Skip to main content

Harper | Hayes Wins Insurance Coverage for California-Based Manufacturer of Steel Building Products Involved in Dispute with Project Owner

By Greg Harper, Thom Williams

A leading manufacturer of steel building products agreed to provide complete design and engineering as well as labor and materials to construct five pre-engineered metal buildings in Snohomish, Washington.  After a dispute arose with the Project Owner over allegedly defective and non-conforming work, the manufacturer sought insurance coverage from its…

Read More

Church Facing Sexual Abuse Allegations Retains Harper | Hayes to Secure Insurance Coverage To Defend and Resolve All Abuse Claims

By Greg Harper

A church faced a sexual abuse lawsuit many years after an employee committed sex crimes against a minor parishioner.  The church then sought insurance coverage from one of its liability insurers to defend and indemnify against the lawsuit.  The liability insurance company sought to limit its insurance coverage for the…

Read More

Kirkland Landlord Recovers Mid-Six Figures from Property Insurer to Repair Unauthorized Structural Modifications made by Tenant

By Greg Harper, Thom Williams

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…

Read More

Federal Court Rules Directors and Officers Liability Insurer Unreasonably Breached Duty to Defend

By Charles Davis, Greg Harper

Former board members and staff representatives of a membership-based, not-for-profit Cooperative were sued over a board resolution that many of the Cooperative’s members opposed.  The Cooperative’s Directors and Officers insurer refused to defend the former board members and representatives based on information that was not in the complaint—the insurer had…

Read More

Perkins Lane Homeowner Secures Six-Figure Settlement in Property Insurance Lawsuit Over Impact Damage Caused by Construction Debris

By Greg Harper, Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams

A home located on Perkins Lane in Magnolia was damaged by a large set of concrete stairs that was negligently dropped by a contractor on a steep hillside above the home.  The homeowner’s property insurer paid for some, but not all, of the damage.  When the homeowner sued to the…

Read More

Court Rules Insurer that Waited To Take Coverage Position Until After Being Sued Acted in Bad Faith, Cannot “Cure”

By Greg Harper, Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams

A liability insurer failed to take a coverage position for over a year after its policyholder requested a defense. Two weeks after being sued, the insurer offered to defend, then argued its belated offer “cured” any breach of its duty to defend. On summary judgment, a Western District of Washington…

Read More

Harper│Hayes Obtains Multi-Million Dollar Settlement for Condominium Association Client on the Eve of Trial

By Construction Defects, Greg Harper, Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams

In 2016, the President of the Board of a large condominium contacted the firm, initially inquiring whether insurance would cover water damage to 80,000 square feet of roof structure. Investigation revealed that the water intrusion was caused by the defective work of the roofing contractor that installed the roofing system…

Read More

Harper | Hayes Negotiates Multi-Million Dollar Settlement in Favor of Local Business in Environmental Insurance Coverage Action

By Greg Harper, Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams

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…

Read More

Scotsman Guide Article by Greg Harper On Property Insurance Issues Arising in Commercial and Multi-Family Sales Transactions

By Greg Harper, Insurance Coverage

Greg Harper, a founding member of Harper | Hayes, authored an article in the November, 2009 edition of the Scotsman Guide, entitled “Property Insurance Between Owners.” In the article, Greg examines several insurance issues that arise in the purchase and sale of commercial and multi-family properties. A copy of the…

Read More