In the News


Alan R. Levy was mentioned in two recent news articles involving the Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Summary Judgment in Sonic Automotive, Inc. v. Chrysler Insurance Company, et al., ___ F.Supp.2d. ___, 2014 WL 1382070 (S.D.Oh. April 8, 2014)

Sonic Automotive appeals ruling favoring insurers in anti-theft product case
Automotive News
May 14, 2012

Sonic Automotive Inc. is appealing a decision that left two insurers off the hook for its tab in defending class-action claims of fraud and intentional wrongdoing in selling an anti-theft window-etch product.
>>Read the full article

Sonic Automotive Denied Coverage For Hidden Fee Suits
Law360
April 09, 2014

An Ohio federal judge on Tuesday let two insurers off the hook in automobile retailer Sonic Automotive Inc.'s suit seeking coverage for underlying actions alleging it misled customers into paying additional fees, finding that Sonic's deception was intentional.
>>Read the full article


Victory Report!
Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Summary Judgment in $20Million Class-Action Claim


Sonic Automotive, Inc. v. Chrysler Insurance Company, et al., ___ F.Supp.2d. ___, 2014 WL 1382070 (S.D.Oh. April 8, 2014)

On April 8, 2014, The Hon. Susan J. Dlott, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio granted summary judgment on behalf, CorePointe Insurance Company f/k/a Chrysler Insurance Company, in an insurance coverage claim seeking nearly $20Million in defense and indemnification costs relating to several consumer fraud class action lawsuits. The court held that the insurance carrier had no obligation to provide coverage for the class action suits. The Motion was argued by Alan R. Levy as Of Counsel for The Buckley Law Group.

Sonic Automotive, Inc., an owner of a nationwide chain of automobile dealerships was named as a defendant in several class action lawsuits, which alleged that Sonic engaged in a “pattern and practice” of selling an essentially worthless anti-theft product known as “Etch” without proper disclosure to its customers. Although the underlying class-action suits were eventually settled, Sonic sought recoupment of nearly $20Million in defense and settlement costs from its Garage Liability Policy issued by Chrysler Insurance Company. Judge Dlott ruled that the subject insurance policy only provided coverage for claims of “errors or omissions,” and since the claims against Sonic were for its alleged intentional conduct, there was no obligation to provide coverage.

This decision confirms our firm’s strong belief that, like all litigants, insurance carriers are entitled to equal protection under the law. We take pride in our history of achieving successful results such as these, and we look forward to future results.

Contact

Alan R. Levy
42 South Main Street
Manville, NJ 08835
(908) 494-7181
Fax: (908) 526-6606
Alan@alanlevylaw.com

Of Counsel:
Weiss & Weiss, LLC
Offices in New York & New Jersey

Bonner, Kiernan, Trebach & Crociata, LLP
Offices Nationwide



Areas of Practice


All Matters of Liability
Insurance Defense
Premises, Products & Professional
Employment Practices
Commercial Fraud
Complex corporate disputes
Civil Litigation
Aviation, Construction, Commercial
Insurance Coverage & Insurance Bad Faith