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#1 |
Nomadic Tribesman
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brampton, Canada
Moto: '09 ER-6n
Posts: 11,150
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From: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6168688.html
Insurance loophole claimed in fire deaths Company says smoke that killed 3 was 'pollution' By MARY FLOOD Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Dec. 17, 2008, 6:33AM An insurance company with a potential $25 million liability from a 2007 Houston office fire is claiming smoke that killed three people was "pollution" and surviving families shouldn't be compensated for their losses since the deaths were not caused directly by the actual flames. Great American Insurance Company is arguing in a Houston federal court that the section of the insurance policy that excludes payments for pollution — like discharges or seepage that require cleanup — would also exclude payouts for damages, including deaths, caused by smoke, or pollution, that results from a fire. "This is shocking. It's an extraordinary effort by an insurance company to avoid paying on a contract for insurance," said Randy Sorrels, who represents several family members in wrongful death lawsuits from the fire in a six-story atrium building on the North Loop. Great American has asked U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal to find that the deaths caused by the smoke, fumes and soot from the March 2007 fire set by a nurse working in the building will not be covered by the policy because there is a specific exclusion for pollution and it mentions smoke, fumes and soot. 'We think it is wrong' "This took me by surprise," said Don Jackson, the Houston lawyer for building owners Boxer Property Management Corp. He said the insurance company that has the primary $1 million policy on the premises hasn't made this argument and he disagrees with the effort by excess insurance carrier Great American. "We think it is wrong. It's inappropriate for the insurance company to try to run and hide now," said Jackson. In October, vocational nurse Misty Ann Weaver was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of felony murder and one count of first-degree arson for setting the fire to conceal that she had failed to complete paperwork on time. Great American's legal request, filed in late November and set for hearings in February, notes that there are four pending lawsuits against the property owners for wrongful death and injury, and contends that the insurance company should not have to pay on any of them. Kevin Sewell, the Dallas lawyer who filed the request, did not return phone calls Tuesday afternoon. Great American spokeswoman Diane Weidner said company policy is to not comment on pending litigation. Seth Chandler, a University of Houston Law Center professor who teaches insurance law, said while the insurance company's maneuver wasn't out of bounds, it will test the limits of the law. "This is pushing the boundaries of the absolute pollution exclusion," Chandler said. "We're going to have a battle between the literal language of the policy and the way people speak of pollution." A question of semantics He said the issue is an ongoing conversation between the courts and the insurance industry. Chandler said he doesn't know of any other Texas cases on this issue. Nationwide, he said, even carbon monoxide poisoning has been found to be covered by insurance despite a pollution exclusion. Tom Baker, an insurance law expert who teaches at Penn Law school, said property insurance has a long history of being designed for fire coverage and excluding a fire's smoke is applying the law too broadly. But, he said, smoke can be tricky and Texas may be a state where the literal meaning could be considered rather than common understanding. "The purpose of a pollution exclusion is not to not cover people who die from smoke inhalation in a fire," Baker said. "I would hope they (the insurers) lose this." mary.flood@chron.com |
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#2 |
Issukangitok
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Biloxi, MS
Moto: '06 Suzuki Boulevard C50T
Posts: 2,225
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Holy shit, these guys are evil lying sacks of crooked shit. I thought the insurance theives were bad down here.
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What goes around comes around. Sometimes you get what's coming around, and sometimes you are what's coming around. You see what I mean? |
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#3 |
Follower
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,549
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Fucking disgusting.
I hope the insurer loses and then loses again when they get sued for court costs and attorney fees. |
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#4 |
Follower
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,549
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Come to think of it, Great American my be who my bike insurance is through.
I'll check my policy when I get home. If so, I'll cancel it tonight. |
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#5 |
Like Gixxxxer But Not
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Dirty Jersey
Moto: 2008 ZX6R
Posts: 4,891
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That makes me Sick.
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[FRSH] Candy Plasma Blue |
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#6 |
Alleged Puppy Pimper
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PA
Moto: Shadow 750 Ace
Posts: 2,135
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why the fuck do these companies get more rights than the citizens. if i tried to defraud an insurance company; i'd be in jail for 5 years and have to pay back the money. if the insurance company tries to defraud me, the worst that can happen is they have to pay out
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Opinions are nothing like assholes, opinions are like vaginas, less then half of everyone has one, everyone else uses one that isn't their own, and there is no better way to fit in or be cast out than to share yours |
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#7 |
Letzroll
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lake Norman area, NC
Moto: 07 Red R1 & 07 Blue R6
Posts: 5,265
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