By

Jason S. Schulze
A key issue that usually surfaces during a maritime subrogation action involving an allision (the striking of one ship upon another ship that is stationary) is the Limitation of Liability Act.  The Limitation of Liability Act generally allows a vessel owner to limit its liability exposure after a maritime incident or casualty to the post-casualty...
It is not unusual to face a situation where a product implicated in a loss is manufactured by a foreign defendant. Typically, the product has been manufactured in another country and distributed by a domestic company or otherwise sold by a domestic retailer. In such situations there can be a reluctance to pursue the foreign...
There are two new sections in the Texas Property Code which will provide protection for developers and their design professionals from actions brought by condominium associations for construction defect or design claims. The impetus for this change grew out of concerns by developers and design professionals that as constituted, the Texas Residential Construction Act (“RCLA”)...
For their senior research project, two young engineering students at George Mason University came across an experiment conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (“DARPA”) in 2012 called “acoustic suppression of flame.” In a nutshell, the experiment focused on whether sound waves could disrupt flames. The research was ultimately abandoned after the agency was...
The Supreme Court of Texas recently revisited the concept of spoliation of evidence in Brookshire Brothers, Ltd. v. Aldridge. The case involved a slip and fall at a Brookshire Brothers grocery store. In discovery, the grocery store produced a video approximately eight minutes in length starting just before the plaintiff entered the store and concluding...
As the State of Texas continues to enjoy strong population growth, condominiums will continue to proliferate particularly in Texas’ largest cities. For subrogation professionals who occasionally see claims associated with condominium associations, it is helpful to have an understanding of the Texas Uniform Condominium Act (“UCA”) and how it may affect potential subrogation rights. The...
Claims handlers for insurers of goods being transported by road in Europe would be well served to familiarize themselves with what is commonly referred to as the “CMR Convention” (“CMR”). The CMR (which became operative in July of 1961) is actually entitled the “Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road”...
If you are a subrogation professional who handles construction defect claims in Texas, you may have heard references to the case of Ewing Construction Company v. Amerisure Insurance Company, 684 F.3d 512 (5th Cir. 2012).  In Ewing, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held that an insurer had no duty to defend its insured subcontractor...
In Fortis Benefits v. Cantu, 234 S.W.3d 642 (Tex.2007), the Texas Supreme Court held that the “made whole” doctrine does not apply where the parties’ agreed contract provides a clear and specific right of subrogation. Despite this ruling, the Austin Court of Appeals was recently confronted with a situation where a trial court attempted to...
Over the last several years, the insurance industry has experienced significant losses due to wildfires. In many instances, the wildfires resulted from the carelessness of a camper, or the criminal conduct of an arsonist. Wildfires have also been caused by damaged power lines, or fallen utility poles. One other potential cause of large-scale wildfires involves...
1 2