Blog & Updates
Washington Caselaw Update
On Thursday, April 27, 2017, the Washington Supreme Court issued a new decision that may have a significant impact on the business of insurance in the State of Washington. The new decision, Xia v. Probuilders Specialty Ins. Co., is the first Washington appellate...
Case Law Update – Washington
A reasonable denial of coverage. Based on the weight of legal authority, insurers might wonder if such a thing even exists in Washington. A new decision from the Western District of Washington demonstrates that insurers will not always find themselves in peril after...
Oregon Supreme Court Expands Availability of Attorney Fee Awards under ORS 742.061
Oregon Supreme Court Expands Availability of Attorney Fee Awards under ORS 742.061 For years, Oregon’s primary legislative device for compelling prompt settlement of insurance claims has been the availability of an attorney fee award for insureds who recover more than...
Xia v. ProBuilders – Motion for Reconsideration Denied
On August 17, 2017, the Washington State Supreme Court denied a Motion for Reconsideration of its April 27, 2017 decision in Xia v. ProBuilders Specialty Ins. Co., 188 Wn.2d 171, 393 P.3d 748, 2017 Wash. LEXIS 443, 2017 WL 1532219 (Wash. Apr. 27, 2017) As we reported...
Washington Supreme Court Addresses the Insurance Fair Conduct Act
Washington Supreme Court Addresses the Insurance Fair Conduct Act Perez-Crisantos v. State Farm et al., Wash. Sup. Ct., No. 92267-5, (February 2, 2017), is perhaps the most favorable ruling for insurers from the Washington Supreme Court in the past several years. The...
Crowthers v. Travelers: The Federal Court Gets It Right Again on IFCA
Crowthers v. Travelers: The Federal Court Gets It Right Again on IFCA The Washington State Insurance Fair Conduct Act, commonly referred to as “IFCA”, continues to cause significant concern among insurers conducting business in the State of Washington. The lack of any...
Construction in Seattle – An All Time High
As most insurers and lawyers in the Northwest know, construction in the Northwest region of the United States is at a record level. What many people do not understand, however, is just how dramatic this increase is. If you are not from the Northwest, you may not...
Fraudulent Water Damage Claims “Arson In The 21st Century”
Since 1988, Tom Lether has represented national and local insurers in first-party arson claims. Utilizing examinations under oath, requests for information, forensic experts, and other investigatory tools, Lether & Associates has been involved in some of the...
Recent Oregon Supreme Court Decision
Yesterday, the Oregon Supreme Court issued a decision clarifying the statute of limitation for negligent construction claims. In Goodwin v. Kingsmen Plastering Inc., 359 Or. 694 (June 16, 2016), the Court was asked to identify the period of limitations for a negligent...