Sometimes, real-life drama teaches the best insurance lessons. Case in point: the behind-the-scenes legal trouble from the movie It Ends With Us offers a blockbuster reminder—silence can sink your coverage.
What Happened?
Wayfarer Studios, the company behind the movie, renewed its Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) insurance, but allegedly failed to disclose ongoing harassment concerns about the film’s lead. Months later, those concerns exploded into a lawsuit. The insurer? They pulled out and sued the studio, saying it should’ve seen the claim coming.
Moral of the story: If you knew (or should’ve known) about a potential issue before renewal and didn’t disclose it, your policy might not pay when it matters most.
How to Avoid a Plot Twist in Your Own Policy
|
Scene |
Your Move |
Why It Matters |
|
Past Complaints |
List everything, even the “small” stuff |
Omitting known issues can trigger exclusions |
|
Emails or Legal Threats |
Attach them with your renewal app |
Insurers price and decide coverage based on known risks |
|
Rumors or Internal Talk |
If it seems serious, disclose it |
Courts care about what you “reasonably should have known” |
|
Renewal Questions |
Answer YES/NO like it’s a legal document |
Mistakes = misrepresentation = no coverage |
“But it was just gossip!” won’t fly if a claim lands.
Best Practices for a Happy Ending
- Do a pre-renewal check-in: 30 days out, get HR, legal, and risk together to review any red flags.
- Track concerns in one place: Use a simple spreadsheet to note who complained, what it was about, and the current status.
- Report early: Even if you’re only investigating, notify your carrier. It could kickstart coverage and legal defense.
- Train your team: Department heads should report issues the moment they arise.
- Ask your broker: Unsure what counts? Call. Overdisclosing is better than getting denied later.
A Hypothetical Chat...
Client: “Let’s say... my ‘friend’ forgot to mention something on their renewal form. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Broker: “If the insurer thinks it was misrepresentation, they can void the policy. That means no coverage when a claim hits. Your ‘friend’ would be paying out-of-pocket for lawyers, settlements, PR cleanup... the whole production.”
Client: “Got it. I’ll make sure they resubmit. By the way, when’s my renewal?”
Final Take
Your insurance is like a stunt double—it protects you when things get risky. But it needs the full script to do its job. Tell early, tell everything, and keep your policy from ending up on the cutting room floor.
Contact us to help make your liability policies Oscar-worthy.
References:
Insurance Journal – “Prior Knowledge Ends Filmmaker Baldoni’s Coverage for Harassment Claims: Insurer” (22 Jul 2025) Insurance Journal
Law Commentary – “Insurance Company Sues Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios” (24 Jul 2025) Law Commentary
Insurance Insider – “Harco Insurance Sues Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios” (22 Jul 2025) Insurance Insider
Law360 Insurance Authority (excerpted via Pillsbury) – “Insurance Implications of Defamation Lawsuits from It Ends With Us” (20 Feb 2025) Pillsbury Law
Pacer docket 1:25‑cv‑05949 (S.D.N.Y.) – Complaint and policy exhibits (filed 21 Jul 2025). PACER Monitor
Have questions? Contact:
Mike Scott
Senior Risk Advisor, Director of Program Business
(801) 308-1500...
Read Mike's full bio
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