Category: Insurance Expert Witness
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Insurance Expert Allowed to Opine on Claims Handling
This is an insurance coverage and bad faith action involving a water loss under a homeowners policy. Safeco issued a homeowners policy to Plaintiffs Tessa and Tyrell Bradley for the policy period from September 24, 2022, to September 24, 2023 (the “Policy”). The claim arose in December 2022, when the Bradleys reported that a hot…
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Insurance Expert Was Allowed to Opine on Damage Causation
This case involves allegations of underpayment and nonpayment under an insurance policy. Ategrity Specialty Insurance Company issued Policy No. 01-C-PK-P20064154-0 to 707 FWY Investments, LLC with effective dates of September 12, 2022, to September 12, 2023. Plaintiff leased out this structure to commercial tenants. The roof collapsed and then several severe rain and windstorms allowed…
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Construction Expert’s Opinions on Typical Overhead and Profit Margins Admitted
This litigation arises from hail damage to a hotel owned by Defendants, Merryton Bossier, LLC, Grace Chiao, and Hui Ping Lee (collectively, “Merryton”) in Bossier City, Louisiana, in 2020. Merryton engaged Stonewater Roofing LTD. Co., LLC to perform roof repairs, contingent upon insurance approval by Scottsdale Insurance Company (“Scottsdale”). After appraisers assessed the damage, Scottsdale…
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Insurance Expert’s Testimony on Overhead and Profit Calculations Admitted
Plaintiff Nirangtar LLC (d/b/a Red Roof Inn Cave City) (“Red Roof”) alleged that a storm caused damage to its property. At the time of the loss, Red Roof had an insurance policy with Defendant Navigators Specialty Insurance Company (“Navigators”). Because Navigators has not paid Red Roof for its claimed losses, Red Roof filed suit in…
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Insurance Expert’s Testimony on Legal Obligations Excluded
Plaintiff The Lucia Family Trust (“Plaintiff” or the “Trust”) and non-party Daniel Unrein had a homeowners insurance policy (the “Policy”) with Defendant American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. (“Defendant” or “American Family”). The policy covered a property located in Denver, Colorado (the “Property”). A fire occurred at the property in September 2021, and Unrein submitted…
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Insurance Expert Permitted to Testify Despite Lacking Specific Certifications
Plaintiffs Diane Watts, Anthony Watts, and Adam Pizzitola (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) purchased car insurance policies from Defendants Liberty Mutual Personal Insurance Company. In relevant part, the policies contained an Optional Transportation Expenses Coverage endorsement which provided that, in the event of an accident, LMPIC would pay the expense of a rental vehicle while repairs were performed…
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Insurance Expert’s Testimony on Market Multiples Range Excluded
The matter before the Court stems from Plaintiff USI Insurance Services LLC’s (“USI”) lawsuit against Defendants Alliant Insurance Services Incorporated (“Alliant”), William J. Havard III, Robert Engles, Jenise Purser, and Justin Walsh (collectively, “Defendants,” or without referring to Alliant, the “Individual Defendants”) relating to allegations that, among other things, they engaged in the improper solicitation…
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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…
