Appeals Significant Cases

FMG Attorneys Philip Savrin and Shawn Bingham Obtain Eleventh Circuit win a landmark case involving insurance coverage for lost business income due to COVID-19

Henry’s Louisiana Grill, Inc. v. Allied Insurance Company of America, 35 F.4th 1318 (11th Cir. 2022).  In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of an insured’s claim for…

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Henry’s Louisiana Grill, Inc. v. Allied Insurance Company of America, 35 F.4th 1318 (11th Cir. 2022).  In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of an insured’s claim for lost business income after it suspended operations at its restaurant due to COVID-19 in a matter handled by Atlanta Partners Philip Savrin and Shawn Bingham.  The insured contended that the closure was the result of an executive order issued by the governor of Georgia.  The appeals court agreed with the lower court’s finding that the term “direct physical loss” under Georgia law requires a physical loss to the property that is “tangible or concrete.” Here, at most, the governor’s order caused “intangible” harm as “it did not destroy, ruin, or even damage any part of the restaurant.” The appeals court noted that its reasoning is in line with “every federal and state appellate court” that applied the same policy language in the COVID-19 context.

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More Successes

FMG Obtains Summary Judgment on Coverage Dispute for Insurer in Illinois Federal Court

FMG attorney, Jonathan L. Schwartz, prevailed on summary judgment in favor of National Fire & Marine Insurance Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before a federal judge.  As background,…

FMG Secures Dismissal of Complaint for Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act in Pennsylvania

Jacob Gates v The Grier Foundation and Geoffrey Grier, United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Civil Action No. 4:23-cv-01443. FMG attorneys Cindy O’Donnell and Morgan Randle prevailed on a motion to…

FMG Secures Summary Judgment on Fourth Amendment Unlawful Entry/Excessive Force Claims in Georgia

C.J., a minor, by and through her next friend and guardian Betty Jean Murphy James, et al., v. Michael Blaquiere and Downy Casey, United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Civil Action…

FMG Attorneys Secure Win in Georgia Court of Appeals Illustrating the Importance of Municipal Ante Litem Notice

A recurring issue in Georgia municipal law is the failure of plaintiffs to comply with the municipal ante litem notice statute, especially the requirement that a person’s notice of a claim include a specific settlement…

FMG obtains Summary Judgement Victory from California Court of Appeals

Practice Fusion, Inc. v. Freedom Specialty Ins. Co., et al.  California Court of Appeal, Case No. A167130; A167886  FMG Attorneys Al Alikin and Christian Nagy, along with attorneys for other carriers in the same D&O…

Texas Court of Appeals Win!

CARL RALPH DAILY v. PHIL SMITH AND LAW OFFICE OF PHIL SMITH. Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana FMG attorneys Bob Chadwick and Jack Doyle prevailed on appeal in the Sixth Appellate District of…

FMG Attorney Wins Appeal on Anti-SLAPP Motion in Fulton County State Court in Georgia

FMG attorney Nicolas Bohorquez  prevailed on his appeal of a Fulton County State Court decision denying a motion to strike under Georgia’s Anti-SLAPP statute. A nightclub and its owner brought a suit against the Ansley…

FMG Secures Motion to Dismiss in Class Action RICO Case in Georgia

FMG attorneys Travis Knobbe, Luke Zavoli, and Matt Foree prevailed on a motion to dismiss in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia before a federal judge on claims related to…

Summary Judgment for Professional Liability Claim in Orange County

FMG attorneys Jessica Farrelly and Jessica Cauley prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orange County, Florida on claims of legal malpractice and spoilation of evidence. The matter concerned…

FMG Secures Early Dismissal in Georgia Premises Liability Case

 FMG attorneys Wayne Melnick and Sangeetha Krishnakumar secured an early dismissal of a security company in a Gwinnett County, Georgia case. Plaintiff, the surviving parent and administrator of her son’s estate, brought suit against the…

Motion To Dismiss Granted in Behavioral Health Care Provider Case in Pennsylvania

Justin Boron and Julia Bover of FMG represented a behavioral health care provider in a data breach class action. Plaintiffs alleged that they received healthcare services from the provider. As part of receiving services there,…

Wrongful Death Dismissed With Prejudice in Newark

FMG attorneys prevailed on a motion to dismiss with prejudice after protracted motion practice over the course of over two years, including two trips to the Appellate Division. Trial Court Judge Keith Lynott in Newark…