Bad faith claims have the potential to result in extra-contractual exposure, including punitive damages. For five decades, the attorneys at Neil Dymott Hudson have represented primary and excess insurers in complex litigation before arbitration panels, state, and federal courts as well as before the California Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. As a result, we know how plaintiffs develop bad faith claims and what it takes to defend — and even prevent — bad faith disputes.
At Neil Dymott Hudson, we routinely represent insurance carriers and related entities in lawsuits alleging “bad faith” and other claims arising out of complex first party and third-party property/casualty insurance matters including insurance code violations and insurer negligence. We understand coverage issues, the trends in such disputes, and how they must be addressed to minimize the risk of a “bad faith” claim. We have developed significant expertise and acquired extensive experience in matters concerning policy conditions, disputes over termination, coverage issues, policy defenses and litigation and settlement strategy. Using this knowledge, we prepare defense strategies for our clients and provide coverage opinions to help them understand how they should adapt their practices to avoid potential disputes.
Our highly respected attorneys are recognized as leaders in the field of insurance litigation. Neil Dymott Hudson attorneys have extensive jury trial experience in both state and federal court. They have also argued insurance matters in both state and federal appellate courts. Neil Dymott Hudson’s experience extends to evaluating underwriting standards, complying with regulations, formulating coverage opinions, and advising on claims-handling procedures to avoid extra-contractual exposure.
Avoiding the risk of claims disputes and vigorously defending those that do occur is essential for survival in the insurance industry. Successful insurance defense requires a focus on risk avoidance, in-depth understanding of coverage issues and bad faith, and the ability to aggressively advocate on clients’ behalf.
