Day: October 10, 2009

Da Corban spin continues: AIA prefers denial while the National Underwriter carries III press release calling it news

Robert Hartwig isn’t the only prostitute (I mean shill) who will say or do anything (and I mean anything) for the right amount of money. Not to be left out and preferring denial over Hartwiggian threats the AIA issued the following press release: (Nowdy isn’t it about time we got some more hits out of Montana on my post about former Bush Groupie Marc Racicot)

The decision issued yesterday in the case of Corban v. USAA by the Mississippi Supreme Court confirms that the water damage exclusion and anti-concurrent causation (ACC) clause – two key issues in Hurricane Katrina litigation — are valid provisions of the insurance contract and will continue to be important to insurers in adjusting wind versus water claims, says the American Insurance Association (AIA).

“First, and most importantly, the Corban decision reaffirms the longstanding flood exclusion provision found in most homeowners’ insurance policies, that expressly excludes coverage for hurricane driven water (or storm surge),” said James Whittle, AIA Assistant General Counsel. “The water damage or flood exclusion has now withstood every post-Katrina court challenge, and remains a part of regulator-approved insurance contracts throughout the country.” .

“Second, the court upheld the use of the ACC clause that was at issue before the court,” said Whittle. “With this ruling the court has provided meaningful guidance to consumers and insurers. Nothing in this decision changes the important role that insurers play in recovery by adjusting claims according to their contracts with policyholders.”

Meantime the National Underwriter has emerged from their months long Corban slumber carrying a III / AIA press release billed as a news story. While I don’t necessarily buy into James’ harsh critique of Anita Lee’s report on Corban it is worth pointing out Anita Continue reading “Da Corban spin continues: AIA prefers denial while the National Underwriter carries III press release calling it news”

The Push Back on Corban

THE PUSH BACK ON CORBAN – “YOU’RE GONNA PAY FOR THIS!“

A few days ago Slabbed carried a Bam Bam post on State Farm’s new 45% rate increase, and the process of “whipsawing.” It explained how State Farm uses the media and purchased politicians to manipulate and scare homeowners in depleted Cat markets, who are compelled by lenders to buy adhesion insurance contracts, and pay ever escalating premiums.

The ink was still wet on that post when 2 days ago the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the ACC clause as interpreted by the notorious, corporation loving 5th Circuit ain’t the law in Mississippi. The tragedy is that hundreds of thousands of claims were illegally mishandled for 4 years before we got word. Anyway, State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide and USAA got bitch slapped, and they’re some kinda pissed. I knew there’d be press statements coming, all calculated to terrorize homeowners as soon as the shills got their poison pens loaded. We all know who they are: Robert Hartwig being foremost among them. So here’s what he comes out with after Corban:

“What this basically suggests is that the cost of claims is going to be higher than insurers anticipated,” Hartwig said, “so there are direct consequences for the price of insurance in Mississippi, and potentially for the availability as well. Continue reading “The Push Back on Corban”

Corban v. USAA

CORBAN v. USAA – THE 1500 DAY GREEK TRAGEDY

Pardon the obvious patronage, but it’s fitting that Slabbed pay homage to the dedicated lawyers and astute circuit judge who were involved in Corban’s journey to the Mississippi Supreme Court. FOR THE PLAINTIFF: Judy Guice; Clyde Gunn; Richard Phillips; Christopher Van Cleave; Neil Harris; William Corban Gunn. THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HARRISON COUNTY: Honorable Lisa Dodson.

Yesterday, October 8, 2009 – exactly one thousand five hundred (1,500) days after Katrina – the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Harrison County Circuit Court erred in applying the Fifth Circuit’s interpretation of an ACC clause.  First, when I say “erred,” that doesn’t mean the Judge botched it. She didn’t. As a matter of fact this particular Judge, Lisa Dodson, did exactly what a judge is supposed to do in this situation – defer. Asked to rule on competing summary judgment motions, Judge Dodson was forced to chose between the devil – in this case 5th Circuit Judge Edith Jones – and the deep blue sea – our own Supreme Court. She did the right thing, though it meant walking with the devil a while. More on “Dodson’s dilemma” below.

First, let’s de-bone Corban. The decision says the ACC clause cannot be used to defeat a wind loss, unless the insurer, by a preponderance of the evidence, first proves that wind and water acted indivisibly, and “contemporaneously converged” in causing the loss. Second, the Court trashed the “in any sequence” language in the ACC, finding it “ambiguous.” So, post Corban, “Mississippi Insurance Law for Dummies” might read something like this: “in Mississippi, the ISO-type ACC clause does not apply to all-risk policy losses, and can’t be legitimately invoked, except in one rare instance: when the loss was caused by the indivisible forces of wind and water, and the insurer can prove it.” In a word, Corban says “you get the loss you bought.” But, as astute Bam Bam readers will see, there’s still a problem.

The heart and soul of Corban is on page 22 of the opinion: “The ACC clause applies only if and when covered and excluded perils contemporaneously converge, operating in conjunction, to cause damage resulting in loss to the insured property.” See the problem yet? Let me re-write the quoted part putting “wind” and “water” where they belong:

“The ACC clause applies only if and when [wind] and [water] perils contemporaneously converge, operating in conjunction, to cause damage resulting in loss to the insured property.” Continue reading “Corban v. USAA”