William Cook (Partner-Detroit, MI) and David Holmes (Partner-Chicago, IL) convinced the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division that there was no coverage owed to the insured because the claim was first made before the policy incepted. The principal issue in this case is whether a “professional claim” for construction design work was made against the plaintiff construction company within the time period covered by a claims-made insurance policy issued by our client, a London underwriter. The construction company was sued in state court for breaching a contract commissioned by a County Water Resource Commission calling for certain work on a drainage project. The complaint was improper performance of the contract by failing to follow the contract design specifications, causing nonpayment under the contract. There is no question that the lawsuit against the construction company was commenced before our client’s policy went into effect. This was a hard fought battle, and a solid victory for our client.