Incompetent valuation KOs jury verdict
The jury’s verdict in an eminent domain trial could not stand because the jury relied solely on the valuation the expert for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) did, “which was incompetent.”
State Route 00700, Section 21H v. Bentleyville Garden Inn, Inc. (In re Condemnation by DOT)
The jury verdict was set aside in this Pennsylvania condemnation case for reliance on an incompetent report by the expert witness for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The report did not account for the damages the hotel incurred on the unclaimed property for loss of business due to the condemned property. Additionally, the court decided that a new trial, which the trial court did not allow, should be allowed and remanded for a new trial.
Verdict Based on an Expert’s Incompetent Report Cannot Stand, New Trial Ordered
The jury verdict was set aside in this Pennsylvania condemnation case for reliance on an incompetent report by the expert witness for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The report did not account for the damages the hotel incurred on the unclaimed property for loss of business due to the condemned property. Additionally, the court decided that a new trial, which the trial court did not allow, should be allowed and remanded for a new trial.
Court Finds Insurance Policies Are Not Ambiguous as to ‘Physical Loss’ Requirement and Dismisses Plaintiffs’ COVID-19-Related Damages Claims
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court grants the defendant insurance company’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint seeking coverage for lost business income under their insurance policies. Plaintiffs operated a hotel and adjacent banquet and catering facility. In ruling against the plaintiffs, the court found the virus did not perceptibly harm the properties and the policies included a virus exclusion that prevented coverage of business losses.
MIKMAR, Inc. v. Westfield Ins. Co.
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court grants the defendant insurance company’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint seeking coverage for lost business income under their insurance policies. Plaintiffs operated a hotel and adjacent banquet and catering facility. In ruling against the plaintiffs, the court found the virus did not perceptibly harm the properties and the policies included a virus exclusion that prevented coverage of business losses.
In unusual business tort case, court exhibits flexibility in terms of calculating damages
The 8th Circuit recently upheld a sizable damages award in an unusual business tort case litigated under Nebraska law. One noteworthy aspect in terms of determining economic damages was that the court allowed expert testimony regarding the loss of value to the plaintiff even though the plaintiff did not fail completely upon the wrongdoing.
Trial court leans on peer review service for Daubert determination
When, in a Mississippi accounting malpractice case, the trial court used an outside "technical advisor" to determine the admissibility of the parties’ proposed expert testimony, the Daubert hearing assumed a whole other dimension. It was no longer simply a battle between the opposing experts, but an occasion for outside experts to judge the work of the parties’ experts.