Insights
Firm News

Who Will Pay for Climate Change? Not Us, Insurer Says

May 14, 2014 Media Coverage

NPR Marketplace
May 14, 2014
"Who Will Pay for Climate Change? Not Us, Insurer Says"

Farella Braun + Martel's James Bruen commented on a recently filed suit by Farmers Insurance against Chicago and its suburbs.  The company wants local governments to pay for damages related to flooding caused by large storms. The company's position is that climate change is now a foreseeable risk and local governments should be upgrading their stormwater management systems to account for that risk.

According to Bruen, the theory faces an uphill fight. Very strong legal doctrines protect governments in these kinds of cases, “They can say, ‘You can’t second-guess us on that,’” said Bruen. “‘We have to make a decision politically about where to put our services, and just because you don’t have as many services as you’d like is not a basis to sue us. Sorry.’” Additionally, Bruen noted that the cost of filing the suit is nothing compared to the potential payout: Getting off the hook for climate-related liabilities.

Click here to read the full article.

Firm Highlights

Publication

Wind Energy Project Approvals and Tax Credits Look To Outpace Macroeconomic and Supply Chain Headwinds in 2024

A snapshot of the renewable wind industry on October 31, 2023, captures many of the current challenges and opportunities for the industry and regulatory agencies heading into 2024.  That day, the world’s largest offshore...

Read More
Publication

Trends Guest Editorial: Wildfires and Wineries

Link to the article in Gradient's Trends  Spring 2023 newsletter. Recurring wildfires in the Napa and Sonoma Counties of California have created a set of niche problems for the surrounding wineries, on top of...

Read More
Publication

Regulatory Changes Underway To Address Dwindling California Property Insurance Market

We keep hearing about how difficult it is for our clients to get property insurance these days, both for homes and businesses in Northern California’s wildfire-prone areas. Which, of course, is most of Northern...

Read More
Event

2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program

Sarah Bell will moderate the panel "PFAS: Everything Everywhere All at Once"  at the American Bar Association's 2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program. Session Overview: PFAS...

Read More
News

Chris Locke Recognized for Jack London State Historic Park Pro Bono Work

Read More
News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns 2024 Best Law Firms® Rankings

Read More
News

Farella Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Edition

Read More
News

Farella Braun + Martel Attorneys Named to 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Thirty-eight Farella Braun + Martel lawyers were named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists of top attorneys in Northern California for 2023. 2023 Farella Northern California Super Lawyers: Carly Alameda – Business...

Read More
News

Who’s Who Legal 2023 Recognizes Farella Lawyers

Six Farella Braun + Martel lawyers have been recommended by Who’s Who Legal 2023 as leading practitioners in their fields. Who’s Who Legal – Environment 2023 James Colopy Robert Hines David Lazerwitz Chris Locke...

Read More
Publication

BIPA Liability: Existing CGL Coverage May Provide a Lifeline for Policyholders

Developments in the law have increased the potential liability that companies could face under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), but fortunately for policyholders, Illinois case law has also solidified coverage for BIPA...

Read More