Intel

The owner of an Airbnb in Ithaca, New York, is suing Cornell University and the vacation rental platform in a lawsuit that claims a group of international students who rented her home caused $200,000 in severe and \"bizarre\" damages during their eight-day stay. In the lawsuit, the owner alleges that the exchange students — reportedly “hand-picked” for a summer program…

In our latest P&C webinar, Pamela Alphabet, Associate Vice President, Regional Practice Group Leader, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Scottsdale, Arizona, discussed what is driving the hard market and ways to secure coverage. https://vimeo.com/1020710933/6d578c97e7?share=copy Want more information? You can watch the entire webinar here.

A tragic incident involving a bounce house that was set up at a family’s home in Casa Grande, Arizona underscores the potential dangers and protections needed for such attractions. According to reports, a sudden gust of wind sent the bounce house into the air and onto a neighboring property, impacting two young children. “It is heartbreaking,” said Andy​​​​ Sable, Senior…

A homeowner in Connecticut is facing a dog bite claim that will not be covered by insurance after his agent allegedly failed to disclose the dog on his Homeowners Insurance application. Antonio Laires, who is being sued over an incident in which his dog reportedly bit a woman on her face, claims he did not realize that his pet was…

A 3-year-old girl required 180 stitches to her face and spent days in the hospital after being tragically attacked by a dog April 2 at a home day care in Hemet, California. The attack is one of multiple incidents involving home day care facilities to make headlines in recent weeks. On April 22, police responded to a hospital in Stafford,…

One of the White House’s two canine residents was involved in a biting incident on March 29: the Bidens’ German Shepherd, Major, reportedly nipped at a National Park Service employee during a walk on the White House South Lawn. The employee was assessed by the White House medical unit and returned to work without injury. The incident has dominated national…

Cybersecurity experts are warning consumers about a new scam that capitalizes on the pandemic forcing many seasonal gift shops and pop-up markets to go virtual this year. In a scam alert issued on November 13, the Better Business Bureau said cybercriminals are using copycat shopping event sites and social media pages to charge admission and steal credit card data. In…

A Wisconsin man who recently won $22 million playing the state’s Powerball lottery has followed through on a decades-old promise to split the jackpot with his friend. Thomas Cook and his friend fishing partner, Joseph Feeney, reportedly made a handshake agreement 28 years ago to split any lottery winnings if either of them ever hit the jackpot. Cook made good…

In a lawsuit filed on August 11, the Barefoot Resort Residential Owners Association claimed experts found 13 construction defects in its $1.5 million beach cabana project. The North Myrtle Beach community’s homeowners association subsequently terminated contracts with the architect and general contractor, citing defects in design and construction that included the use of materials unsuitable for a coastal environment. Five…

The former owner and manager of two apartment complexes in Washington, D.C. will pay $3.5 million to settle a tenant lawsuit alleging rat and bed bug infestations, sewage leaks, mold contamination and other hazards. The lawsuit, brought by the district’s attorney general in October 2018, also claimed the buildings’ hundreds of tenants were subjected to persistent violence, including multiple homicides…

Sales of pools, trampolines and other backyard recreational items have surged in recent weeks as families try to salvage a summer marred by camp closures, community pool shutdowns, travel restrictions and continued anxiety over the COVID-19 crisis. Vendors in the U.S. and Canada have sold out of above-ground pools while pool shop owners continue to be inundated with inquiries. Soaring…

The cannabis industry continues to experience growth in the U.S. and Canada. Medical and recreational marijuana sales are expected to reach nearly $30 billion in the U.S. by 2023, and sales have surged even during the COVID-19 crisis. The market’s rapidly changing landscape presents unique risk management considerations for those involved in the cultivation, production, dispensing and sale of cannabis…