Employers Preferred Ins. Co. v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity

# Employers Preferred Insurance v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity ## What Happened Employers Preferred Insurance Company and Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company disagreed over who should pay for a workers' compensation claim. Hartford tried to cancel an insurance policy after a worker had already filed a claim, claiming the cancellation applied retroactively—meaning it would erase coverage that existed when the injury occurred. ## What the Court Decided The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Employers Preferred Insurance. The court ruled that Hartford could not retroactively cancel the policy after a claim had been filed. Under Missouri law, Hartford had to contribute its share of the claim expenses. The court affirmed an earlier summary judgment decision in favor of Employers Preferred. ## Why This Matters for Workers This ruling protects workers by preventing insurance companies from canceling coverage after injuries happen. It ensures that workers' compensation claims remain valid even if insurers later try to erase the policy retroactively. Workers can count on coverage remaining intact once a claim is filed, preventing companies from dodging their financial obligations.