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Unanimous Supreme Court Cabins Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act

Client Alert | 1 min read | 05.27.15

The Supreme Court on Tuesday handed down KBR v. U.S. ex rel. Carter, in which it unanimously reversed the Fourth Circuit's interpretation of the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act, whose text, structure, and history all show it to be limited to criminal offenses—it does not toll the statute of limitations on civil FCA cases. The Court also unanimously affirmed the Fourth Circuit's interpretation of the FCA's first-to-file bar, and thus resolved a split with the D.C. Circuit, by holding that a qui tam complaint that has been dismissed is no longer "pending" within the meaning of the bar and, therefore, will not preclude future, related actions.


Insights

Client Alert | 5 min read | 06.01.26

California Court Upholds Insurer’s Duty to Defend After Covered Claim Is Dismissed

On April 30, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a significant ruling in an insurance coverage dispute between a commercial general liability insurer and its policyholder. The decision addresses several critical issues in insurance law, including the scope and continuity of the duty to defend and the standard for insurer reimbursement of defense costs in mixed-claim actions. The court ruled largely in favor of the insured, SVO Building One, LLC ("SVO"), and the matter now heads toward settlement or trial on SVO's remaining counterclaims....