Retained by counsel defending against a third-party landlord’s allegations of Agents Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith for ‘failure to procure’ additional insured status. Policyholder’s landlord alleged reliance on being a Certificate Holder on ACORD Certificates of Liability Insurance as grounds for being an additional insured under policyholder’s Commercial General Liability and Environmental Liability policies. Engagement required analysis of insurance requirements in the lease, scope of coverage for additional insureds and/or whether landlord ever requested being added as an additional insured. Landlord’s allegations also included Business Income Loss of Rents during site cleanup. HLT v. AssuredPartners, Case No. 1:18-cv-00045-RP, In The United States District Court For The Western District of Texas, Austin Division. Attorney Lisa Yerger, Macdonald Devin P.C. (214) 499-5116
Category: Insurance Bad Faith
21
Nov2018
Engaged by policyholder counsel to analyze NFIP, non-NFIP and/or Excess Flood Insurance issues. Case required analysis of NFIP Flood Zones remapping and Flood Insurance Rate Map revisions for a Hurricane Harvey loss at an uninsured location. Agency was retained under terms and conditions of a fee-based insurance and risk management services contract. Attorney Will King, Feldman and Feldman, PC (713) 986-9471. The Harris Center v. Higginbotham, Case No. Case No. 201812120 In 80th District Court, Harris County, Texas.
November 21, 2018burld
27
Oct2018
Engaged by policyholder counsel to analyze issues of Insurance Bad Faith Claims Handling. Case required analysis of damage patterns from straight-line winds and whether construction defect caused the loss. Dispute followed carrier denying most of the damage from a windstorm claim asserting construction defect as the proximate cause of loss. Attorneys. Scott Blass and Erica Cross, Bordas and Bordas Attorneys, PLLC, (304) 242-8410. Thompson v. Allstate, Civil Action No. 5:18-CV-118, In The United States District Court For The Northern District of West Virginia, Wheeling.
October 27, 2018burld
30
Aug2018
Retained by contractor’s defense counsel to review Commercial General Liability policy structure relative to insurance requirements listed in a Subcontract. Dispute involved Workers Compensation and a third party over action. Case required opinions regarding whether the Subcontractor’s policies complied with the Subcontract’s “Additional Insured” language. Moss v. J4 Development, Cause No. 2016DCV4519, In The 327th Judicial District Court of El Paso County, Texas. Attorney Jim Mounts, Ray McChristian & Jeans, PC (915) 832-7253
August 30, 2018burld
28
Aug2018
Engaged by policyholder counsel as their Property Insurance expert to evaluate Bad Faith Claims Handling for a hail damage claim. Independent adjuster’s flawed Xactimate estimate resulted in his seeking a comparative bid by introducing his own roofing contractor. That roofer then performed partial repairs and stole most of the insurance claim proceeds. MLLCA v. Argonaut, Vericlaim, et al; Cause No. CV 17-01-057 In The 271st Judicial District Of Wise County, Texas. Attorney Matt Meyer, Boyd Powers & Williamson (940) 627-8308.
August 28, 2018burld
12
Apr2018
Engaged by lender’s defense counsel to analyze Flood Insurance issues relative to the lapse of a NFIP renewal policy resulting in the dwelling’s Flood Zone being rated in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Engagement required analysis of lender forced place insurance, applicable NFIP rating rules and preparation of proforma NFIP worksheets to compare premium based on the old versus new Flood Zones. Attorneys Leo Ward and Christy McCann, Browning Kaleczyc Berry & Hoven, P.C. (406) 443-6820. Schneidt v. First Interstate Bank
April 12, 2018burld
27
Mar2018
Engaged by counsel defending insurance carrier against allegations of Bad Faith claims handling following denial of an uncovered Flood claim. Case required analysis of NFIP Flood Zone definitions relative to an Inland Marine policy flood exclusion. Attorneys Mike Cawley and Alex Brown, Gordon & Rees | Scully Mansukhani, LLP (215) 561-2300. Vanguard v. Atlantic Specialty Insurance Co. Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, January Term 2017, No. 02023.
March 27, 2018burld
21
Mar2018
Engaged by policyholder counsel to analyze and opine on Agents Errors & Omissions relative to the procurement of a Hole-In-One Special Events policy. The case required analysis of agent’s failure to inform policyholder regarding minimum yardage warranties in the binder. The dispute resulted after two Hole-In-Ones were not covered, requiring the policyholder to pay the prize indemnity award. Old White Charities v. Bankers Insurance; Civil Action No. 5:l7-cv-01375 in the United States District Court for the (Southern) District of West Virginia. Attorneys Lorie Masters and Michael Levine, Hunton Andrews Kurth (202) 955-1500.
March 21, 2018burld
26
Jan2018
Engaged by insurance agent’s defense counsel to analyze allegations of Insurance Agent Errors and Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith. Case involved multiple Commercial Auto policies, Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability and required analysis of coverage grants for loading/unloading. Dispute followed carrier claim denial due to vehicle in question not being described as a ‘Covered Auto’. Attorneys Amanda Harvey and Kayleigh Watson, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP (214) 698-8000. National Ambulance v. Hija Insurance Agency, et al. Cause No. 2016-52143 In 11th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas.
January 26, 2018burld
24
Jan2018
Retained by defense counsel to provide analysis and opinions regarding Agent Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith relative to a Professional Liability policy renewal. Case included allegations of failure to procure alongside issues of questionable policyholder Medical Malpractice claims reporting. Surplus Lines carrier renewed a Claims Made policy with a material reduction of coverage; subsequent claim denial resulted in litigation involving multiple parties. Attorneys Paul Gerding and Echo Reynolds, Kutak Rock LLP (480) 429-5000. Infini v. Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc., et al; Case No. 2:16-cv-03874-PHX-GMS In The United States District Court, District Of Arizona
January 24, 2018burld