Insurance Trending Topics

To help with your writing efforts, here’s what people are looking for in Insurance Law online. Trending topics culled from JD Supra, search analytics, social media conversations, and other sources:

Insurance Coverage Denial Upheld in Cyberfraud Case 

Consider writing about:

A recent federal appeals court ruling in an insurance dispute stemming from a phishing scheme; basis for the 7th Circuit’s ruling in Office of the Special Deputy Receiver v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co.; what this case may illustrate regarding the need for particular attention to exclusions or limitations involving insurance coverage in the wake of cyberattacks; insurance coverage to consider having as part of a cybersecurity plan; additional guidance on pursuing an insurance claim involving losses from a cyberfraud incident.

Related information:

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/risk-compliance-legal/seventh-circuit-backs-hartford-in-4-million-fraud-dispute-580969.aspx

Common Insurance Mistakes to Avoid [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Common mistakes you see organizations making in terms of insurance-related decisions or other actions. Consider whether to zero in on a specific industry, region, or behavior subset, as you examine the details and potential consequences of common errors in judgment and how they can affect insurance coverage, claims processing, and recovery results.

When Are Social Gatherings More of a Legal Risk for Homeowners? 

Consider writing about:

Homeowner liability issues that can arise in conjunction with events that are open to the public, whether house concerts, backyard social gatherings, or events of other types. What should homeowners know regarding potential risks to themselves, acquaintances, or strangers, possibly involving access to animals, alcohol, or firearms, or risks such as precarious staircases or outdoor terrain? How does homeowner insurance come into play in the event of an injury or fatality in cases of this type? What exclusions should homeowners be aware of? And what else should homeowners consider (in terms of potential liability, registration procedures, waivers, or risk mitigation) before deciding whether to open up their homes to events attended by a potentially large number of strangers?

This Means War – or Does It? 

Consider writing about:

Chevron’s dispute with several insurers regarding coverage relating to the Iranian military’s seizure of a tanker in 2023; what this dispute may illustrate regarding the scope and limitations of marine cargo and war risk insurance policies; related concerns on the part of either policyholders or insurers pertaining to the conflict between the United States and Iran.

Insurance Pointers and Potential Pitfalls for Startups [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Insurance issues that should be on the radar of startup companies or inexperienced business owners (whether broadly speaking, or in a specific industry or region of your choice); immediate priorities to address or common pitfalls or blind spots to be aware of; conversely, how to play “catch up” (and/or undertake damage control) after the fact on insurance-related matters; how to find and vet insurance providers; what to look for in insurance policies; how to negotiate more favorable terms (and where one should or should not try cutting insurance costs).

What to Know About Warranty and Indemnity Insurance [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Warranty and indemnity insurance; situations for which this form of coverage is commonly used, or should be considered; this insurance type’s pros and cons; trends involving its usage; any noteworthy disputes pertaining to warranty and indemnity insurance coverage, or best practices for vetting and maximizing this type of coverage.

How Supply Chain Disruptions Are Sparking Insurance Concerns 

Consider writing about:

Insurance needs and options relating to supply chain disruptions; related issues that are arising this year amid internatinal turmoil on assorted fronts; potential forms of insurance that companies should be considering adding to their coverage menu; terms, limitations, or other key points to be aware of.

Know the Nuts and Bolts of Private Placement Life Insurance 

Consider writing about:

Private placement life insurance; what it consists of; how it compares to other forms of life insurance; whom private placement life insurance is best suited for; potential advantages and disadvantages for individuals considering this form of insurance.

State Farm Faces New Lawsuit Over Wildfire Response 

Consider writing about:

A lawsuit filed this week by Los Angeles County against State Farm over the insurer’s response to policyholder claims stemming from the 2025 wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades; key allegations in the lawsuit; remedies sought; other litigation that State Farm is facing over its performance related to last year’s wildfires; any practical guidance for property owners on navigating the insurance claims process after a natural disaster and handling financial obligations while waiting for insurance claims to be resolved.

Related information:

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-wildfires/la-county-lawsuit-state-farm-january-2025-wildfires/3935919

What to Know About Voluntary Benefit Programs 

Consider writing about:

Voluntary or optional insurance products within the employer-employee context; how voluntary benefit programs work; related pitfalls that may arise for either employers or employees; noteworthy ERISA litigation over this form of insurance.

