Policyholders vs. Insurers: 3 Arguments to Make When Selecting Defense Counsel & Hourly Rates
Day 2 of One Month to Better Investigations and Reporting-Selection of Investigative Counsel
This is the first in a series of discussions about issues that arise on a regular basis after policyholders file an insurance claim. Many liability insurance policies require the insurer to defend the insured. This “duty...more
Civil Code section 2860 authorizes the retention of independent counsel in the event a conflict of interest arises between the insurer and its insured. Under the statute a conflict of interest is deemed to arise “when an...more
It is a settled principle of insurance law that a liability insurer’s duty to defend is broader than its duty to indemnify. In most jurisdictions, if any portion of a complaint against a policyholder is even potentially...more
In this episode, Eric Jesse explains ways to prevent your insurer from taking a one-size-fits-all approach to its defense obligations, from asserting your right to select your own counsel to challenging its definition of...more
A cornerstone of California law is that the duty to defend arises whenever the lawsuit against the insured seeks damages on any theory that, if proved, would be covered by the policy. Indeed the duty to defend is so broad...more
In Mount Vernon Fire Ins. Co. v. VisionAid, Inc., No. 15-1351P2-01A (1st Cir. Nov. 15, 2017), the First Circuit Court of Appeals ended long-running insurance coverage litigation arising from policyholder VisionAid, Inc.’s...more
On August 10, 2015, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision that could have broad implications regarding an insurer’s right to seek reimbursement of unreasonable fees and costs directly from so-called Cumis...more
A bill recently introduced in the Illinois State Senate known as the Insureds Independent Counsel Act, while, if enacted, will only apply in that State, is instructive as to when an insurance company must supply independent...more
“The insurer’s obligation to pay fees to the independent counsel selected by the insured is limited to the rates which are actually paid by the insurer to attorneys retained by it in the ordinary course of business in the...more
Policyholder Entitled to Select Counsel, Even Where Insurer Withdrew Reservation of Rights - Why it matters: An insured dissatisfied with counsel selected by its insurer was entitled to select counsel of its...more
In Schaefer v. Elder, 2013 DJDAR 7434 (2013), the California Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District decided an interesting case under the Cumis doctrine contained in California Civil Code Section 2860. The court of...more
Policyholders Who Audit Their Policy Language Before Coverage Disputes Arise Can Avoid Problems Down The Road - Policyholders purchase excess insurance policies to provide themselves with additional layers of...more
On June 10, 2013, Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon signed into law a significant amendment to the Oregon Environmental Cleanup Assistance Act, ORS 465.475 et seq. (the “OECAA Amendment”)....more