Insurers Claim “No Duty” In HIV Cases

The California State Compensation Insurance Fund says it has no duty to cover a porn studio defending itself against claims from three performers who say they contracted HIV while filming. John Doe, Cameron Adams, and Joshua Rodgers sued Cybernet Entertainment’s Kink.com. State Fund accepted the claim and says it had already paid “appropriate medical expenses.” Cybernet asked the State Fund to declare its obligation to defend the workers’ lawsuits under the employer’s liability provision of the insurance policy. The insurer is fighting back with a motion for summary judgment that claims it has “no duty” to defend under the policy. State Fund also pushed for Cybernet’s motion for partial summary judgment to be dismissed because it has not proven the stars are employees, rather than independent contractors.