Directors and Officers Insurance: Trends and Tips 

Consider writing about:

Directors and officers insurance; what companies need to know about the scope and limitations of this type of insurance; how to evaluate available forms of coverage; potential pitfalls to be aware of when assessing coverage options; significant court rulings or emerging liability risks that may increase the urgency of reviewing existing D&O coverage or deciding whether to change coverage; any other noteworthy legal trends, cautionary tales, or interesting disputes involving D&O coverage.

Pet Insurance: A Concept That Animal Owners Should Cuddle Up to, or Not? 

Consider writing about:

Insurance for pets; how big of a business this is (in the country or region of your choice); whether pet insurance options have become more common (and perhaps more popular or more complex) as the veterinary industry has changed and as veterinary services costs have risen; what pet owners should consider when researching, negotiating, or renewing pet insurance policies; how pet owners may be able to lower the insurance costs for their pets’ care; any noteworthy legal disputes involving pet insurance and coverage; any interesting innovations that may be occurring in the pet insurance sector.

Artificial Intelligence and Insurance: Developments Worth Noting 

Consider writing about:

Noteworthy AI-related developments involving the insurance industry. Among the possible angles to explore: new or evolving forms of insurance coverage in the AI era; potential misunderstandings regarding adequacy of traditional forms of insurance coverage in the event of an AI-related incident; what policyholders need to know about AI insurance limitations and exclusions and possible gaps in coverage; how legislators, regulators, or other decisionmakers are approaching the issue of AI and the insurance industry; other significant AI-related risks or needs that either insureds or insurance companies are – or should be – paying attention to right now.

Business Interruption Insurance: Trends and Tips 

Consider writing about:

Specific events, emerging or accelerating risks, or other trends or developments that may be impacting the demand for business interruption insurance; what business owners should know about the pros and cons of this form of insurance; practical guidance on filing claims involving losses from business interruption; coverage limitations or potential impediments to recovery to be aware of; additional pointers on how to improve one’s chances of making a successful claim or successfully contesting the denial of a claim.

What to Know About Lapsed or Terminated Life Insurance Policies [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Lapsed or terminated life insurance policies; allowable grounds, and required steps on the part of either insureds or insurers, for terminating a policy; any noteworthy legal disputes over terminated policies; when an option may exist for a former policyholder to reinstate a life insurance policy.

Insurance Issues Raised by Wildfires 

Consider writing about:

Trends and practical guidance involving insurance and wildfires; what to know about types of coverage and limitations that most commonly apply to damage caused by wildfires; tips on filing insurance claims involving damage caused by wildfires; or, from a proactive standpoint, consider writing about how property owners in wildfire-prone areas can prepare for damage risks and related insurance needs; tips on vetting insurance policies, negotiating terms, and more; what property owners can do to increase their chances of securing adequate insurance coverage for wildfire damage and receiving a satisfactory return on their insurance claims; alternative options (some state-specific) for insurance coverage. Alternatively, consider writing about insurance issues for businesses that may face operational disruptions or unexpected employee leave or health issues resulting from wildfire damage to business or personal property or exposure to wildfire smoke.

NAIC Hit by Data Breach: What to Know 

Consider writing about:

A data breach suffered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners last month; what is known about the type of data taken and how it was accessed; how the data hack has affected NAIC or related entities; what this incident may illustrate regarding evolving cyberthreats and related cybersecurity best practices; what else insurers or policyholders should know about the NAIC data breach.

Related information:

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/cyber/3-1tb-of-naic-data-dumped-on-to-the-dark-web-580537.aspx

Primer on Long-Term Care Insurance [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Long-term care insurance; how it’s defined; pros and cons of this type of insurance for various individuals or scenarios; how to calculate, plan for, and manage the cost of long-term care insurance; how to evaluate specific insurance plans and providers; what else to know before purchasing long-term care insurance; potential alternatives to this type of insurance.

When Should Political Risk Insurance Get a Yes Vote? [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Political risk insurance; activities and risks for which this type of insurance is best suited; what it does or does not cover; its pros and cons; how to determine if this type of coverage is a good fit for a particular company or organization; what to look for when vetting political risk insurance policies.

Fallout From Data Breach Squeezes Lemonade Inc. for $10M 

Consider writing about:

A $10.5 million class action settlement stemming from a data breach involving customers of the Lemonade insurance company; what to know about the duration, scope, and type of breach in this case; related cybersecurity developments affecting the insurance industry as a whole; how the insurance industry can improve its data security performance; practical guidance for insurers on responding to a data breach, communicating with affected individuals, minimizing fallout from a breach, and possibly entering into a settlement agreement.

