Brett Tishler, Partner, and Michael Abed, Associate, are back to host the newest episode of Subro Sessions. This is the first of a two-part podcast series, entitled “Workers’ Compensation Subrogation Tales by the Water Cooler: Part I – How to Handle a Case—AKA—What Are We Getting Ourselves Into?” Brett and Michael are joined by a
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Don’t Spoil Me: Oklahoma District Court Rules Against Spoliation Sanctions
In Okla. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Omega Flex, Inc., No. CIV-22-18-D, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 197755, the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (the District Court) determined spoliation sanctions were not warranted after a home was demolished for repair following a joint scene examination.
The insurer, Oklahoma Farm Bureau…
Consumer Product Safety Commission Warning – Stop Using Toos Elite Electric Scooters Due To Fire Hazard
In subrogation cases where the insured’s damages were caused by a defective product, the fact that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about the product at issue may help to establish that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer’s possession and control. On October 23, 2023, the CPSC issued a…
Beware: A Security Company’s Contract May Eliminate Your Causes of Action
In Jewels by Iroff, Inc. v. Securitas Tech. Corp., No. 1:23-CV-556-TWT, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 172391, a Georgia federal court addressed a suit against a security/alarm company arising from a break-in at a jewelry store where the thieves stole over $1 million in jewelry. The court addressed numerous provisions in the alarm company’s contract –…
Risky Business: Contractual Versus Equitable Rights of Subrogation
In Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Infrastructure Eng’g. Inc., 2023 Ill. App. LEXIS 383, the insurer, Zurich American Insurance Company (Insurer) proceeded as subrogee of Community College District No. 508 d/b/a City Colleges of Chicago and CMO, a Joint Venture. The Appellate Court of Illinois, First District (Appellate Court) addressed whether Insurer – who issued…
Drawing the Line: In Tennessee, the Economic Loss Doctrine Does Not Apply to Contracts for Services
In Commercial Painting Co. v. Weitz Co. LLC, No. W2019-02089-SC-R11-CV, 2023 Tenn. LEXIS 39 (Weitz), the Supreme Court of Tennessee (Supreme Court) considered whether the economic loss doctrine barred the plaintiff’s claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and punitive damages arising out of a contract with the defendant for construction services. The court held that the…
Kawasaki Motors USA Recalls Engines Used in Lawn and Garden Equipment
In subrogation cases where the insured’s damages were caused by a defective product, the fact that the product at issue is or was subject to a recall announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may help to establish that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer’s possession and control. On October 26,…
What a Difference a Day Makes: Mississippi’s Discovery Rule
The discovery rule applies to latent injuries, such that the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the plaintiff knows of or should have known of the injury. In Western World Ins. Group v. KC Welding, LLC, No. 2022-CA-00527-SCT, 2023 Miss. LEXIS 278 (KC Welding), a majority of the justices on the Supreme…
Reading the Small Print: A Discussion of Contractual Impediments to Subrogation
Gus Sara, Partner, and Joe Kuffler, Counsel, reunite to host another episode of Subro Sessions, entitled, “Reading the Small Print: A Discussion of Contractual Impediments to Subrogation” to discuss common issues with contractual provisions.
Subrogation professionals run into various contractual provisions, including subrogation waivers, limitation to liability and damages caps, accelerated statute of limitations, indemnification/hold…
Supreme Court Agrees to Consider Standing of Insurers in Chapter 11 Cases

The United States Supreme Court agreed today to review a Fourth Circuit decision that denied an insurer standing to object to an asbestos producer’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan, on the basis that the insurer’s interests were not affected by the plan. The case provides the high court with an opportunity to resolve a recurring issue…