In December 2024, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals rendered a significant opinion in Troung v. Sanders, et al., addressing the contentious issue of “betterment deductions” in third- party property damage claims.[1] Louisiana law allows for a betterment deduction, …
In a recent decision, First United Pentecostal Church v. Church Mutual Insurance Company, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reaffirmed the principle that an insured must provide adequate evidence that the insurer’s conduct was “arbitrary, capricious, …
A prompt response is critical when disaster strikes, but as the Fifth Circuit recently ruled, delays may be excusable in certain circumstances. In First United Pentecostal Church v. Church Mut. Ins. Co., No. 23-30779, 2024 WL 4511240 (5th Cir. Oct. …
The Fine Line Between Delay and Bad Faith: Insights from the Fifth Circuit. Read more »
There must be something in the water or the plaintiff’s bar just had a conference where the keynote speaker addressed strategies for putting pressure on insurers by issuing time-limited demands (“TLD”) because we have been asked by several insurer clients …
In Brodowy v. Progressive Direct Ins. Co., the Ninth Circuit affirms the district court’s granting of Progressive Direct Insurance Company’s (“Progressive”) motion for summary judgment as to claims alleging bad faith and violations of Montana’s Unfair Trade Practices Act (“UTPA”), …
Introduction Insurers are frequently asked to satisfy their duty of good faith and fair dealing by entertaining reasonable settlement offers within the combined limits of the policies. However, primary and excess insurers do not always agree whether a particular claim …
Next Steps for an Excess Insurer After an Unsuccessful Hammer Letter Read more »
The start of 2024 marked the end of an insurance era in Oregon. On December 29, 2023—the last Friday before the new year—the Oregon Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated decision in Moody v. Oregon Community Credit Union, et al., 371 …
In an unexpected and last minute turn of events, the Oregon legislature failed to pass a final-stage version of House Bill 3242 before its regular session adjourned on June 25, 2023 for the remainder of the year. Generally, if HB …
Oregon Legislature Falls Short On Passage of Statutory Bad Faith Cause of Action Read more »
In its recent decision, Brink v. Direct General Ins. Co., 38 F.4th 917 (11th Cir. 2022), the Eleventh Circuit ruled 2-1 that the Florida district court erred when it failed to instruct a jury that an insurer not only owed …
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently affirmed a long-standing Texas rule: the duty to defend is not implicated unless the insured complies with the policy’s notice-of-suit requirements and demands a defense. Moreno v. Sentinel Ins. …
Under Texas Law, No Tender Means No Obligation To Defend Read more »