Entries by NCBARBLOG

How I Emerged Refined: My Moot Court Experience

By Nnenna N. Olu, Esq. As I reflect on my time as a student at North Carolina Central University School of Law and the wholesome academic experience that I gained, I am forever grateful for all the pieces that came together to make me the well-rounded attorney I am today. One piece of the puzzle […]

Vince Lombardi, ‘Groundhog Day’ and the Pursuit of Perfection

By Russell Rawlings What, pray tell, does legendary football coach Vince Lombardi have in common with the comedic actor Bill Murray? The pursuit of perfection. “Perfection,” Lombardi famously stated, “is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” As for Murray, it wasn’t what he said about perfection, it was what his […]

Proposed Pattern Jury Instructions, Comment Requested

The Insurance Law Section Council prepared and approved last spring four proposed Pattern Jury Instructions relating to insurance litigation.  Those proposed instructions, which may be seen on the Section website, cover the following topics: First-party bad faith; Expected or intended injury exclusion in CGL policy; Expected or intended injury exclusion in homeowners’ policy; and UM/UIM […]

Mere Disagreement With Claim Valuation Not Enough For Unfair And Deceptive Trade Practice Or Bad Faith Claim Against Insurer

By Daniel J. Knight  In a recent unpublished decision, the North Carolina Court of Appeals reviewed whether an insurer’s handling of a claim constituted, inter alia, an unfair and deceptive trade practice.  Jackson v. Century Mutual Ins. Co., 2017 WL 3863901 (N.C. App. 2017).  Split 2-to-1, the Court ultimately affirmed summary judgment for the insurer. […]

Late Notice Under Claims-Made Policy Torpedoes Claim

By James W. Bryan A recent ruling by the federal district court in Raleigh, NC highlights the different treatment the courts give to the late notice defense under a claims-made liability insurance policy versus an occurrence-based policy.  The insurer has a clearer opportunity under claims-made policies to defeat coverage when the insured’s notice of a […]

Reservation Of Rights Letter Found Insufficient By South Carolina Supreme Court

By William Lipscomb The South Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision on July 26, 2017, which provides some good information regarding the purposes and requirements of reservation of rights (ROR) letters.  The Court held in Harleysville Group Insurance Corporation v. Heritage Communities, Inc., 803 S.E.2d 288 (S.C. 2017), that an insurer’s ROR letter in a […]