Engaged by policyholder counsel as their designated expert for Agents Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith to evaluate issues regarding failure to procure proper insurance coverage. Case involved claim denial of a large wood kiln fire loss due to improperly structured Property. Boiler & Machinery and Business Income Insurance. Attorney Brady Rife, McNeeley Stephenson Attorneys (317) 825-5110. Kustom Kilns v. Nuthak, In Shelby County Superior Court I, State of Indiana, Cause No. 73D01-1502-CT-5.
Category: Insurance Bad Faith
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
26
Oct2015
Engaged by defense counsel to evaluate Insurance Bad Faith and Agents Errors & Omissions allegations resulting from a dwelling total fire loss. Case required expertise with Homeowners insurance to value / replacement cost software used for underwriting. Attorneys Eric Van Beber and Leilani Leighton (913) 888-1000, Wallace Saunders Attorneys. Lawson v. Standard Fire Insurance Co, Case No. 1416-CV04078 In The Circuit Court of Jasper County Missouri, Division I, at Joplin.
October 26, 2015Don Hirsch
22
Aug2015
Engaged by policyholder counsel as their Commercial Auto, Agent Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith expert. Case involved a large deductible Garage Liability policy and renewal changes to “Who is an Insured”. Dispute resulted from higher limits of liability being extended to customers than those provided under prior policies. Group 1 Automotive v. Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.; Civil Action No. 1:14cv334HSO-JCG In The United States District Court Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. Attorneys Fred Feeney and Nathan Burrow, Franke & Salloum, PLLC (228) 868-7070
August 22, 2015burld
02
Aug2015
Engaged by policyholder counsel to analyze and opine on claims handling practices for cattle theft claims under a Farm & Ranch policy. Case required analysis of cattle buy/sell inventory records and inconsistencies in adjuster’s claims log entries. Attorneys Paul Bezney and Marlene Thomson (214) 740-2500, Adkerson, Hauder & Bezney, P.C. Linn v. Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Case No. CJ2014-38 In The District Court of Grady County Oklahoma.
August 2, 2015Don Hirsch
29
Jul2015
Engaged by policyholder counsel to evaluate Insurance Bad Faith relative to Homeowners policies claims handling custom and practice. Litigation resulted from a near-total dwelling fire loss, followed by a second total fire loss after repairs were substantially completed. The central issue in this matter was how and when limits are reinstated under a Homeowners policy as stages of repairs are completed. Attorney Manny Guerra, Guerra Law Office (713) 993-2342. Treviño v. Travelers; Case No. 7:15-cv-00034, In The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division.
July 29, 2015Don Hirsch
21
Jul2015
Engaged by policyholder counsel to evaluate claims handling practices of excess layers carrier(s). Case involved Energy Exploration and Development/Operators Extra Expense offshore “removal of wreck and debris” claims resulting from Hurricane Ike. Engagement required analysis of Surplus Lines Umbrella policies coverage trigger(s) relative to exhaustion of underlying insurance limits. W&T Offshore v. National Liability & Fire Insurance Co., et al; C.A. NO. 4:14-CV-02740, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas Houston Division. Attorney Matthew Parrish, Taunton, Snyder & Slade (713) 993-2342.
July 21, 2015burld
09
Jul2015
Engaged by policyholder counsel to analyze primary and excess carriers’ claims handling practices relative to denial of a multi-million dollar claim for theft of bitumen being stored in China. Both Inland Marine and Ocean Marine coverage was afforded under a single Marine Open Cargo policy form. Engagement required analysis of manuscript Marine Insurance policy forms relative to Bulk Oil Clauses, bills of lading and bailee interests. Great American v. Castleton; Civil Action No. 15-cv-03976-JSR In United States District Court For The Southern District of New York. Attorneys John Shugrue and Caroline Upton, Reed Smith, LLP (312) 207-1000.
July 9, 2015Don Hirsch
06
Jun2015
Engaged by insurance agent’s defense counsel and designated as their Agent Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith expert. Case involved Certificates of Liability Insurance issued after a policyholder declined renewal of a Commercial Umbrella. Litigation resulted from an injury to a bounce house patron, and whether the successor policyholder had Commercial General Liability with/without Commercial Umbrella coverage. Attorney George Carr, Janik LLP (440) 740-3016. KMAG v. Chubb, Case No. 1:15CV66 in United States District Court Northeastern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.
June 6, 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