Opinion ID: 1711055
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Loss-in-Progress Doctrine

Text: Under the loss-in-progress doctrine, an insurer is not liable if the loss was already in progress before the policy's coverage took effect. The doctrine is based on the rationale that insurance policies cover fortuitous events or risks of loss, not losses that are certain to occur. Once a loss has happened, or once it is in progress, the event is no longer fortuitous and the risk has already been realized. While Michigan recognizes that a completed loss is not covered under an after-acquired insurance policy, [17] this Court has yet to apply the loss-in-progress doctrine in the context of an environmental dispute. [18] Like the Court of Appeals, we decline to evaluate the merits of the doctrine on the facts before us because, pursuant to our analysis under the occurrence issue, [19] we find it unnecessary to do so.