Category: Insurance Expert Witness
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Insurance Expert’s Testimony on Industry-Accepted Claims Practices Admitted
This case arises from a claim made by Richard Bernier under the underinsured motorist (“UIM”) coverage provided in his State Farm policy. Bernier was involved in a November 18, 2020 auto accident. He settled the underlying claim for the other driver’s limits of coverage and then sought the maximum available UIM coverage under his own…
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Experts Attempted to Present Legal Opinions Disguised as Industry Standards
Defendants 1536 Blue Jay Way, LLC and Michael Herman (collectively, Blue Jay Way) have brought claims against Defendant LMID, Inc. and others for negligence and negligence per se related to the renovation of a high-end home. Plaintiff Travelers has been defending its insured, Defendant LMID, Inc. (LMID), in state court since June 2020. Travelers has…
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Insurance Expert is Not Allowed to Opine on Structural Design
Plaintiffs, Michael and Karen Green claimed that they had sustained loss as a result of hail and wind. Defendant Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company issued them a homeowner’s policy but when Plaintiffs filed a claim for loss under the policy, it gave rise to this dispute because Nationwide apparently failed to reimburse all covered losses under…
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Appraisal and Valuation Expert is Qualified to Testify about the Value of the Porsche
Joseph Falasco bought a non-functioning 1974 Porsche 911S for $10,000 and put a significant amount of time and money into restoring it, including the installation of a new engine and transmission. Falasco later filed a claim regarding the non-collision fire that destroyed Plaintiff’s 1974 Porsche 911S (the “1974 Porsche”) and ended up suing USAA for…
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Insurance Expert Allowed to Testify Regarding Industry Customs and Practices based on Experience
Plaintiff Jose Verdecia sustained injuries after falling through the ceiling of his home. He claims these injuries and other damages resulted from a misrepresentation by State Farm’s adjuster, Marvin Johnson, who allegedly instructed him to inspect the attic for damage, implying that his claim would be denied otherwise. To support his case, Plaintiff retained Earl…
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Financial Interest & Expert Testimony: When Conflict Arises
The Plaintiff, a synagogue and broadcasting station, filed an insurance claim with Defendant Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company for damage to their custom slate roof caused by a windstorm. They hired Peter Ridulfo of Claims Pro Public Adjusters to assist with the claim. Ridulfo’s compensation was a contingent fee, tied to the amount recovered in the…
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Legal Malpractice Expert Witness Failed to Identify a Measurable Standard of Care
Plaintiff Ansur America Insurance Company (“Ansur”) filed this lawsuit alleging legal malpractice related to a product liability case filed in St. Clair County, Illinois after Defendants, James A. Borland and Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorous CHTD failed to properly manage the defense of the underlying case, resulting in Ansur being forced to settle for an…
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Insurance Expert Witness’ Estimate Excluded Because Unknown Contractors Collected the Data
Plaintiffs Gregory Hebbler and Marion Hebbler contracted with Defendant State Farm Fire and Casualty Company to insure their home located at 6009 Angler Drive, Picayune, Mississippi. On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall, purportedly damaging the residence. When Defendant conducted an on-site inspection and estimated the monetary damage caused by Hurricane Ida, it issued…
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Insurance Expert Witness’ Testimony With Regard to the Contract Interpretation Claims Excluded
Plaintiffs (collectively, Allied World) are insurance companies that denied coverage to Defendant MNS Ltd., a retailer, for liability stemming from MNS’s settlement of a separate class action lawsuit. In the present lawsuit, two sets of claims are teed up: first, whether Allied World owes MNS a duty of coverage under the relevant insurance policies, and…
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Court Refused to Exclude Insurance Expert Witness’ Opinions on Insurance Availability
This case stems from a dispute over a provision of a ground lease between Stewart Development, LLC and 111 Veterans Boulevard, LLC. Stewart owned Heritage Plaza, a Class A office building in Metairie, Louisiana but leases the land on which it sits pursuant to a ground lease. 111 Veterans took over this ground lease in…
