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Madison Park Condominium Association Obtains Multi-Million Dollar Settlement from Property Insurers after Harper│Hayes Prevails on Multiple Summary Judgment Motions

By Insurance Coverage

After discovering ongoing hidden damage behind the exterior walls and roof of its building, a Madison Park Condominium Association contacted Harper│Hayes to assist it in making a claim to its property insurers.  The insurers denied coverage and the firm filed a lawsuit on the Association’s behalf. On a motion for…

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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…

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Prominent Local Contractor Recovers Mid-Seven Figures from Insurer after Harper│Hayes Attorneys Obtain Summary Judgment Order

By Insurance Coverage

The owner of a large mixed-use project asserted claims against the project’s general contractor.  The general contractor then made a request for “additional insured” benefits to its subcontractor’s liability insurer.  The insurer denied both defense and indemnity benefits, asserting that the general contractor was not an additional insured and that…

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Federal Court Rules Liability Insurer Unreasonably Refused to Defend, Estopping It from Denying Coverage

By Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams, Todd Hayes

A general contractor tendered a claim as an “additional insured” to its subcontractor’s liability insurer.  The insurer denied any duty to defend or indemnify on grounds that the general contractor was not an additional insured and that the insurer had no coverage obligations until the subcontractor satisfied a $500,000 self-insured…

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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…

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High Rise Condominium Nets Seven Figures for “Water Damage” Repairs

By Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams, Todd Hayes

Homeowners at a condominium in downtown Seattle recently discovered water damage inside the roof of their condominium. The condominium association retained Harper│Hayes to file a lawsuit against the association’s property insurer, which had denied coverage. Soon after the firm launched a summary judgment motion—arguing the loss was covered and the…

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Court Rules Liability Insurer that Breached Its Duty to Defend Cannot “Cure”

By Charles Davis, Insurance Coverage

A commercial general liability insurer refused to defend its policyholder even though the complaint against the policyholder alleged potentially covered claims.  A year later, after a default judgment was entered against the policyholder, the insurer reconsidered its denial and tried to assume the policyholder’s defense.  A judge in the Western…

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Harper│Hayes Lawyers Obtain Summary Judgment Order that Property Insurance Policies Cover “Faulty Maintenance” and “Wind-Blown Rain”

By Charles Davis, Insurance Coverage, Todd Hayes

A King County Superior Court judge recently ruled that a condominium association’s property insurance policies cover “faulty maintenance,” “wind-blown rain,” and “faulty construction.” The Court also decided that because the policies lacked a so-called “inverse efficient proximate cause” provision, “the Policies cover damage resulting from the combination of excluded and…

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NW Lawyer Publishes Article by Harper│Hayes Attorney Thom Williams

By Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams

The Washington State Bar Association published an article by Harper│Hayes attorney Thom Williams in the December 2017 issue of its “NW Lawyer” magazine.  The article—“Fortune Favors the Insured: The Wide-Reaching Impact of Xia v. ProBuilders”—analyzes a recent coverage decision from the Washington Supreme Court. It’s available at: http://nwlawyer.wsba.org/nwlawyer/dec_2017_jan_2018?pg=23#pg23

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Harper│Hayes Attorney Thom Williams to Present at NBI’s Seminar on Commercial General Liability Policies

By Insurance Coverage, Thom Williams

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…

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