McGuireWoods Insurance Lawyers Help Overturn "Pro-Insurer" 5th U.S. Circuit Decision
August 13, 2012
THE RESULTS OF ALL CLIENT MATTERS DEPEND ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH MATTER. PAST SUCCESSES DO NOT PREDICT OR GUARANTEE FUTURE SUCCESSES.
Austin lawyers Mark Lawless and Pam Hopper recently co-authored an amicus curiae brief filed in an important insurance case pending in the 5th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals. On June 15, 2012, the 5th Circuit issued a pro-insurer
decision in Ewing Construction Co., Inc. v. Amerisure Ins. Co., No.
11-40512, holding that the contractual liability exclusion in a construction
contractor's CGL policy eliminates the insurer's duty to defend if the
contractor assumes liabilities in a construction contract – in this case,
liabilities for alleged faulty construction of tennis courts. Lawless and Hopper
joined 10 other Texas policyholder lawyers in filing an amicus curiae
brief in support of Ewing's Petitions for Rehearing and En Banc
Rehearing. On Aug. 8, 2012, the 5th Circuit withdrew its opinion and certified
the issue to the Texas Supreme Court – a potential victory for Texas
policyholders.