After a tenant passed away in one of its properties, a landlord discovered several incomplete and unauthorized modifications made by the tenant which compromised the structural integrity of the building. The landlord’s property insurer denied coverage, asserting that the modifications were did not constitute covered vandalism because the modifications were…
The City of Burien sued the owners of a historic waterfront property after the homeowners removed plants that allegedly damaged an adjacent steep-slope hillside. The homeowners tendered the City’s claim to their liability insurer, which claimed it could not accept or reject the request for insurance benefits pending the insurer’s…
The Washington State Bar Association published an article by Harper│Hayes attorney Thom Williams in the June 2020 issue of its “Washington State Bar News” magazine. The article—“Weathering Coronavirus: How Business Interruption Insurance Could Help Businesses Survive the Pandemic”—provides guidance to business owners regarding potential avenues to obtain coverage for losses…
On December 14, 2017, Harper│Hayes PLLC attorney Thom Williams will join six other attorneys from Seattle’s legal community as faculty for the National Business Institute’s seminar, “Commercial General Liability Policy: The Complete Guide.” Thom’s presentation will focus on an insurer’s duties to defend, indemnify, and settle. Register now or order…
In 2014, a local equipment rental business was sued in an environmental lawsuit involving the cleanup of hazardous materials that had purportedly been released as far back as the 1950s. The business retained Harper | Hayes, which secured a dismissal of the cleanup lawsuit and brought a separate coverage lawsuit…
A garage fire destroyed two award-winning antique cars and a collection of expensive memorabilia. The owner’s property insurer paid for the damage to the garage, but not the cars or memorabilia. When the owner sued the party responsible for the fire, the insurer intervened, and ultimately recovered more than the…