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Full-Text Articles in Insurance Law

The Deterrence Case For Comprehensive Automaker Enterprise Liability, Kyle D. Logue Jan 2019

The Deterrence Case For Comprehensive Automaker Enterprise Liability, Kyle D. Logue

Journal of Law and Mobility

This Article lays out the potential (at this point purely theoretical) deterrence benefits of replacing our current auto tort regime (including auto products liability law, driver-based negligence claims, and auto no-fault regimes) with a single, comprehensive automaker enterprise liability system. This new regime would apply not only to Level 5 vehicles, but to all automobiles made and sold to be driven on public roads. Because such a system would make automakers unconditionally responsible for the economic losses resulting from any crashes of their vehicles, it would in effect make automakers into auto insurers as well, although such a change will …


"Supervisor" Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment Claims, Liability Insurance, And The Trend Towards Negligence, Amanda D. Smith Oct 1997

"Supervisor" Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment Claims, Liability Insurance, And The Trend Towards Negligence, Amanda D. Smith

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

A lack of settled standards for determining liability in supervisor hostile environment sexual harassment lawsuits combined with similar uncertainty in the context of employer liability insurance coverage has resulted in increased litigation in this area. This Note argues that the current predominant standard in the employer liability context, which is based on negligence principle should be rejected in favor of an apparent authority standard, which more appropriately strikes a balance between encouraging employers to identify harassing behaviors and exonerating them from liability when they do so and take appropriate remedial action. It further argues that in order to develop effective …


A Theory Of Insurance Policy Interpretation, Kenneth S. Abraham Dec 1996

A Theory Of Insurance Policy Interpretation, Kenneth S. Abraham

Michigan Law Review

The first principle of insurance law is captured by the maxim contra proferentem, which directs that ambiguities in a contract be interpreted "against the drafter," who is almost always the insurer. Yet given the modern recognition that language is an inherently imperfect instrument for communicating meaning, insurance policy provisions are in a sense always ambiguous. Moreover, in addition to contra proferentem, policyholders may invoke such allied doctrines as waiver, estoppel, and the rule that the reasonable expectations of the insured should be honored even if those expectations are unambiguously contradicted by fine-print provisions in the policy. Contra proferentem and these …


Private Insurance As A Solution To The Driver-Guest Dilemm, Harvey R. Friedman Jan 1964

Private Insurance As A Solution To The Driver-Guest Dilemm, Harvey R. Friedman

Michigan Law Review

The duty of the driver of an automobile to his nonpaying passenger, and liability arising from the breach of that duty, has long presented a troublesome area of litigation for the courts and the parties involved. Application of standards unsuited for the peculiar risks of automotive transportation has produced inadequate compensation in some cases and excessive recoveries in others. Meanwhile, trial calendars are overcrowded with personal injury litigation, and insurance companies must bear the awards of sympathetic juries and those resulting from collusion between passenger and driver. The over-all expense of this method of determination of liability, far too little …


Concurrent Causation In Insurance Contracts, William Conant Brewer Jr. Jun 1961

Concurrent Causation In Insurance Contracts, William Conant Brewer Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A great deal of work and thought has been devoted to concurrent causation problems in the field of torts. Less attention has been paid to the insurance cases, and no serious effort has been made to formulate the separate rules applicable to them. It is the thesis of this article that concurrent causation problems which arise under an insurance contract must be handled somewhat differently from those which arise in connection with tort litigation, and that the tendency to borrow rules of law from the larger tort field and apply them to the smaller volume of insurance cases can only …


Contacts - Subrogation - Partial Subrogation Of A Cause Of Action For Personal Injuries, Jerome M. Salle Jun 1961

Contacts - Subrogation - Partial Subrogation Of A Cause Of Action For Personal Injuries, Jerome M. Salle

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, an incorporated home for the aged, provided all essential medical care to one of its residents under the provisions of a life-care contract between it and the resident. On the basis of a contract clause which purported to subrogate plaintiff to the right of the resident to recover medical expenses caused by the negligence of third parties, plaintiff brought an action to recover certain medical expenses incurred from the party who was allegedly responsible for the injuries and death of the resident. The trial court sustained a demurrer to the complaint for failure to state a cause of action …


Green: Traffic Victims. Tort Law And Insurance, Spencer L. Kimball Apr 1959

Green: Traffic Victims. Tort Law And Insurance, Spencer L. Kimball

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Traffic Victims. Tort Law and Insurance. By Leon Green.


