Blog & Updates
Washington Insurance Commissioner Discusses Proposed Restitution Bill
In November, several new faces were elected to various positions within the Washington State government. This includes Patty Kuderer, who defeated Phil Fortunato to become Washington’s new Insurance Commissioner. Recently, an AM Best report revealed some of the areas...
Washington Court Reaffirms Insurers’ Right to Participate in Reasonableness Hearings
On October 28, 2024, the Washington State Court of Appeals considered the validity of a reasonableness determination obtained without proper notice to the liability insurer, and held that without proper notice, the liability insurer is not bound to the reasonableness...
Clearly Applicable Policy Exclusions and the Duty to Defend
On August 21, 2024, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an unpublished opinion in Sec. Nat’l Ins. Co. v. Urberg, Case No. 23-35228, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 21365, 2024 WL 3912582 (9th Cir. Aug. 21, 2024) affirming the dismissal of the appellants’ claims against...
Labor Day: Office Hours & the Evolution of Workers’ Insurance
As Labor Day approaches, we at Lether Law Group want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication that you and countless others demonstrate every day. Labor Day, observed on the first Monday of September, is a time to honor the achievements...
Ninth Circuit Partially Revise Class Action Claims Against State Farm
On Monday, August 19, 2024, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a published opinion in Jama, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., et al, No. 22-35499, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 20881, __ F.4th___ (9th Cir. 2024) reversing in part a Western District of...
Understanding the Impact of OFAC Advisory Notices on Insurance Policies
One of the most unusual notices that exists in many policies is the OFAC Advisory Notice. This notice, which can function to freeze or block an insurance contract, is rarely considered by claims professionals or insureds. So, what is OFAC? OFAC stands for the Office...
Washington State Supreme Court Clarifies Law on “Reasonable Investigation” and Determination of “Reasonable” Charges for Personal Injury Protection Claims
On February 15, 2024, the Washington State Supreme Court issued its decision in Schiff v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 101576-3, which examined “… what an insurer must do to meet the ‘reasonable investigation’ requirement and the requirement...
Oregon Supreme Court Unilaterally Creates “Negligence” Cause of Action Against Insurers
On December 29, 2023, the Oregon Supreme Court effectively created new bad faith liability exposure for insurers doing business in Oregon when it issued its opinion in Moody v. Or. Cmty. Credit Union, 371 Ore. 772, 2023 Ore. LEXIS 692 (2023). In Moody, an insured sued...
Season of Giving
Lether Law Group's Heartfelt Charitable Endeavors This Holiday Season, Lether Law Group is proud to highlight our participation in several impactful charitable initiatives, underscoring our commitment to giving back to the community and making a positive difference....