Massachusetts Court Rules on Scope of Independent Contractor Exclusion

September 25, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A Massachusetts court recently ruled in favor of insurer Lloyd’s in a dispute over a commercial property and general liability policy excluding coverage for independent contractors.

The insured, a property development firm called Cable Mills LLC, and its insurance agency argued that the exclusion shouldn’t apply in its case involving a injured subcontractor who worked at the construction site and later filed a personal injury lawsuit against Cable Mills.

Cable Mills argued that because the injured worker was retained by a contractor and not directly by Cable Mills, the independent contractor exclusion isn’t applicable and that Lloyd’s is obligated to indemnify and defend Cable Mills in the personal injury lawsuit.

However, Appeals Court of Massachusetts in Middlesex rejected Cable Mills’ narrow definition of the independent contractor and ruled that the injured worker is subject to the coverage exclusion. The ruling, announced earlier this month, affirmed a lower court finding.

View the Original article

Judge Orders Iowa Contractor to Repay Customers

June 7, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A Polk County, Iowa, judge ordered a West Des Moines contracting company to reimburse dozens of customers more than $160,000, barred the company and its owners from future residential contracting business, and restricted their commercial contracting business, after Attorney General Tom Miller alleged that the defendants violated Iowa consumer fraud and door-to-door sales laws.

Polk County District Court Judge Brad McCall last week issued the court order, called a consent judgment, against IQ Renovation LLC, and owners Megan Troyer Marlow (formerly Megan Troyer) and Timothy Marlow.

Marlow also operated under the company name of

View the Original article

Va. DOT Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Used Uninsured Vehicles

April 4, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A Staunton contractor accused of defrauding the Virginia Department of Transportation has pleaded guilty to commercial fraud.

Thirty-two-year-old Jeffrey T. Jennings faces up to 15 years in prison.

The News Leader reports that Jennings entered his plea last week in August County Circuit Court. In exchange for his plea, seven counts of obtaining money by false pretenses were dropped.

The state contracted with Jennings’ company, Legacy Builders, for snow removal services. Augusta County chief deputy prosecutor Rupen Shah said Jennings filed paperwork with the Department of Transportation between 2007 and 2009 falsely claiming his fleet of vehicles was insured.

Shah says Jennings received thousands of dollars in fees.

 

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: East NewsTopics: Fraud, Virginia Department of TransportationHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

View the Original article