Insurance - Settlement - Extent Of Insurer's Liability For Wrongful Refusal To Settle When Subsequent Judgment Exceeds Policy Limits, Michael B. Lewiston Mar 1959

Insurance - Settlement - Extent Of Insurer's Liability For Wrongful Refusal To Settle When Subsequent Judgment Exceeds Policy Limits, Michael B. Lewiston

Michigan Law Review

The insured, while driving a borrowed truck, injured plaintiff and his wife. Defendant, insurer on a policy which contained liability limits of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident, was notified of the accident but refused to defend the subsequent suit against the insured on the ground that plaintiff's claim was not covered by the policy. Defendant refused an offer to settle the claim for $4,000 solely on the basis of its belief as to coverage, though it was aware that the insured was financially unable to effect his own settlement. A judgment of $25,000 for a plaintiff and $1,250 …


Insurance - Recovery - Delay Of Insurance Company In Rejecting Application For Insurance, Harry D. Krause S.Ed. Feb 1958

Insurance - Recovery - Delay Of Insurance Company In Rejecting Application For Insurance, Harry D. Krause S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, designated as beneficiary by deceased life insurance applicant, sued defendant life insurance company in assumpsit. Deceased, a combat pilot in the Korean War, had applied for one of defendant's policies, passed the medical examination, and made several premium payments on the policy. After the applicant was killed in combat defendant refused payment, contending that it had never accepted the risk but that it had responded to the application with a counter offer containing an aviation waiver. Because of ·the applicant's frequent change of address and his early death this proposal had never been communicated to him. On appeal from …


Lnsurance-Recovery-Insurer's Liability On Statutory Automobile Liability Policy For Assault By Agent Of Insured, George B. Berridge Apr 1953

Lnsurance-Recovery-Insurer's Liability On Statutory Automobile Liability Policy For Assault By Agent Of Insured, George B. Berridge

Michigan Law Review

The negligence of a taxicab driver in backing his cab into plaintiff's automobile caused the bumpers of the two cars to lock. When plaintiff stepped out to inspect the situation, he was, without provocation, brutally beaten by the cab driver. Plaintiff recovered a judgment of $3,000 against the driver and the cab owner, and sought to garnishee the defendant, an insurance company which had issued to the cab owner a policy of automobile liability insurance. In 1946, when the assault occurred, the Illinois Motor Vehicle Law required the owner of a vehicle for the carriage of passengers for hire to …


Civil Procedure-Parties-Real Party In Interest When Insurer Has Equitable Interest In Claim, Warren K, Urbom S.Ed. Feb 1953

Civil Procedure-Parties-Real Party In Interest When Insurer Has Equitable Interest In Claim, Warren K, Urbom S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued for damages to his fruit and grocery market which were allegedly caused by the negligence of defendant. Interrogatories were submitted by defendant designed to determine whether or not plaintiff had been paid the full amount of his loss by an insurance company and had assigned his claim to that company. The trial court sustained a motion to strike the interrogatories. On appeal, held, reversed, two judges dissenting. Although a tortfeasor cannot defeat an action by the insured by showing full subrogation of the insurer, he can plead an assignment of the insured's claim to show that the …


Torts--Inducing Breach Of Contract--Attorney-Client Contingent Fee Contract, Richard W. Pogue Mar 1952

Torts--Inducing Breach Of Contract--Attorney-Client Contingent Fee Contract, Richard W. Pogue

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a practicing attorney, undertook on a contingent fee basis to represent a husband and wife in separate claims for damages alleged to have been suffered by them through the negligence of the driver of a motor vehicle. The driver was insured under a policy issued by defendant. Defendant had notice of the contract. After plaintiff had started suit on the damage claim and as the case was about to be tried, defendant's adjusters, without knowledge on the plaintiff's part, allegedly induced the clients to discharge the plaintiff (and "thereby break their contingent fee contract with him") and subsequently to …


Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed. Nov 1950

Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Under an ordinary automobile insurance policy, P insurance company promised to defend and indemnify Harvey for any suit arising from an accident involving his use of the insured truck. Collier sued Harvey in a state court alleging injuries due to the negligent use of the insured truck by two Harvey employees. Before judgment thereon, P, incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin, sued Harvey and Collier, citizens of Oklahoma, in the federal court. P sought a declaratory judgment on the grounds that (a) at the time of the accident the employees were under the control and supervision of the City …


Insurance - Right Of Insurer To Be Subrogated To Claim Of Insured Against A Third Person Where It Has Paid A Claim On Which It Was Not Liable, Michigan Law Review Jun 1942

