The horrific wildfires unleashing carnage in Southern California underscore the need for reliable insurance protection both for businesses and homeowners.

As of Jan. 16, 2025, these wildfires have scorched more than 60 square miles, claimed at least 25 lives, and left 26 people missing. With more than 12,000 structures destroyed and tens of thousands displaced, the economic impact is estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion.

On a new episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, we discuss the types of damages and losses typically covered under homeowner and commercial property insurance policies, policy limitations, navigating the claims process, and business interruption coverage. We also discuss a Jan. 10, 2025, ruling out of the Northern District of California in Bottega v. National Surety, which held in a business interruption case that whether smoke damage caused the suspension of operations at the policyholders’ businesses is a genuine issue of fact.

My guests are all from the long-time insurance recovery law firm of Anderson KillDennis Artese is a shareholder in the New York office and is chair of the firm’s Climate Change and Disaster Recovery practice group. Marshall Gilinsky is a shareholder of the firm’s Boston office and practices in the firm’s Insurance Recovery and Commercial Litigation groups, as well as its Restaurant, Retail & Hospitality Group. Joshua Gold is a shareholder in the New York office. He chairs the Cyber Insurance Recovery Group and co-chairs the Marine Cargo Insurance Group. He also handles directors and officers insurance and business income/property insurance matters.

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If you have questions for Tom or would like to participate, you can reach him at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

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Tom Hagy
Litigation Enthusiast and
Host of the Emerging Litigation Podcast
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Our Guests

Dennis J. Artese
Dennis J. ArteseAnderson Kill
Marshall Gilinsky
Marshall GilinskyAnderson Kill
Joshua Gold
Joshua GoldAnderson Kill
Tom Hagy
Tom HagyEditor-in-Chief
Tom Hagy is host and producer of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, now approaching its 120th episode with more than 15,000 downloads, along with thousands of additional views on the HB Litigation News YouTube channel. He edits a litigation blog that ranked as the most read in its category on JD Supra in 2025 and regularly writes about emerging legal issues for the HB website.

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