Landlord

WHEN LANDLORD’S CARRIER SUBROGATES AGAINST TENANT IN DELAWARE, READ THE LEASE: Donegal Mut. Ins. Co. v. Thangavel, 2023 WL 4605076 (Del. 2023)

Across the country, landlord/property owners’ insurance carriers’ efforts to subrogate against tenants who cause damage to the owners’ property has become a heavily-litigated issue—with mixed results. The ability of a landlord’s property insurer to subrogate against a tenant for property damage caused by the negligence of the tenant depends on which state the loss occurs…

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Employer Immunity

STATUTORY EMPLOYER IMMUNITY AND THE TWO-CONTRACT THEORY IN LOUISIANA: Stonetrust Com. Ins. Co. v. TBT Contracting, Inc., 2023 WL 4067496 (La. App. 2023)

In Louisiana, when a company undertakes to execute any work which is a part of its trade, business or occupation, and contracts with any subcontractor for the execution of such work, the company is entitled to the exclusive remedy protection of § 23:1032. The company will be liable to pay workers’ compensation benefits to any such…

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MASSACHUSETTS SUPREME COURT PROTECTS DEALERSHIP FROM VICARIOUS LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE OF CUSTOMER DRIVING COURTESY VEHICLE: Garcia v. Steele, 2023 WL 4188359 (Mass. 2023)

Auto subrogation and car dealerships are no strangers to one another. Car dealerships and their insurers routinely seek to hold vehicle test drivers, customers, and other permissive users liable for physical damage to the dealers’ courtesy and rental vehicles and as well as for damages to third parties resulting from the negligent operation of dealership…

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Work Injury Claim Form

The Ten Best and Ten Worst States for Subrogating Workers’ Compensation in 2023

It has been seven years since we first published our rankings of the ten best and ten worst states for workers’ compensation subrogation. Since then, case decisions and legislatures have been busy trying to help trial lawyers destroy workers’ compensation subrogation liens in third-party personal injury cases. Therefore, it is time to revisit our rankings…

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Missouri

A VOICE OF REASON CRIES OUT IN THE MADE WHOLE WILDERNESS: It’s Not Illegal to Subrogate in Missouri Before Insured Made Whole

For years, trial lawyers have been threatening and filing class action lawsuits in multiple states in an effort to thwart their arch nemesis—subrogation. States such as Montana have gone so far as to hold that it is the burden of the subrogated insurance company to determine and prove that its insured has been fully made…

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Delaware

THE CONFUSING STATE OF DELAWARE PIP VS. WORKERS COMPENSATION SUBROGATION: Amguard Insurance Company A/S/O Richard E. Cleveland, 2023 WL 3789445 (Del. Super. 2023)

As is the case in many no-fault states, Delaware employees injured in an automobile accident in the course and scope of employment might be entitled to both workers’ compensation and PIP benefits simultaneously. The Worker’s Compensation Act requires every employer in the state, unless excluded, to provide statutory workers’ compensation benefits to an injured employee.…

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Georgia

MWL Defeats Made-Whole in Georgia!

Georgia has long been the bane of a subrogation professional’s existence. The State features both an anti-subrogation law and a complete compensation (“made-whole”) statute. The combination of these two laws have led many insurers to simply write off the hope of any recoveries on their subrogation claims. If you’ve given up all hope of recovering…

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Vehicle

Recovery of In-House Repair Costs and Loss of Use for Damage to Fleet/Commercial/Dealership Vehicles

One of the most heavily contested types of subrogation cases we encounter involves recovery of the reasonable cost of repairs performed in-house by a commercial fleet, trucking company, auto dealership, or rental car company whose vehicle has been damaged due to the negligence of a negligent third party. The liability carrier for the tortfeasor frequently…

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