Gene Kimbrell v. Union Standard Ins.

**What Happened** Gene Kimbrell had an insurance policy with Union Standard Insurance Company. When Kimbrell was sued by someone else, he expected his insurance company to defend him and cover any costs, as insurance policies typically do. However, Union Standard refused to provide this coverage. Kimbrell then sued the insurance company, claiming they broke their contract by failing to defend him. **What the Court Decided** The Court of Appeals ruled against Kimbrell and in favor of Union Standard Insurance. The court found that Kimbrell had failed to notify the insurance company about the lawsuit against him within the time period required by his insurance policy. Because he missed this deadline, the insurance company was not required to provide coverage or defend him. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights the importance of carefully reading insurance policy requirements and following all deadlines. Workers who have insurance coverage—whether professional liability, errors and omissions, or other policies—must promptly notify their insurance company when they face legal claims. Missing notification deadlines can void coverage entirely, leaving workers to handle lawsuits and pay damages on their own, even if they've been paying premiums.