Engaged by counsel defending insurance carrier against allegations of Bad Faith Claims Handling. Case involved a trucker covered under a specified commodities Motor Truck Cargo policy. Litigation resulted from claim denial for a total fire loss of load based on commodities being hauled had not been declared on the application. Case required scrutiny of Agent Errors & Omissions issues relative to coverage placement under a Purchasing Group master policy, non-disclosure of terms & conditions to policyholder/applicant and expertise with Inland Marine / Motor Truck Cargo policy forms. Attorney Andy Kehagiaras, Roberts & Kehagiaras LLP (310) 642-9800. US Cheeta Trucking v. Valleys Best Insurance, et al, Case No. 34-2015-00184655-U-IC-GDS, Superior Court Of The State of California For The County of Sacramento.
Category: All Cases
02
Feb2017
Engaged by policyholder counsel to analyze coverage under a Homeowners policy endorsed to insure a float home. Carrier’s claim denial for windstorm damage to the float home subsequently lead to litigation. Case required expertise with Agent Errors & Omissions relative to covered perils under Homeowners and Marine insurance policy forms. Eismann v. Farm Bureau, Case No. CV-2016-478 In First Judicial District Court Of The State of Idaho, County of Kootenai. Attorney April Linscott, Owens, McCrea & Linscott, PLLC (208) 762-0203.
February 2, 2017Don Hirsch
06
Jan2017
Engaged by defense counsel to address allegations of Managing General Agent E&O / Bad Faith involving placement of surplus lines. Litigation resulted following claim denial for a vehicle accident involving a city bus being driven by a temporary staff employee. Case involved Non-owned Autos coverage under Commercial Auto and/or as an endorsement to Commercial General Liability policies. Attorneys Heather Duplantis and Kevin Welsh, Phelps Dunbar LLP (225) 346-0285. Johnson v. City of Alexandria, Number 247,208 In 9th Judicial District Court For The Parish Of Rapides, Division “G”, State of Louisiana.
January 6, 2017Don Hirsch
24
Nov2016
Engaged by defense counsel to analyze allegations of Agent Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith involving placement of Surplus Lines Commercial General Liability. Case involved policy conditions that a general contractor be named as additional insured under subcontractors’ Commercial General Liability policies and maintain Certificates of Liability Insurance. General contractor was sued based on a subcontractors faulty work allegedly resulting in a fatality. Litigation ensued after carrier’s claim denial for failure to comply with policy terms and conditions. Attorney John Scott, Hardin, Kundla, McKeon & Poletto (973) 912-5222. Repoli v. LA Design and Construction, Lynoxx Group, et al / Coughlin v. Repoli, et al; Docket Nos. ESX-L-8325-14 and ESX-L-I011-15, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division: Essex County.
November 24, 2016Don Hirsch
06
Jul2016
Retained by carrier’s defense counsel as their Insurance Bad Faith and Commercial Auto expert regarding an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist claim denial. Case required expertise with nuances of coverage afforded the “first named insured contrasted with policy language requiring other claimants to occupy a covered auto. Attorney Melissa England, Graif Barrett & Matura, P.C., (602) 792-5700. Smith v. Auto-Owners, Complaint No. S-1400-CV201500545 In Superior Court of the State of Arizona, In and For The County of Yuma.
July 6, 2016Don Hirsch
12
Mar2016
Engaged by defense counsel for managing general agent as their Workers Compensation and Insurance Bad Faith expert. Case involved allegations by a long haul trucker of Insurance Bad Faith and Agent Errors & Omissions resulting from a Workers Compensation carrier insolvency. Case required analysis of interplay between Commercial Auto and Workers Compensation insurance markets for truckers. Attorneys George Carr, Janik LLP (440) 740-3016 and Joe Nicholas, Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder (440) 287-8320. AIM v. Safe Fleet, et al; Case No. 4:14-cv-02161 United States District Court Northeastern District of Ohio, Eastern Division
March 12, 2016Don Hirsch
03
Dec2015
Engaged by defense counsel as their Flood Insurance expert. Case required analysis of NFIP regulations and flood insurance rating for 23 lots deemed to be in FIRM Zone AE following FEMA flood zone map revisions. Claim included allegations by homebuilder of lost property values due to Inverse Condemnation based on FEMA’s revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Attorney Mike Shaunessy – McGinnis Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP (512) 495-6061. Woodlake v. Guadalupe County; Cause No. 11-1270-CV In The District Court Of Guadalupe County, Texas, 25th Judicial District.
December 3, 2015Don Hirsch
08
May2015
Engaged by agent’s defense counsel as their designated expert for Agents Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith. Case involved Property and Business Income Insurance written on a Surplus Lines basis. Dispute resulted from hailstorm claims adjusted on a Per Location/Per Occurrence Wind and Hail deductibles basis. Hipoint v. Pathfinder, et al, Case No. Case No.5: 13-cv-687-D In The United States District Court For The Western District of Oklahoma. Attorney Jim Secrest, Secrest Hill Butler & Secrest, PC (918) 494-5905
May 8, 2015burld
06
May2015
Engaged by defense counsel to opine regarding Agent Errors & Omissions relative to placement of a Broker-Dealer/Registered Investment Advisor(s) Professional Liability policy. Case involved evaluation of coverage afforded a named insured vs. additional insured, Surplus Lines, and Claims Made issues. Claims stemming from a Registered Investment Advisor’s fraudulent investment activities and subsequent conviction were denied by carrier which resulted in an Insurance Bad Faith claim against the agent. Onyx v. Indian Harbor, CalSurance, et al; Civil Action No. 3:13-CV-03426-P In The United States District Court For The Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Attorney Blake Bailey, Phelps Dunbar LLP, (817) 488-3134.
May 6, 2015burld
02
Apr2015
Engaged by CFO of oil and gas exploration company to analyze renewal issues for Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Liability insurance. Engagement focused on comparing coverage structure and scope of coverage grants found within policy forms of both Admitted and Surplus Lines carriers quoting renewal. Mike Herman, CFO, Newark E&P Operating, LLC, (817) 529-4510.
April 2, 2015burld