Supreme Court of Texas
PAJ, Inc. v. Hanover Ins. Co., 05-0849
An immaterial breach does not deprive the insurer of the benefit of the bargain, and thus, cannot relieve the insurer of the contractual coverage obligation. Consequently, contrary to a court of appeals' ruling, an insured's failure to timely notify its insurer of a claim does not defeat coverage under a policy if the insurer was not prejudiced by the delay.
Appellate Information
- Argued 10/18/2006
- Decided 01/11/2008
- Published 01/11/2008
Judges
- Justice O'NEILL delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice JEFFERSON, Justice BRISTER, Justice MEDINA, and Justice GREEN joined.
Court
- Supreme Court of Texas
Counsel
- For Appellant:
- Baxter W. Banowsky, Scott D. Levine, Banowsky, Betz & Levine, P.C., Dallas TX, for Petitioner., Elizabeth Bloch, Brown McCarroll, L.L.P., Austin, Frederick B. Wulff, Hughes & Luce LLP, Dallas, Douglas Alexander, Alexander Dubose Jones & Townsend, LLP, Austin, TX, for Amicus Curiae.
- For Appellees:
- R. Lynn Fielder, Fisk & Fielder, P.C., Sidney H. Davis Jr., Touchstone Bernays Johnston Beall & Smith, LLP, Dallas TX, for Respondent.