Related information:

https://www.cnbc.com/select/do-you-qualify-for-lemonade-10-5-million-data-breach-settlement

Is Travel Insurance Worth Exploring? [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Travel insurance tips; costs that travel insurance policies typically cover; limitations or exclusions to watch out for when researching travel insurance; whether other forms of insurance would be of use when travel plans go awry; alternatives to a stand-alone insurance policy when weighing travel-related risks.

How Employee Behavior Can Impact Cybersecurity-Related Claims [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

How employee actions or inaction can impact insurance claims relating to cybertheft or other cyberattacks and related damage or losses; questions that businesses should be asking about their insurance (and cybersecurity and training steps that they should be taking) with an eye toward securing coverage for cybersecurity-associated losses; examples of rulings or current court cases that address cyber-related damages involving either employee lapses or deliberate insider-driven cyberthreats; key issues in such court cases; whether there is a prevailing trend among related rulings.

Common Insurance Mistakes to Avoid [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Common mistakes you see organizations making in terms of insurance-related decisions or other actions. Consider whether to zero in on a specific industry, region, or behavior subset, as you examine the details and potential consequences of common errors in judgment and how they can affect insurance coverage, claims processing, and recovery results.

Algorithms and Insurance: Liability Risks and Other Issues 

Consider writing about:

The use of algorithms by the insurance industry; ways in which algorithms are being harnessed by the insurance sector; how regulators are treating the industry’s use of algorithms; lawsuits over alleged algorithmic bias or outright errors on the part of insurers; types of insurance in which these problems may be most apt to occur; whether software providers or other third parties are also facing lawsuits over the insurers’ use of algorithms; related risks and best practices for insurers pertaining to their third-party relationships; how insurance companies can best anticipate or respond to regulatory or litigation pressures regarding their use of algorithmic systems.

Calif. Department of Insurance Goes After State Farm Over Wildfire Response 

Consider writing about:

An enforcement action announced on May 4 by the California Department of Insurance against State Farm over the company’s handling of insurance claims filed by survivors of massive wildfires in the Los Angeles area in 2025; state law violations that regulators allege were committed by State Farm; related actions by regulators or legislators on a wider basis (whether statewide or nationally) involving wildfire risks to property and obligations on the part of insurers.

Related information:

https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2026/release019-2026.cfm

How Use of Company Vehicles Can Drive Insurance Issues [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Insurance issues pertaining to company vehicles; forms of insurance to consider when seeking coverage related to company vehicles; best practices to apply regarding use of company vehicles; common sources of conflicts between employers and their workers regarding company vehicles and insurance; how to minimize the risk of denials of insurance coverage.

Insurance Tips for Nonprofit Organizations [Ongoing] 

Consider writing about:

Insurance pointers for nonprofit organizations; unique risks or other concerns that may shape nonprofits’ insurance needs; any specific insurance types that nonprofits may be required to have; additional forms of coverage that may be worth consideration; common insurance-related misconceptions or oversights that nonprofits may be at risk of harboring; practical guidance on finding and vetting insurance policies and getting the most value for one’s money.

Mental Health Developments Worth Noting 

Consider writing about:

Mental health-related developments, in time for May’s designation as Mental Health Awareness Month. Take your pick of newer or ongoing issues, whether they be legal disputes involving insurance coverage, or workplace issues involving employer obligations, best practices, or potential liability risks. What significant legal developments or trends are you seeing these days on the mental health front? What are the flashpoints for disagreement or misunderstanding? How have healthcare or insurance industry responses, or employer responses, to individuals’ mental health challenges evolved over the years?

Delta Dental to Pay $2M Over Cybersecurity Lapses 

Consider writing about:

A $2.25 million settlement to be paid by Delta Dental over alleged violations of the New York State Department of Financial Services’ cybersecurity regulations; background to the alleged violations; why Delta’s incident response performance was deemed by regulators to be inadequate; what other entities can learn from this case as regards their own policies and procedures for responding to suspected breaches of sensitive information.

Related information:

https://www.dfs.ny.gov/reports_and_publications/press_releases/pr20260430

Construction Defects and Insurance: What to Know 

Consider writing about:

Insurance trends or tips involving construction defects; noteworthy disputes or rulings; contractor or subcontractor liability; what to know about insurance coverage or other forms of relief when construction defects become an issue.