A Year in the Life of the Eight-Corners Rule: Recent Developments in the Duty to Defend

One of the most well-known, frequently cited, and seemingly fixed legal principles in Texas insurance case law is, of course, the “eight-corners” rule – also known as the “complaint allegation” rule – which for some seventy-five years has governed an insurer’s duty to defend its insured. At its core, the eight-corners rule analysis is simple: insurers must compare the allegations in the live pleading to the insurance policy without regard to the truth, falsity, or veracity of the allegations.

Texas courts have, however, added complexities to this simple framework. This article outlines recent opinions on the eight-corners rule demonstrating these complexities.

Read the remainder of this article on: Insurance Law Section