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Judge rejects Nationwide bid to dismiss injured pilot coverage suit
Nationwide has until Sept. 2, 2026 to answer the breach-of-contract claim stemming from an alleged crash tied to a Tesla Model 3 rented via Hertz.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. denied Nationwide’s bid to throw out a coverage lawsuit filed by an injured pilot, allowing the breach-of-contract claim tied to unpaid medical bills to proceed. According to Insurance Business, the case was brought after the plaintiff alleged that a Tesla Model 3 rented from Hertz lost control when its anti-lock braking system engaged and its power-steering assistance failed. The crash, the complaint says, caused severe injuries, substantial medical costs, and an early end to the pilot’s flying career. The dispute dates to January 2023 and also names Hertz and Tesla. The plaintiff’s complaint alleges those companies accepted liability for the underlying incident, leaving Nationwide, as the insurer, to handle the claim, but that Nationwide refused to pay any portion of the medical bills despite having notice and an obligation to cover the claim. Nationwide moved to dismiss in federal court after the case was removed from D.C. Superior Court. The judge found Nationwide’s motion deficient because it cited only federal procedural rule numbers, without the specific legal authority required by local rules, and said the one-sentence argument was too conclusory to support dismissal, while making clear it was not ruling on the merits at this stage. Nationwide’s answer is due by Sept. 2, 2026.