Sg&b

Plaintiff Spray, Gould & Bowers is a law firm ("SG&B") which appeals the trial court's summary judgment in favor of the defendant Associated International Insurance Company ("AIIC"), based on the contract limitations period stated in the subject insurance policy. We hold that an insurer's direct violation of duly promulgated administrative regulations issued by the California Insurance Commissioner, requiring the insurer to notify a claimant insured of time limits pertaining to the claim, may provide the basis of an estoppel against the insurer's assertion of a contract limitations defense. The trial court's summary judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for further proceedings.

On September 16, 1996, SG&B filed its complaint, alleging causes of action for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and declaratory relief. The complaint alleged that SG&B had suffered loss as a result of the Northridge Earthquake on January 17, 1994, that claim on SG&B's contract of insurance with AIIC had been timely made, and that AIIC had wrongly refused to pay, together with subsidiary supporting allegations. On January 6, 1997,…