Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

Are Motions In Limine Even Worth The Trouble?

Trying a case is an expensive proposition.  The attorneys need to prepare the evidence, the arguments and the examinations.  Clients see any opportunity to economize on the trial prep side as a positive.  In the past, attorneys have made it a practice to file pre-trial motions in limine.  Motions in limine are heard with the hope that the judge will make early evidentiary rulings and thereby speed up the trial.  However, the Nevada Supreme Court case of BMW v. Roth, 127 Nev. Adv. Op. 11 (2011) … [Read more...]

Mills & Associates Joins Tida To Give Back To The Las Vegas Community

Mills & Associates maintains active membership in the Trucking Industry Defense Association, also known as TIDA. TIDA, which was founded in 1993, is a non profit association whose members share knowledge and resources in defense of the trucking industry. TIDA members include motor carriers, trucking insurers, defense attorneys and claims servicing companies. This year, the TIDA held its 19th Annual Industry Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada from October 12, 2011  through October14, 2011.  … [Read more...]

The Burden On Apportionment Of Damages Shifts To The Defendant Where Two Separate Accidents Cause An Inseparable Injury

The Plaintiff usually has the burden to prove that the Defendant was negligent and that the Defendant’s negligence caused him injury.  However, in cases where two accidents happen so close together that one cannot tell which accident caused which injury, what is a Plaintiff to do?  This was the question posed to the Nevada Supreme Court in the case of Kleitz v. Raskin, 103 Nev. 325, 728 P.2d 508 (1987). In Kleitz, the Plaintiff sustained injury in two successive automobile accidents, one … [Read more...]

An Insurance Company Must Respond To A Subpoena Involving Ongoing Third-Party Litigation.

With escalating frequency, we at Mills & Associates are seeing aggressive plaintiffs serve subpoenas directly on the defendant’s insurance carriers.  These subpoenas often request records that the retained defense attorney has already produced.  Sometimes they will request a particular claims adjuster appear and testify about those records.  By doing so, plaintiffs are hoping to identify documents or information that the retained defense attorney has improperly withheld.  We thought our … [Read more...]

Auto Insurance Carriers Cannot Compel Arbitration, But It Never Hurts To Ask

Most auto insurance policies include a provision that allows the insurance company and the insured to arbitrate first party disputes.  However, attempts to compel arbitration under auto insurance contracts are forbidden in Nevada: NRS 690B.017 provides: NRS 690B.017  Provisions for arbitration not binding.  No provision for arbitration contained in an automobile liability or motor vehicle liability insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this State is binding upon the … [Read more...]