fail. In the United States, the total number of vehicles involved in this safety recall is now approximately 3.34 million vehicles.
October 30, 2020 Auto Subrogation Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California

Dismissal, Transfer Developments In 9 States’ Repairer V. Insurer Litigation

Some significant new developments have occurred in the plethora of collision repairer-insurer lawsuits consolidated before the U.S. Middle District of Florida.
September 24, 2020 Auto Litigation Alabama Illinois Kentucky Mississippi Missouri

Peach Recall Expanding Over Possible Salmonella Contamination After 78 Sickened In 12 States

A peach recall has expanded to include loose peaches and peach products after 78 people were sickened in 12 states by salmonella poisoning linked to the fruit, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
August 28, 2020 Excess & Surplus Lines Alabama Alaska Arizona California Colorado

Multiple Industries To Be Affected By Nationwide Availability Of Flood Risk Scores

As Hurricane Laura bears down on the Gulf Coast, residents are preparing for what could be a historic storm surge.
August 26, 2020 Property Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California

Rural Missouri Bridge Collapses Under Overweight Semi

A bridge near Westphalia collapsed Monday after a semi-trailer attempted to cross. The Pentecostal Bridge, which takes County Road 611 across the Maries River, had a 5-ton weight limit, Osage County Sheriff Micahel Bonham said.
August 18, 2020 Excess & Surplus Lines Missouri

Two MO Universities File Class Action Against Insurer Over Pandemic Losses

Two universities based in the state of Missouri have filed a class action lawsuit against their shared insurer, arguing that the insurance company denied their business interruption claims for losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 28, 2020 Litigation Missouri

15 Million U.S. Homes Are At Risk Of Flooding — 70% Higher Than FEMA Estimates

Think the risk of your home filling up with floodwater, magnified these days by climate change, is only an issue near the coasts and rivers? New research detailing nearly every corner of the U.S. shows otherwise.
June 29, 2020 Property Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California

Dentist Battles With Insurance Company Over Coverage During Pandemic

Robert Klein has spent more than a decade building his dental practice. He has four offices stretching from Kearney to Kansas City. He’s never closed his doors until this past spring when non-essential businesses were asked to shut down because of COVID-19.
June 26, 2020 Litigation Property Missouri

J&J Loses Bid To Overturn Baby Powder Verdict, But Damages Cut To $2.1 Billion

A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday rejected Johnson & Johnson’s bid to throw out a jury verdict in favor of women who blamed their ovarian cancer on its baby powder and other talc products, but reduced its damages award to $2.12 billion from $4.69 billion.
June 23, 2020 Liability Litigation Missouri

Missouri Homeowners See Insurance Rates RIse 76% In A Decade

Missouri homeowners insurance rates have been climbing at a faster rate than most other US states over the last ten years due to the severe weather affecting the region. A new analysis has measured the growth in rates Missourians are paying as 7th fastest in the country.
May 29, 2020 Property Missouri

Missouri Governor Favors Bill Shielding Health Care Providers, First Responders From Virus-Related Lawsuits

Gov. Mike Parson is signaling his support for a proposal that could shield nursing homes and long-term care facilities from lawsuits linked to the coronavirus response. Under legislation awaiting debate in the Missouri House, health care providers who treat people with COVID-19 would not be liable for civil damages if something were to go wrong.
May 6, 2020 Legislation & Regulation Liability Litigation Missouri

Major Storm System Creates Tornado Outbreak In Central US

A major storm moving through the central U.S. brought at least 17 reported tornadoes to parts of the central U.S., eight in Iowa, three in Arkansas, one in Missouri, four in Illinois and one in Wisconsin.
March 30, 2020 Property Arkansas Illinois Iowa Missouri Wisconsin
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