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US Coastal and Allstate sue American Summit over dog bite coverage
The underlying dispute stems from a May 18, 2025 dog bite in Toms River, New Jersey, where both the woman and her dog were allegedly attacked.
US Coastal Insurance and Allstate have taken a coverage dispute to federal court in New Jersey against American Summit Insurance, alleging the third carrier insured the dog owner but has not responded after being asked to step in. Insurance Business reports the case centers on a dog bite in Toms River, New Jersey, in Ocean County.
According to the complaint, a woman was attacked and bitten by her dog Gunther on May 18, 2025, and her own dog was also allegedly bitten. The woman filed a personal injury lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey in August 2025, initially suing the homeowners, and later added the dog owner as a co-defendant in November 2025.
Both US Coastal and Allstate provided homeowners' policies covering the couple at whose property the incident occurred, and both moved to defend them in the underlying lawsuit. The complaint says Gunther was not owned by the couple, and instead belonged to someone covered under an American Summit homeowners' policy.
The filing contends American Summit's policy covers anyone legally responsible for animals owned by the policyholder or household members. The complaint argues that if that policy language applies, American Summit should assume the defense responsibilities in the underlying claims.