Pa. Contractor Seeks $8M From Insurer After Fatal Pileups

By: Emily Lever

Cohen Seglias partner Jonathan Cass and associate Aislinn Sroczynski are mentioned in Law360 Insurance Authority in regard to their representation of Pennsylvania contractor J.D. Eckman in a suit against its insurer, Starr Indemnity & Liability Co. Eckman is seeking $4 million in coverage for each suit filed in connection with two separate vehicle pileups on highways that the contractor was renovating. Each of these pileups resulted in fatalities.

According to Eckman, Starr is meant to cover up to $4 million per project. That would mean $4 million available to cover the contractor’s defense of lawsuits for the first crash and an additional $4 million for the second crash. However, based on the suit filed in Pennsylvania federal court, Starr incorrectly claims that its coverage is limited to $4 million total. “Because Starr wrongfully refuses to honor its obligation under the policy to provide separate liability limits of $4M on a per project aggregate basis, Eckman brings this action to enforce its rights under the policy,” the complaint reads.

A Pennsylvania highway construction contractor is suing its insurer, Starr Indemnity & Liability Co., seeking $4 million in coverage for each suit filed against it in connection with two separate vehicle pileups on highways that the contractor was renovating, each of which left several people dead.

J.D. Eckman claims that Starr is meant to cover it for up to $4 million per project and should have $4 million available to fund the contractor’s defense for lawsuits over the first crash, plus $4 million more for the second crash. But, according tothe suit filed in Pennsylvania federal court on Monday, the insurer incorrectly claims that its coverage is limited to $4 million total.