Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

An Insured Can Seek A Broad Range Of Damages If An Insurer Wrongfully Fails To Defend

In Nevada, if an insurance company breaches its duty to defend, it can expect to face a wide array of possible damages If the insured takes up its own defense, the insurer can expect to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the insurer in the defense of the underlying action.  Jaynes Corp. v. Am. Safety Indem. Co., 925 F. Supp. 2d 1095, 1111 (D. Nev. 2012) vacated due to settlement, No. 2:10-CV-00764-MMD, 2014 WL 8735102 (D. Nev. Dec. 3, 2014); see also Reyburn Lawn & Landscape Designers … [Read more...]

When Will Nevada Allow An Insurer The Right Of Recoupment?

We know that the duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify.  Benchmark Ins. Co. v. Sparks, 254 P.3d 617, 620-21 (2011). We also know that once the duty to defend kicks in on one claim, the insurance company is obliged to defend the insured on all claims raised in the Complaint. Jaynes Corp. v. Am. Safety Indem. Co., 925 F. Supp. 2d 1095, 1103 (D. Nev., 2012) vacated due to settlement, No. 2:10-CV-00764-MMD, 2014 WL 8735102 (D. Nev. Dec. 3, 2014)   A common example is the case where a … [Read more...]

Settlement, Unsettled

The claimant’s counsel makes a policy limit demand. After receiving authority to settle for the liability limits, you tender the policy limit and your company’s standard Release.  Claimant’s counsel rejects the Release.  Instead, counsel insists on a Covenant Not to Execute.  Why would the attorney do that? This post will hopefully give you more information regarding the distinctions between these two types of settlement documents and the advantages and disadvantages of each. What is the … [Read more...]

A Tale of Two Lawsuits.

It was the best of times for Nevada Direct Insurance Company. It was the worst of times for injured parties Michael and Sharon Smith. You see, the Smiths were hurt in an auto accident with a Nevada Direct policyholder Kuperman. Nevada Direct tried unsuccessfully to enlist Kuperman's cooperation in dealing with the Smiths’ claim. When Kuperman failed to cooperate, Nevada Direct filed a declaratory relief action against Kuperman, the Smiths and another injured party, Ms. Fields claiming the … [Read more...]

What do Mike Mills, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Independent Counsel Have in Common?

As reported a few weeks ago, your favorite Nevada Insurance, Coverage and Trucking law blogger, Mike Mills of Bauman, Lowe, Witt and Maxwell was asked to present at the annual Defense Research Institute (DRI) annual Insurance Claims and Coverage Institute conference.  The conference convened in Chicago in April. Mike presented “Evolution of Independent Counsel: The Nevada Experience” to almost 500 DRI members and attendees including defense & coverage counsel and insurance claims … [Read more...]