Represent the Pac-12 Conference in an insurance dispute in connection with a charge brought by the National College Players Association claiming that the Pac-12 Conference and the USC are violating the National Labor Relations Act by refusing to classify student athletes as employees.
Achieved partial summary judgment in favor of insurer client ruling that the “absolute pollution exclusion” in a commercial general liability insurance policy should be applied to exclude a claim of bodily injury caused by carbon monoxide in a home. The court found a question of fact as to whether an exception to the exclusion applied, and the case will proceed on that limited issue.
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Represented a major sports franchise operator in connection with pari-mutuel wagering issues.
The Eastern District of Tennessee granted summary judgment to our client, a property insurer, in an insurance coverage dispute. The District Court held that the commercial property insurance policy at issue was void for lack of an insurable interest following the sale of the covered apartment building by the insured without notifying our client, the policy was not assignable without our client's written consent, and the purchaser was not an assignee or an intended third-party beneficiary of the policy. The purchaser appealed, however the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision by the Eastern District of Tennessee granting summary judgment to our client.
The New York Appellate Division Third Department affirmed the Supreme Court's dismissal of all claims against a liability insurer in an environmental coverage litigation brought by the State of New York, arising from a petroleum discharge from an upstate New York gas station. Agreeing that coverage was excluded under our client’s liability policies, the court granted our motion for summary judgment while denying summary judgment motions brought by two of the other liability insurers of the company that supplied petroleum to the station, which the State had claimed was the responsible discharger under the NY Navigation Law.
Represented a major national bank and its subsidiary in an insurance coverage dispute involving cash transported in armored cars. A unanimous New York State Appellate Division, First Department panel ruled in favor of our clients, finding that the "in transit" clause of the insurance policy also covers theft by the armored car company's executives while the money was in their vault as part of the contracted-for delivery process.
Representing the credit investing arm of a publicly traded private equity firm, with $19 billion under management, in a dispute with insurers over payment of disability benefits under a multimillion dollar "key man" policy insuring our client's former co-chief executive officer.
Representing the sponsor of a Brooklyn, NY condominium development in litigation with the project's construction manager and contractors arising from claims by the condominium's board of managers that work in accordance with an offering plan under which the condominium's units were sold was not adequately performed.
Represented an insurance producer embroiled in an arbitration with a former client over unpaid commissions. The arbitration resulted in a recovery of over $1 million.
Advice to an insurer on providing stop loss insurance to large employers which provide group health insurance coverage to their retirees under self-funded welfare benefit arrangement plans (Section 419E plans under ERISA).
Represented a major Bermudian reinsurer in forming a limited medical benefit indemnity plan for members of an association which included reimbursement for in-patient hospital procedures, surgical benefits, doctor visits, emergency treatment, and accidental death and dismemberment benefits. We helped the reinsurer choose the most appropriate structure to reinsure the plan, drafted the necessary policy and treaty documentation, and analyzed pertinent regulatory issues.
Represent a German investment firm with respect to its investment portfolio of U.S. life insurance policies. In addition to providing advice concerning life settlement laws and regulations in various jurisdictions, Herrick has also represented the company in litigation on its disputed claims in multiple jurisdictions. In 2012, Herrick procured a multi-million dollar settlement for the client, almost 90 percent of the policy value, in New Jersey federal litigation in which the carrier contested the claim as a likely STOLI ("stranger originated life insurance") policy. More recently, in 2013, Herrick settled a large claim filed in Pennsylvania federal court in which our client received approximately 70 percent of the policy value in a case where the age of the insured, a former Syrian national, was disputed. Herrick will continue to represent the client on U.S. claims going forward.
Represented a European insurer in structuring an aggregate declared risk capacity contract under which the insurer will provide insurance capacity to one of the world's leading engineering and construction companies for certain lines of insurance, including a cost overrun insurance program for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Represented a European insurer in drafting an insurance policy for a large French food product company with worldwide operations. The policy covers certain risks not covered by the insured's other insurance policies, such as business interruption losses arising from an act of terrorism resulting in the contamination of the insured's food products.
Represented a major European insurer in designing and drafting an insurance policy covering political risks of an insured's non-European operations (for example, forced abandonment of a foreign country due to a governmental evacuation order). We drafted the policy to address the unique risks facing the insured, such as the potential loss of business income due to the cessation of the insured's operations of a railway in Africa. We also designed it to combine other risks such as pollution liability and coverage for the insured's construction projects.
Represented a risk retention group in litigation against a housing authority over whether an insurance policy excluded a judgment against the housing authority for exposure to pollution. In a case of first impression under Illinois law, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of our client, holding that the absolute pollution exclusion excluded coverage for an underlying $10 million judgment against the insured based upon exposure to pollutants, even though the insured did not actively cause the pollution, and even though the pollution originated off-site and migrated to the insured's property. (Housing Authority Risk Retention Group, Inc. v. Chicago Housing Authority, 378 F.3d 596 (7th Cir. 2004))
Successfully represented a prominent insurance managing agent and reinsurance company in their claims of legal malpractice against former counsel arising from insurance agreements prepared by the defendant, a New York-based insurance law firm.
Successfully represented an insurer in a dispute with a building owner over whether coverage existed under its commercial property insurance policy for over $1 million in claimed property damage caused by an underground water supply line rupture.
Represented an insurer with respect to the regulatory and administrative aspects of its rebate programs, including audit advice as well as representation in disputes with pharmacy benefits managers.
Represented a professional medical practice in connection with the license and turnkey delivery of nuclear cardiology imaging equipment and operation.
Represented a major real estate investment and service company in its acquisition and financing of a five-state, 14-property portfolio of residential rental and condominium apartment complexes. The portfolio was financed through 14 first mortgage loans and 12 mezzanine loans, culminating in a four-day closing.
