Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Protect Yourself And Your (Small Or Big) Business
How Florida’s Business Judgment Rule Protects Corporate Directors One of the main reasons that people create a legal entity for their business, such as a corporation or a limited liability company, is for liability protection. That is to say, such entities shield individual owners or directors from personal liability for actions taken by the… Read More »
Do I Need Florida Uninsured Motorist Coverage In My Auto Policy?
If you own a car in Florida, you should know that you are required to carry a certain minimum amount of auto insurance. Florida is a “no-fault” state, your insurance is expected to pay for any personal injury that you sustain in an accident. But this personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is often insufficient… Read More »
Can An Insurance Company Prevent An Assignment Of Benefits?
Historically, Florida common law has allowed parties to assign their contractual rights to third parties. There are some exceptions–such as agreements involving personal service obligations or that otherwise violate public policy–but generally speaking, one party cannot prohibit the other from assigning their rights under a contract. And although Florida statutes state that a contract… Read More »
Understanding What Specific Damage Is Covered By An Insurance Policy
Even when an insurance company is required to cover some damages arising from a specific event, such as water damage, that does not necessarily mean the policy covers all damages incidental to the event. Of course, an insurer is required to pay a valid claim in good faith. But they are not under any… Read More »
Are Appraisal Provisions In Insurance Contracts Binding On Third Party Assignees?
Homeowner’s insurance policies often contain appraisal clauses. Appraisal is a form of alternative dispute resolution similar to arbitration. In its simplest form, an appraisal clause states that if the parties disagree as to the amount of an insured loss, each side will appoint an independent appraiser. If the appraisers cannot agree on a value,… Read More »
Tampa Judge: Business Liability Insurers Not Responsible For Claim Made Prior To Policy Period
Insurance disputes often involve complex questions of law and contract interpretation. Yet many cases boil down to a single question: Does the insurance policy actually cover the claim at issue? Sometimes this question proves relatively easy to answer. For example, there is this recent decision from a federal judge in Tampa, Ditech Financial LLC… Read More »
Is It “Bad Faith” For An Insurance Company To Include A Proposed Release With A Settlement Offer?
Florida law requires all insurance companies to act in good faith when approving, denying, or settling claims. An insurer that fails in this duty may face a bad faith lawsuit from an aggrieved policyholder or third-party victim. In defending against such claims, however, the person alleging bad faith still has to present evidence in… Read More »
When Are Insurance Companies Obligated To Honor A Coblentz Agreement?
Insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith when handling an insured party’s claims. This often includes defending the insured against lawsuits that are within the scope of a policy. If an insurer wrongfully refuses to provide such a defense, the insured can settle the case themselves in exchange for the plaintiff… Read More »
Will “Business Interruption” Insurance Cover COVID-19 Related Losses?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant disruption to many Florida business owners. It has also led to litigation over the scope of “business interruption” insurance. In other words, if a business loses revenue due to pandemic-related restrictions, does that qualify as an insurable loss? The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th… Read More »
What The CDC’s New 60-Day Eviction Moratorium Means For Florida Renters
In early August, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new 60-day moratorium on residential evictions in certain parts of the country that continue to experience a “high community transmission” rate of the COVID-19 virus. This includes most of Florida. So if you are a Florida resident currently behind on… Read More »
