Advanced Insurance Bad Faith in WA May 19, 2021

Course Content

1. Washington Bad Faith Law Update and Hotly Contested Claims/Case Law
2. Applying the Latest Case Law: Skillfully Interpreting The Policy, Language, Terms and Coverage
3. Issues with Multiple Claimants or Defendants
4. Strategic Discovery of Claims Handling: Secrets Insurance Adjusters Don’t Want You to Know
5. Institutional Bad Faith: Industry Standards, Carrier Compensation Programs, Claims Process, Case Law and More
6. Adjuster and Bad Faith Expert Witness Deposition and Examination Tactics
7. Damages in Bad Faith Cases: Tactics to Maximize/Minimize

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Pacific time

1. Washington Bad Faith Law Update and Hotly Contested Claims/Case Law
   9:00 – 9:30, Martin J. Pujolar
   1. Trends, New Legislative Initiatives
   2. Hotly Contested Claims and Case Law in Bad Faith
   3. Expert Advice on the Insurance Code and Regulation Update
   4. Privilege and Work Product Doctrine in Bad Faith Litigation
   5. Q&A
2. Applying the Latest Case Law: Skillfully Interpreting The Policy, Language, Terms and Coverage
   9:30 – 10:25, Thomas Lether
   1. Sample Discovery Requests Directed to the Insurance Company and Adjuster
   2. Was the Duty to Defend Triggered?
   3. Deliberate Misinterpretation of Policy Language
   4. Deny or Disclaim of Coverage
   5. Disclosure of Policy Limits; Explanation of Applicable Provisions
   6. Explanation of Exclusions in the Policy
   7. Reservation of Rights Defense Strategies
   8. Evidence of Excess Verdict Bad Faith
   9. Bad Faith Without Coverage
3. Issues with Multiple Claimants or Defendants
   10:40 – 11:35, Monica Kim Sham
   1. Obligations in a Coverage Investigation
   2. Digging Deep into the History of the Claimants (Previous Claims, Financial Status, Etc.)
   3. Common Claimant Pitfalls
   4. Fraud by Insured?
4. Strategic Discovery of Claims Handling: Secrets Insurance Adjusters Don’t Want You to Know
   11:35 – 12:30, Robert Bohm
   1. Avoiding Payment of Claim
   2. Failure to Properly Investigate (Proper Procedures, etc.)
   3. Failure to Settle or Resolve Claim; Coercive Tactics to Settle the Claim
   4. Use of Improper Standards to Deny or Denial of Claim
   5. Unreasonable Demands for Proof of Loss
5. Institutional Bad Faith: Industry Standards, Carrier Compensation Programs, Claims Process, Case Law and More
   1:30 – 2:25, Michael N. Poli
   1. Discovery of Industry Standards
   2. Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and “General Business Practice”
   3. Carrier Compensation Programs
   4. Carrier and Claim Department Relationship
   5. “Pattern and Practice” Discovery
   6. Advertising/Marketing Documents
   7. Claim Audits, Claims Paid by Carrier
   8. Insurance Carrier Recidivism
6. Adjuster and Bad Faith Expert Witness Deposition and Examination Tactics
   2:25 – 3:20, Eric J. Neal
   1. Plaintiff’s Lawyer’s Ex Parte Communications with the Adjuster
   2. Duties and Obligations Owed by Adjuster/Insurance Company
   3. Training Documents/Training Received
   4. Evidence That Proves Violation of Industry Standards
   5. Malicious/Oppressive/Fraudulent Behavior
   6. Proving Advance Knowledge and Conscious Disregard
   7. Authorization of the Employee’s Acts? Repeated Actions?
7. Damages in Bad Faith Cases: Tactics to Maximize/Minimize
   3:35 – 4:30, Eliot M. Harris
   1. Contractual Damages
   2. Extracontractual Damages
      1. Bad Faith
      2. Consumer Protection Act
      3. Insurance Fair Conduct Act
      4. Negligence
      5. Miscellaneous Extracontractual Claims
      6. Attorneys’ Fees under Olympic Steamship and Otherwise
      7. Prejudgment Interest