Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

Damages For Future Medical Care Based On Subjective Injuries Requires Expert Support

John Lanza was hurt in a motor vehicle accident.  He settled with the underlying tortfeasor and brought suit against his UIM carrier Progressive Direct.  One issue was whether he would be allowed to claim future damages based upon headaches, neck pain and back pain.  He wanted to recover for the future care he received.  He said that he would have future pain and suffering.  He also claimed that he would lose income based upon time lost at work while seeking that future care.  When … [Read more...]

An Insured Can Seek A Broad Range Of Damages If An Insurer Wrongfully Fails To Defend

In Nevada, if an insurance company breaches its duty to defend, it can expect to face a wide array of possible damagesIf the insured takes up its own defense, the insurer can expect to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the insurer in the defense of the underlying action.  Jaynes Corp. v. Am. Safety Indem. Co., 925 F. Supp. 2d 1095, 1111 (D. Nev. 2012) vacated due to settlement, No. 2:10-CV-00764-MMD, 2014 WL 8735102 (D. Nev. Dec. 3, 2014); see also Reyburn Lawn & Landscape Designers … [Read more...]

Advice On Settling Wrongful Death Claims in Nevada In January 2017 “Nevada Lawyer”

Mike Mills’ article on Settling Wrongful Death Claims in Nevada appeared in the January 2017 issue of the Nevada Lawyer magazine.  Mike was honored to join other legal scholars who covered important topics on Personal Injury Law in Nevada.  Check out Mike’s advice HERE. If you need additional information on this topic, please don’t hesitate to contact Michael C. Mills of Bauman, Loewe, Witt & Maxwell at 702-240-6060 x 114 or contact him by email at mmills@blwmlawfirm.com. … [Read more...]

A Policyholder Cannot Prevail Under NRS 686A.310(f) Unless There Has Been An “Ultimate Recovery”

Hartford’s policyholder was hurt in two separate accidents, once in 2009 and then again in 2010.  She collected policy limit settlements from each tortfeasor.  She then turned to Hartford, her UIM carrier. She demanded a policy limit settlement for each accident. When the parties could not agree on the value of either claim, the policyholder sued Hartford for breach of contract, bad faith and violations of Nevada's Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. (UCSPA). Mueller v. Prop. and Cas. Ins. … [Read more...]

UIM Bad Faith Damages Do Not Include Those Bodily Injury Damages That Are In Excess Of Both The Liability And The UIM Policy Limits

Mr. Bartlett had a dispute with his insurance company. He disagreed with the insurance company’s valuation of his underinsured motorist case. Bartlett sued the tortfeasor and got a judgment against him that was in excess of the torfeasor’s liability limits and in excess of Bartlett’s own underinsured (UIM) motorist coverageWith the judgment in hand, Bartlett filed a suit against his UIM carrier for bad faith.  Bartlett v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., Case No. IP01-0510-C-HG, (D.C. Ind., Nov. … [Read more...]