If you or your business are on the wrong end of a law suit, you might keep the motto of the Three Musketeers in mind when you report the claim to your insurance company.  Under Massachusetts law, if you have an insurance policy that covers any claim in the policy, the insurer has to defend you against the entire lawsuit – including claims that are not covered.  Massachusetts calls it the “in for one, in for all” rule, but the Three Musketeers said it better.

The “duty to defend” is broad and requires the insurer to defend if the claim *might* be covered even if there are outcomes where the insurer ultimately will be entitled to refuse to indemnify you against a judgment.  In that circumstance, the insurer will send you a “reservation of rights” letter, telling you that it will defend you but that it reserves the right to deny coverage down the line.  That never feels great, but under Massachusetts law, you are then entitled to choose your lawyer as opposed to being forced to accept the lawyer the insurer wants to hire (who may be terrific or less than terrific).

Read your policy, know your rights.