Insurance - Right Of Insurer To Be Subrogated To Claim Of Insured Against A Third Person Where It Has Paid A Claim On Which It Was Not Liable, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff paid insured for damage done to his building because of the defendant's negligence, and received a subrogation receipt from the insured. Plaintiff now sues for damages in its own name and for its own benefit. The policy provided that it should be void if the insured did not have sole and unconditional ownership of the property. Title to the damaged property was in the name of the insured's wife, and therefore the policy was void. Held, since the insurer was not obligated under the policy, it was a mere volunteer, and could not be subrogated to the insured's …


Judgments - Declaratory Judgments - Action For Declaration Of Noinliability Under Insurance Policy, Arthur M. Hoffeins Apr 1942

Judgments - Declaratory Judgments - Action For Declaration Of Noinliability Under Insurance Policy, Arthur M. Hoffeins

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff insurance company sought a declaratory judgment that the person to whom its insured had transferred his automobile was not protected by the policy for damages caused to others, such transfer without the consent of the plaintiff being contrary to the terms of the policy. Held, that since by statute the insurer was made directly liable to the injured party, plaintiff was not entitled to a declaration of noncoverage, since it could not isolate one defense and try it in advance, leaving undecided issues involving the negligence of the person to whom the automobile was transferred. New Amsterdam Casualty …


Insurance - Delay In Acting On Application - Tort Liability, William C. Wetherbee Jr. Jan 1941

Insurance - Delay In Acting On Application - Tort Liability, William C. Wetherbee Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Appellant, administrator of the deceased's estate, sued the defendant for damages caused by its negligent failure to accept or reject deceased's application for life insurance within a reasonable time. A deposit had been made on the premium, and, but for the delay, the policy would have been approved and the deceased covered by it at the time of his death. The jury returned a verdict for the appellant, who appealed when the judge rendered judgment non obstante veredicto in favor of appellee. Held, that the insurance company was under no duty to accept or reject the application within a …


Insurance-Delay In Acting On Application-Tort Liability Mar 1935

Insurance-Delay In Acting On Application-Tort Liability

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued for damages for alleged negligence of defendant in failing to take action within a reasonable time upon plaintiff's application for a policy of health and accident insurance, plaintiff having paid defendant's soliciting agent the premium quoted by him. Held, there is no liability, since there is no duty for defendant to accept or reject an application within a reasonable time. Schliep v. Commercial Casualty Ins. Co., 191 Minn. 479, 254 N. W. 618 (1934).


Insurance - Failure To Act Promptly On Application - Tort Liability Of Insurer Jan 1934

Insurance - Failure To Act Promptly On Application - Tort Liability Of Insurer

Michigan Law Review

Although mere delay in passing upon an application for insurance cannot, as a rule, be construed as an acceptance of the offer for a contract of insurance, in recent years some courts have held insurance companies liable in tort where there has been delay in acting upon the policy and the loss sought to be insured against has occurred in the meantime. Plaintiff, to sustain a cause of action in tort, must prove negligence on the part of the insurer, or its agents, and that the policy would have been issued to the applicant but for the negligence. The suit …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1922

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Admiralty - Workmen's Compensation - Is a Hydroplane a Vessel? - Claimant was employed in the care and management of a hydroplane which was moored in navigable waters. The hydroplane began to drag anchor and drift toward the beach, where it was in danger of being wrecked. Claimant waded into the water and was struck by the propeller. Held, claimant is not entitled to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Law, since a hydroplane while on navigable waters is a vessel, and therefore the jurisdiction of the admiralty excludes that of the State Industrial Commission. Reinhardt v. Newport Flying Service Corp. …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Mar 1922

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Carriers of Passengers - Duty to Stop at Station to Permit Passenger to Alight-Contributory Negligence of Passenger Plaintiff's intestate was riding in the front end of a crowded vestibule car in the coach next to the tender of the eengine. When the train stopped at his station he tried to leave by the front end, but found the door from the vestibule closed. As he did not know how to open it, or was unwilling to be carried by his station, he stepped from his platform to the bumper of the tender and tried to follow it to the side …


Lake Superior Mining Co. V. Catharine Erickson, Thomas M. Cooley Dec 1878

Lake Superior Mining Co. V. Catharine Erickson, Thomas M. Cooley

Articles

"Where a mining company let a contract for taking out a certain quantity of ore, but employed persons of supposed skill to watch for dangers from loosened rocks, and in other ways retained a control over the mode of mining, and a servant of the contractors was killed by the falling of a rock, the danger from which ought to have been detected and guarded against: Held, that the mining company was responsible."