Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

Archives for February 2014

Investigating Death During A Life Policy’s Contestability Period Is Not Bad Faith

The story goes that back in the 19th century, some life insurance companies were not fond of paying claims.  Apparently, after the insured died, life insurance companies would regularly investigate and if a misstatement was found in the application, would then deny the claims.  According to Steven Rothschild of the LIFE Foundation, the various states responded by passing incontestability statutes.  Absent outright fraud, or failure to pay premiums, these incontestability statutes limited the … [Read more...]

As Between Intentional And Negligent Joint Tortfeasors, The Negligent Tortfeasor Is Severally Liable While The Intentional Tortfeasor Is Liable Both Jointly And Severally.

According to its web site, CAFE MODA is the “Hottest Local Filipino Spot In Las Vegas”.  A few years back, things got hotter than expected when Palma and Richards got into a fight while on the cafe’s premises.  Richards stabbed Palma.  Palma sued Richards and Cafe Moda.  At the civil trial, the jury found both Richards and the cafe liable for Palma’s injuries, Palma for the intentional tort of assault and the cafe for negligence.  The jury apportioned damages at 80% to Richards and 20% to Cafe … [Read more...]

A Nevada Insurance Company Does Not Commit Bad Faith By Simply Denying A Claim

Luck was not with Jose Montes.  He was hurt in a very serious motor accident.  He was hospitalized for six weeks and spent 46 weeks at home recovering.  Lucky for Mr. Montes he had purchased an accident insurance policy through agent Bank of America from insurer National Union Fire Insurance Company.  Unlucky though because when he made claim for benefits under the policy his claim was denied.  He believed that the insurance should have paid and that the exceptions to coverage were fraudulently … [Read more...]