ERISA/Life & Accident Insurance:
Tegu-Watkins v. Hartford Life and Accident Ins. Co., 8:24-cv-02722-CEH-AAS (M.D. Fla., Sep. 25, 2026 (Edwards Honeywell, J.) (granting Hartford’s motion for summary judgment and denying Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, holding that Hartford’s denial of Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits was not de novo wrong because Plaintiff failed to prove that Richard Watkins’s death resulted from a covered injury that was independent of illness, as required by the policy; and further holding that Plaintiff abandoned her breach of fiduciary duty claim). https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2024-02722-56-8-cv
Liability Insurance:
Illinois Union Ins. Co. v. The Vue Pasco LLC, et al., 8:23-cv-01414-MSS-NHA (M.D. Fla., Sep. 25, 2026 (Scriven, J.) (granting Defendants’ motion to exclude Illinois Union’s underwriting expert, holding that his opinions improperly offered legal conclusions on Illinois Union’s compliance with the Policy without reference to any industry standards or customs; granting in part and denying in part Illinois Union’s motion to exclude Defendants’ underwriting expert, holding that while some opinions constituted factual conclusions to be excluded, testimony regarding industry standards and underwriting practices was permissible; denying Illinois Union’s motions to strike declaration of The Vue’s corporate representative, holding that the declarations were largely consistent with his deposition testimony and that any inconsistencies affected credibility and weight of evidence, not admissibility under the sham-affidavit doctrine; denying as moot The Vue and CTC’s motion to strike notices of joinder because the underlying summary judgment motions were denied; and denying Defendants’ motion to strike declaration of Illinois Union’s corporate representative, holding that the declaration generally supplemented rather than contradicted prior testimony). https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2023-01414-225-8-cv
Ohio Security Ins. Co. v. Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc. et al., 2:25-cv-00581-SPC-NPM (M.D. Fla., Sep. 21, 2026 (Polster Chappell, J.) (denying Ohio Surety’s motion for prejudgment interest, holding that prejudgment interest is recoverable under Florida law only as an element of damages, and because this case resulted in a declaratory judgment rather than an award of monetary damages, Ohio Security is not entitled to prejudgment interest). https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025-00581-98-2-cv
Auto Insurance:
Lasky and Lasky v. Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co., et al., 8:26-cv-01590-KKM-AEP (M.D. Fla., Sep. 23, 2026 (Kimball Mizelle, J.) (granting Plaintiffs’ motion for remand, holding that Hartford removed the action without obtaining the timely consent of all properly joined and served defendants in violation of the unanimity rule required by 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(2)(A)). https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2026-01590-42-8-cv
The Fine Print:
The cases discussed are not a comprehensive list of all Florida decisions from this week. SLC may omit some, including PCAs and procedural rulings unrelated to coverage. SLC also excludes any cases in which I am or have been personally involved. These summaries are provided solely for informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Any opinions expressed are my own and are not intended as legal guidance for any specific situation.