Hunton Insurance Head Comments on Insurance Cases to Watch in 2019
Time 2 Minute Read

As the new year gets under way, cases that will shape the insurance landscape in 2019 continue to proceed.  Among them are First Acceptance Ins. Co. v. Hughes, in which the Georgia Supreme Court will address the prerequisites for a policyholder to sue its insurance carrier for bad faith based on the insurer’s failure to settle the underlying dispute for an amount within the available policy limits.  Hunton Andrews Kurth’s insurance practice head, Walter Andrews, was asked by Insurance Law360 to comment on the significance of that case.  As Andrews explained, the insurer’s position is inconsistent with Georgia law.  "Georgia law does not require some particular form of settlement offer — or even an offer at all — to create an insurer's duty to settle claims against their insureds." Rather, as Andrews explained, “that duty arises when the insurer knows or reasonably should know that not settling will create an 'unreasonable risk' of the insured suffering a judgment in excess of his or her policy limits, regardless of whether a third-party claimant has first presented a settlement offer. Most often, that should be a jury question and not something that is susceptible to summary judgment."

The full Law360 article can be found here.

  • Partner

    Mike is a Legal 500 and Chambers USA-ranked lawyer with more than 25 years of experience litigating insurance disputes and advising clients on insurance coverage matters.

    Mike Levine is a partner in the firm’s Washington, DC ...

You May Also Be Interested In

Time 1 Minute Read

Benchmark Litigation has recognized the following members of Hunton’s insurance coverage team as Litigation Stars: practice head Syed S. Ahmad, partner Walter J. Andrews, and special counsel Lorelie (Lorie) S. Masters. Benchmark’s Litigation Star recognizes individuals who possess a strong case record and are consistently recommended by clients and peers as reputable and effective litigators.

In addition, Benchmark named partner Geoffrey Fehling on its Future Stars list, which recognizes individuals who are consistently referenced by peers and clients as litigators who are building their reputations in the market.

Time 1 Minute Read

Law360 has appointed insurance coverage counsel Jorge R. Aviles to serve on its 2025 Editorial Board for Insurance Authority Specialty Lines. As a member on the Editorial Board, Jorge will provide feedback on publication coverage and insight on how to best shape future coverage. Jorge’s appointment to the Editorial Board reflects Hunton attorneys’ reputations as leaders in the insurance coverage field and recognizes their valuable insights and contributions to thought leadership. Law360 also appointed Hunton partner Gregory G. Hesse to serve on the Editorial Board for Bankruptcy.

Time 1 Minute Read

Still feeling the love from Valentine’s Day, this 2024 Year in Review highlights the most swoon-worthy coverage decisions of 2024 and offers a glimpse of the future of insurance coverage litigation in 2025 and beyond.

In 2024, D&O coverage and core insurance law principles were the true heartthrobs of the year, while rulings on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues showed that insurance disputes can arise in any situation. But the real cupid’s arrow? Policy interpretation—still the key to unlocking these cases. As we reflect on the year, this edition of our Year in Review highlights the most love-worthy coverage decisions of 2024 and examines the evolving landscape of insurance coverage litigation heading into 2025.

Time 1 Minute Read

Benchmark Litigation has named insurance coverage partners Andrea DeField and Geoffrey Fehling to the publication’s 40 & Under List. Benchmark Litigation is the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys. The 40 & Under List honors the most notable up-and-coming litigation attorneys in the United States. Those named to the list have proven their eligibility as individuals at the partner level of their respective firms who are 40 years of age or younger.

Search

Subscribe Arrow

Recent Posts

Categories

Tags

Authors

Archives

Jump to Page