FCL Fidelity Blog
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CP Food: U.S. District Court finds No Coverage under Crime Policy for Insured’s Vicarious Liability for Theft of Customers’ Funds
In the recent decision of CP Food & Beverage, Inc. v. United States Fire Insurance Company, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada held that coverage was not available under a crime policy where the insured’s employees had defrauded the insured’s customers through misuse of customer credit cards. The decision makes important findings regarding the appropriate test for “direct loss” causation in a crime policy, and reaffirms the general principle that crime policies are not intended to indemnify insureds for their vicarious liability arising from employees’ theft of third parties’ property. The Facts CP Food & Beverage Inc.
Aqua Star: Ninth Circuit applies Authorized Entry Exclusion to Social Engineering Fraud Claim
Jump To: The Facts | The Decision | The Conclusion On April 17, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals released its decision in Aqua Star (USA) Corp. v. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, affirming the decision of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (see our July 19, 2016 post). The decision offers guidance to fidelity insurers with respect to the application of the “authorized entry” exclusion found in the base wording of many commercial crime policies (sometimes referred to as the “authorized access” exclusion), and illustrates how this exclusion may operate in the
Hudson Heritage: U.S. District Court dismisses Fraudulent Loans claim where Credit Union failed to plausibly plead Alteration of Original Documents of Title
JUMP TO: THE FACTS | THE CUMIS COVERAGE | THE CONCLUSION On January 22, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York released its decision in Hudson Heritage Federal Credit Union v. CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc., dismissing the insured credit union’s claim pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. According to its amended complaint, the insured had granted several vehicle finance loans on the strength of photocopies or electronic copies of New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) title documents. The copies received by the insured had been falsified to
Cooper Industries: Fifth Circuit applies Crime Policy’s Ownership Condition in finding No Coverage for Loss of Funds in Ponzi Scheme
Jump To: The Facts | The Ownership Condition | The Conclusion On November 20, 2017, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals released its decision in Cooper Industries, Limited v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA. The Court applied a crime policy’s ownership condition in ruling that the insured did not have coverage for the loss of funds incurred when an investment entity to which it had provided funds in exchange for promissory notes collapsed due to the entity’s principals’ Ponzi scheme. The dispute arose out of the same Ponzi scheme that gave rise to the decision of the
Posco Daewoo: U.S. District Court rejects Creditor’s “Reverse” Social Engineering Fraud Claim under its own Crime Policy
Jump To: The Facts | The Travelers Coverage | The Conclusion On October 31, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey released its decision in Posco Daewoo America Corp. v. Allnex USA, Inc. and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America. This case features an interesting twist on the usual social engineering fraud claim scenario, in that it was the intended payee of the funds, not the payor, which asserted a claim under its own crime policy for recovery of funds which the payor had been duped into paying to an impostor. This type of claim
Teva: Supreme Court of Canada rejects Fictitious or Non-Existing Payee Defence in finding Collecting Banks Liable for Employee Cheque Fraud
Jump To: The Facts | The Tort of Conversion and the Bills of Exchange Act | The Conclusion On October 27, 2017 the Supreme Court of Canada released its long-awaited decision in Teva Canada Ltd. v. TD Canada Trust. In a 5:4 decision, the Supreme Court held that two banks that accepted fraudulent cheques procured by a dishonest employee were strictly liable in conversion to the employer, and could not establish the “fictitious or non-existing payee” defence afforded by subsection 20(5) of the Bills of Exchange Act. The decision is a welcome development for Canadian fidelity insurers who seek to
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TOPICS
- Authorized Access/Entry Exclusion
- Authorized Representative Exclusion
- Bills of Exchange Act (Canada)
- Computer Fraud
- Counterfeit
- Direct Loss
- Employee Theft
- False Pretences Exclusion
- Forgery
- Funds Transfer Fraud
- Inventory Exclusion
- Manifest Intent
- Other Property
- Outside Investment Advisor Rider
- Ownership
- Prior Insurance
- Securities Broker Exclusion
- Securities Coverage
- Social Engineering Fraud
- Standing
- Subrogation
- Subsidiary
- Suit Limitation Provision
- Termination
- Voluntary Parting Exclusion
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RECENT POSTS
- Brooks & Derensis: U.S. District Court finds No Coverage for Cheque Fraud Loss under Forgery Insuring Agreements
- Westlake Chemical: Texas Court of Appeals applies Authorized Representative Exclusion in finding No Coverage under Crime Policy for Phony Invoicing Scheme
- Cachet Financial Services: U.S. District Court finds No Coverage under Commercial Crime Policy for Alleged ACH Kiting and Related Frauds
- Sportsinsurance.com: Second Circuit applies Suit Limitation Period to Dismiss Action on Commercial Crime Policy
- Star Title Partners: Eleventh Circuit finds No Coverage for Social Engineering Fraud Loss under Cybercrime Endorsement to Cyber Protection Policy