query: can you pay a title for title insurance and they don't provide one

Hmmmm...popular subject this weekend.  Yes, it is possible to pay a title insurance company for title insurance and then they fail to provide a policy.  It shouldn't happen but it does.

I received another query via email this weekend from a real estate agent representing a seller with a PA inheritance tax matter and a refusal from their title insurance company to deal with the matter.  Why?