A Florida-based luxury vehicle company is suing its insurers after being denied coverage for more than $4 million in legal fees stemming from a competitive business dispute, according to a complaint filed in federal court.
Driven Lifestyle Group LLC, formerly known as Motorsport Network LLC, along with its wholesale subsidiary Dupont Registry Connect LLC and two executives, claims that RSUI Indemnity Co. and Allied World Specialty Insurance Co. wrongfully refused to provide coverage under directors and officers (D&O) policies. The insurers denied the claims, citing network, telecommunications, and trademark exclusions, which Driven says are inapplicable to the executives or the underlying lawsuit.
“The insurers wrongly and improperly denied coverage for the underlying lawsuit in full, relying on tortured interpretations of clearly inapplicable exclusions,” the complaint states. “The underlying lawsuit has nothing to do with spam calls or computer hacking.”
The dispute stems from a lawsuit filed in August 2024 by GiveMeTheVin LLC, which alleged that former employees who moved to Dupont, along with executives Jason Potter and Michael Cunningham, misappropriated client lists, proprietary business processes, and other trade secrets. GiveMeTheVin also claimed that 14 employees were “poached” from their company, providing Dupont with unfair competitive advantages. The case reportedly reached an undisclosed settlement in March 2025.
Driven Lifestyle says it submitted claims to RSUI and Allied World in August 2024 under its primary and excess D&O policies, which collectively cover $6 million. The company alleges it spent more than $200,000 in premiums for these policies. Despite this, Driven was forced to pay over $4 million in legal fees when the insurers refused to cover the case, according to the complaint. The company contends that had coverage been granted, the lawsuit could have been resolved within the insurance limits.
“The refusal to provide coverage left Driven Lifestyle and its executives vulnerable to substantial financial exposure, despite having fully paid for insurance protection,” the complaint adds.
Representatives for Driven Lifestyle include Elizabeth G. McIntosh, George Kostolampros, Michael C. Davis, and Ethan S. Barnes of Venable LLP. Counsel for RSUI Indemnity and Allied World Specialty Insurance have not immediately responded to requests for comment.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between policyholders and insurers over coverage exclusions in complex business disputes. D&O policies are designed to protect executives and companies from personal financial loss, but disputes over policy language, particularly regarding trade practices, can lead to lengthy litigation.
The lawsuit, Driven Lifestyle Group LLC et al. v. RSUI Indemnity Co. et al., is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, case number 1:26-cv-20812. How the court rules could influence future interpretations of D&O policy exclusions and the responsibilities of insurers to defend corporate executives in competition disputes.
