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Virginia
CHOICE OF FORUM
| Choice of Law | Admission of Extrinsic Evidence | Insurer Allocation | Pre-Tender Fees | Statute of Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lex loci contractus | Facts set forth in the pleadings alone | If one claim is potentially covered, must defend entire suit | Recoverable | 5 years |
| Buchanan v. Doe, 431 S.E.2d 289, 290-91 (Va. 1993) | Brenner v. Lawyers Title Ins. Corp., 397 S.E.2d 100, 102 (Va. 1990) Metcalfe Bros., Inc. v. Am. Mut. Liab. Ins. Co., 484 F. Supp. 826, 831 (W.D. Va. 1980) ("Not only did the suit allege sufficient facts from which a reasonable person would have inferred that the Cannons were joining… Virginia law is clear: “if the allegations state a case which may be covered by the policy, (the insurer) has a duty to defend"). | Virginia Beach v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 426 F. Supp. 821, 827 (E.D. Va. 1976) Reisen v. Aetna Life & Cas. Co., 302 S.E.2d 529, 531 (Va. 1983) | Northern Va. Funeral Choices, Inc. v. Erie Ins. Co., 61 Va. Cir. 352, 2003 WL 1960687, at *5 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2003)Northern Va. Funeral Choices, Inc. v. Erie Ins. Co., 61 Va. Cir. 352, 2003 WL 1960687, at *5 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2003) | (Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-246) |
| Pre-Judgment Interest | Late Notice | Public Policy Bar | Independent Counsel | Atty's Fees/Decl. Relief Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6% | Notice condition precedent to coverage | Not a bar to indemnity or defense | Not Addressed | Recoverable if denial made in bad faith |
| (Va. Code Ann. § 6.1-330.54) | State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Walton, 423 S.E.2d 188, 192 (Va. 1992) Lyon v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 289 F. Supp. 2d 740, 743 (W.D. Va. 2002) | United Servs. Auto. Ass’n v. Webb, 369 S.E.2d 196, 197 (Va. 1988) | Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-209(A) Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Glick, 397 S.E.2d 105, 109 (Va. 1990) Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. St. John, 524 S.E.2d 649, 651 (Va. 2000) |
"Because we cannot come as law, foreclose the possibility that count 7 of the Shelby complaint, in the entire Ford complaint [which were added to the Mass. Litigation after Superformance secured the insurance policy] allege some conduct occurring during the policy period, we agree that coverage for these counts cannot categorically be borne by invocation of the policy period, . . . "