The Subrogation Strategist

In Universal Property & Casualty Ins. Co. v. Amazon.com Services, LLC, No. 24-6195, 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130880 (Universal Property), Amazon.com Services, LLC (Amazon) argued that the jury should reduce the plaintiff’s recovery against Amazon by apportioning fault to non-party entities upstream from Amazon in the chain of distribution. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (District Court) rejected Amazon’s argument.

In Universal Property, the property insurer brought a products liability action against Amazon after an electric ... Continue Reading

In Haire-Cochran v. 24 Restore, Inc., No. A25-1206, 2026 Minn. App. LEXIS 153, the Court of Appeals of Minnesota (Court of Appeals) addressed whether construction work performed after a fire loss to a property constituted an “improvement to real property” under Minnesota Statute of Limitations, section 541.051, subdivision 1(a). The statute sets forth a reduced two-year limitations period for claims arising out of “the defective and unsafe condition of an improvement to real property.” The lower court dismissed the plaintiff’s case on grounds of the two-year statute ... Continue Reading

A recent decision from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania reinforced a fundamental requirement in product liability cases that can sometimes be overlooked: proving the product was actually defective. In Motto v. Newell Brands, Inc., No. 24-1338, 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23804 (E.D. Pa. 2026), the plaintiff homeowners alleged that a defective candle in a glass jar caused a fire that damaged their home. They brought claims for strict product liability, negligence and breach of the implied warranty of merchantability against the manufacturer and ... Continue Reading

In Clearfield County v. Transystems Corp., No. 10 WAP 2025, 2026 Pa. LEXIS 774, Clearfield County (the County) filed suit against Transystems Corporation (Transystems Corp.) based on architectural and engineering plans for a jail completed in 1977. Transystems Corp. filed an Answer that asserted a defense that the trial court lacked jurisdiction because, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 5536, the County did not file its complaint within 12 years of completion of the jail. The County filed preliminary objections contending that, among other things, the doctrine of nullum tempus occurrit ... Continue Reading

In Duffy v. Tatum, 2026 Pa. Super. LEXIS 112, 2026 PA Super 41, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (Superior Court) considered whether an arbitration provision contained in the online Terms of Service on the defendant’s website were enforceable. The plaintiff, Daniel Duffy (Duffy), visited the website of defendant, Dolly, Inc. (Dolly), to purchase moving services. Duffy selected the number of movers, items to be moved and the type of vehicle needed. To complete the booking, the website required Duffy to checkmark a box labeled “By checking this box I accept the Dolly Terms of ... Continue Reading

The economic loss doctrine (ELD) has been a thorn in the side of subrogation practitioners for some time. Particularly in states that enforce it strictly, an adverse ruling based on the doctrine can sometimes be an unexpected pull of the rug from under what would otherwise be a strong subrogation case. Because of the harsh consequences that such a ruling can have, it is crucial to be aware of how the state you are handling a case in deals with the ELD and what the effects are on potential recoverability.

In Sierra Summit, LLC vs. Humphreys & Partners Architects, Nev., LLC, No ... Continue Reading

On April 7, 2026, the Governor of Kansas signed a new law, 2025 Kan. SB 36, that amends and repeals K.S.A. 60-465. K.S.A. 60-465 addresses the rules of evidence related to the admissibility of testimony from lay and expert witnesses. As amended, lay witness opinions must be helpful to clearly understanding the testimony of the witness or determining a fact in issue. The former statute required a lay witness to provide an opinion helpful to a “clearer” understanding of the testimony of the witness.

With respect to experts, a witness who qualifies as an expert based on knowledge ... Continue Reading

In City of N. Tonawando v. Penn Power Group, LLC, 77 CA 24-01685, 2026 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 1800 (4^th Dept. Mar. 20, 2026), the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Department (Appellate Court), considered whether the defendant’s motion to dismiss should be granted on the grounds that the breach of warranty was time-barred by the statute of limitations and the plaintiff’s negligence claims were barred by the economic loss doctrine (ELD). The Appellate Court agreed with the defendant that the breach of warranty claim was barred by the statute of limitations and ... Continue Reading

In Qasim v. Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., C.A. No. 21-18744, 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5064, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey considered whether the plaintiffs’ expert’s opinions were admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the Daubert test. The case arose after one plaintiff, Ibrahim Qasim, sprayed an entire sixty‑four‑ounce container of EcoLogic Bed Bug Killer 2 throughout his apartment the morning of September 2, 2019. Hours later, when co‑plaintiff Nouh Qasim turned on the gas stove to make coffee, a rapid fire erupted ... Continue Reading

On its face, the power of a waiver of subrogation clause in a construction contract is profound. It bars otherwise actionable – and sometimes egregious – losses resulting from contractor carelessness before they can ever get started. One question courts have long battled with is the limits to the lasting effects of such a waiver. Whether the waiver power can be transferred amongst parties, applied to third parties or used with policies taken out after construction completion are among the few grey areas that have kept subrogation practitioners and the courts busy. Recently, a ... Continue Reading