In Part I of this series, we explored the differences between institutional and non-institutional bad faith. For claims of institutional bad faith, plaintiffs often attempt to demonstrate a pattern and practice by offering evidence of claims of other policyholders. Unlike …
Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part III – Proof by Other Claims Read more »
In Part I of this series, we discussed institutional bad faith and best practices for insurers to minimize the risk of these costly and intrusive lawsuits. In Part II, we will focus on cutting discovery off at the pleadings—by narrowing …
Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part II – Focusing on Plausibility Read more »
Broadly speaking, there are two types of bad faith claims that may be alleged against an insurance company—traditional or non-institutional bad faith, and institutional bad faith. For the former, a policyholder would seek to hold an insurer liable for its …
Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part I – A Primer on Institutional Bad Faith Read more »
The Florida Supreme Court recently decided Harvey v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., No. SC17-85, 2018 WL 4496566, at *1 (Fla. Sept. 20, 2018), an important case setting forth what many will try to argue has lessened the standard for bad …
The Third District Court of Appeals finding recently held that in certain circumstances, a third party can maintain a bad faith claim against an insurer even if the insured is not exposed to liability in excess of the policy limits. …
Insurance companies that write property risks in Florida are getting in line to request approval from the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) for two key policy revisions intended to control losses from a water damage property claim practice called “assignment …
Petitioner Adrian Fridman (“Fridman”) was injured in an automobile accident involving an underinsured motorist. Fridman filed a claim with his uninsured/underinsured (UM) insurance carrier (Insurer) for the $50,000 limits of his UM policy. After the Insurer refused to pay the …
In a new decision, Mesa v. Clarendon National Ins. Co., 2015 WL 5059496, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 15203 (11th Cir., Aug. 28, 2015), the Court of Appeals found that the insurer’s claims-handling of multiple claimants did not rise to the …
Eleventh Circuit Finds No Bad Faith in Multiple-Claimant Claims-Handing Situation Read more »
Any Insurer issuing liability policies in Florida should be aware of the requirement of Florida’s Claims Administration Statute, § 627.426, or risk waiving viable “coverage defenses.” The definition of “coverage defense” under the statute has been the subject of …
Florida’s Claims Administration Statute – Use It or Lose Your “Coverage Defense” Read more »
On Wednesday, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal issued an opinion concerning the prerequisites for bringing bad faith claims in Florida. In an en banc ruling, the Court held in Cammarata v. State Farm Florida Ins. Co., 2014 WL 4327948 …