Illinois Appellate Court Holds Insurer Owed Coverage in Fatal Chicago Gang Shooting Lawsuit, but Insurer Did Not Commit Bad Faith in Denying Claim

On March 1, 2018, an Illinois appellate court held an insurer breached its duties to defend and indemnify a grocer after gang members shot and killed a young woman and injured another outside of the Chicago grocer. The court interpreted “liability arising out of . . . premises” language in an additional insured endorsement, broadly holding that if the basis for imposing liability arises out of the premises, the party qualifies as an insured regardless of how the injury occurs. Dominick’s Finer Foods v. Indiana Ins. Co., 2018 IL App (1st) 161864, ¶ 66. Thus, a premises defect, such as an icy sidewalk or poor lighting, was not required. However, the court refused to find the insurer committed statutory bad…