Not Wise to Attempt Rescission Without Evidence
Post 5173
See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gMsRrCPj and at https://lnkd.in/g2hq9VtW, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
Desiree Durga and Justin Durga v. Memberselect Insurance Company, No. 371891, Court of Appeals of Michigan (August 13, 2025) Desiree Durga and Justin Durga (plaintiffs) claimed the insurer wrongfully attempted to rescind an auto policy.
THE ALLEGATIONS
MemberSelect claimed that Desiree Durga’s application for insurance contained a material misrepresentation, it did not produce a copy of the application. In fact defendant admitted the application for insurance no longer exists.
Trial Court Decision
The trial court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary disposition on their breach of contract claim and denied the defendant’s cross-motion for summary disposition, which argued that it was entitled to rescind the policy. The court found that the defendant failed to provide clear and convincing evidence of fraud
The court ultimately affirmed the trial court’s decision, granting judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in the amount of $82,476.04.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Insurance policies are contracts and, in the absence of an applicable statute, are subject to the same contract construction principles that apply to any other species of contract.
Seeking Policy Rescission Based Upon Alleged Fraud In The Application Or Procurement Process
Desiree Durga and Justin Durga v. Memberselect Insurance Company, No. 371891, Court of Appeals of Michigan (August 13, 2025) Desiree Durga and Justin Durga (plaintiffs) claimed the insurer wrongfully attempted to rescind an auto policy.
THE ALLEGATIONS
The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant breached their automobile insurance contract by rescinding their policy based on an allegation of fraudulent misrepresentation in the application process. The rescission was attempted because plaintiff Justin Durga had two or more substance abuse convictions in seven years, his Michigan operator’s license was mandatorily revoked from June 9, 2007 “until requirements have been met.”
While defendant MemberSelect claimed that Desiree Durga’s application for insurance contained a material misrepresentation, it did not produce a copy of the June 2012 application. In fact defendant admitted the application for insurance no longer exists.
Trial Court Decision
The trial court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary disposition on their breach of contract claim and denied the defendant’s cross-motion for summary disposition, which argued that it was entitled to rescind the policy. The court found that the defendant failed to provide clear and convincing evidence of fraud and that the plaintiffs had disclosed that Justin Durga did not have a valid driver’s license. The court also noted that the defendant’s reliance on underwriting guidelines that were not made available to the plaintiffs was not sufficient to support their claim .
The court ultimately affirmed the trial court’s decision, granting judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in the amount of $82,476.04.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Insurance policies are contracts and, in the absence of an applicable statute, are subject to the same contract construction principles that apply to any other species of contract. An insurance policy must be enforced in accordance with its terms, which are given their commonly used meaning if not defined in the policy
Seeking Policy Rescission Based Upon Alleged Fraud In The Application Or Procurement Process
MemberSelect asserted the common law defense of fraudulent misrepresentation in plaintiff’s application for or procurement of the subject automobile insurance policy allowed it rescission of the policy ab initio in order to avoid its contractual obligations to pay on plaintiffs’ claim.
Because a claim to rescind a transaction is equitable in nature, it is not strictly a matter of right but is granted only in the sound discretion of the court.
The insurer, as the party asserting entitlement to the defense of fraudulent misrepresentation, bears the burden of proving the elements of rescission. At best, the question seeking license status of a proposed insured was ambiguous, such that it is construed against the drafter in favor of coverage. As a result the representation made by the plaintiffs did not constitute a false representation for purposes of establishing that prima facie element of a fraud in the application rescission claim.
DEFENDANT IS NOT ENTITLED TO RESCISSION
When people seek to procure insurance by making a clear material misrepresentation to the insurance company, thereby entitling the insurance carrier to rescind the subject policies of insurance, the insurer must produce admissible evidence of the misrepresentation. Not only has defendant not provided clear and convincing evidence of fraud in this case defendant provided no evidence of fraud. Therefore, it was not entitled to rescission.
ZALMA OPINION
Rescission is an equitable remedy that seeks to deal fairly with both parties to the insurance contract. The insurer claimed that the Durgas lied on the application which they could not produce because it did not exist. An insurer seeking rescission must do so fairly and in good faith with clear and unambiguous evidence of the misrepresentation. The insurer failed when it was unable to produce the allegedly false application.
(c) 2025 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Refusal to Provide Workers’ Compensation is Expensive
Post 5240
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/guC9dnqA, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gVxz-qmk and at https://lnkd.in/gUTAnCZw, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
In Illinois Department of Insurance, Insurance Compliance Department v.USA Water And Fire Restoration, Inc., And Nicholas Pacella, Individually And As Officer, Nos. 23WC021808, 18INC00228, No. 25IWCC0467, the Illinois Department of Insurance (Petitioner) initiated an investigation after the Injured Workers’ Benefit Fund (IWBF) was added to a pending workers’ compensation claim. The claim alleged a work-related injury during employment with the Respondents who failed to maintain workers’ compensation Insurance.
Company Overview:
USA Water & Fire Restoration, Inc. was incorporated on January 17, 2014, and dissolved on June 14, 2019, for failure to file annual reports and pay franchise taxes. It then operated under assumed names including USA Board Up & Glass Co. and USA Plumbing and Sewer. The business ...
Arsonist Incompetently Moves Pro Se to Avoid Prison
Post 5239
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In Christopher A. Barosh v. Morris Houser, et al., Civ. No. 22-0769, United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania (November 25, 2025) a convicted arsonist and insurance fraudster moved the USDC acting in Pro se filed Objections to Magistrate Judge Reid’s Recommendation that the US District Judge dismiss his § 2254 Petition to avoid jail.
BACKGROUND
In October 2005, Barosh set fire to his girlfriend’s Philadelphia home — some 25 hours before the cancellation of the property’s insurance policy. Several witnesses saw Barosh leaving the property shortly before the fire erupted. After the fire, Barosh made “two separate admissions of guilt.”
He attempted to pay an acquaintance to provide him with an alibi for the time of the arson. The eyewitnesses, brother, and ...
Conditional Release Allows Supplemental Claims
Post 5238
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A Release Should Totally Resolve Dispute
In Harvey et al. v. Hall, No. A25A1774, Court of Appeals of Georgia, Fourth Division (December 3, 2025) Paul Harvey, an employee of Arthur J. Dovers (d/b/a 3D Mobile Home Services), drove a truck towing a trailer loaded with machinery and equipment. Harvey fell asleep, veered off the road, and crashed into a culvert, causing Lamar Hall serious injuries.
FACTS OF SETTLEMENT
On August 18, 2020, Hall signed a limited liability release under OCGA § 33-24-41.1, releasing Harvey, Dovers, and their insurer (Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company) from liability for the accident in exchange for $50,000, “except to the extent other insurance coverage is available which covers the claim.”
Dovers’s general liability insurer (Republic-Vanguard ...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5219
Posted on October 31, 2025 by Barry Zalma
An Insurance claims professionals should be a person who:
Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
Understands the promises made by the policy.
Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
Are competent investigators.
Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Understand medicine relating to traumatic injuries and are sufficiently versed in tort law to deal with lawyers as equals.
Understand how to repair damage to real and personal property and the value of the repairs or the property.
Understand how to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with the insured that is fair and reasonable to both the insured and the insurer.
How to Create Claims Professionals
To avoid fraudulent claims, claims of breach of contract, bad faith, punitive damages, unresolved losses, and to make a profit, insurers ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
