TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Publication year: 2018

Table of Cases

Note on the Text

Introduction

A. Traditional Tort Damages

B. Punitive Damages Are Now Ubiquitous

Chapter 1 The Tort of Bad Faith

Chapter 2 Bad Faith Cases Against an Insurer

A. Punitive Damages Affirmed Against Insurer

1. Communale v. Traders & General Ins. Co.

2. Critz v. Farmers Ins. Grp.

3. Crisci v. Security Ins. Co.

4. Gruenberg v. Aetna Ins. Co.

5. Egan v. Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co.

6. Fletcher v. Western Nat'l Life Ins. Co.

7. Beck v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.

8. White v. Western Title Ins. Co.

9. McCormick v. Sentinel Life Ins. Co

10. Pacific Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Haslip

11. Other Cases

B. Punitive Damages Refused

1. Eckenrode v. Life of Am. Ins. Co.

2. A.A.A. Pool Serv. & Supply, Inc. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co

3. Hormann v. New Hampshire Ins. Co.

C. There Can Be No Tort of Bad Faith Without Breach of Contract

1. Ortiz v. State Farm Lloyds

D. Imperfect Claims Handling Is Not Bad Faith

1. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. v. Harvey

E. The Denial of a "Fairly Debatable" Claim Avoids Bad Faith Liability

1. Estate of Price v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co.

Chapter 3 A Method to Defeat Bad Faith Suits

A. Excellence in Claims Handling

B. A Proposal to Create Claims Professionals

C. Continuing Education Requirement

D. Fraud Training Requirement

E. Claims Commandments for Excellence in Claims

1. Claims Commandment I – Thou Shalt Confirm Coverage

a. How to Confirm Coverage

b. Communications with the Insured

c. More Required

d. Conclusion

2. Claims Commandment II – Thou Shalt Always Conduct a Thorough Investigation

a. How to Conduct a Thorough Investigation

b. Conclusion

3. Claims Commandment III – Thou Shalt Communicate Often with the Insured

4. Claims Commandment IV – Thou Shalt Understand The Policy

5. Claims Commandment V – Thou Shalt Create Rapport with the Insured

6. Claims Commandment VI – Thou Shalt Document the Claims File

7. Claims Commandment VII – Thou Shalt Never Lie to an Insured

8. Claims Commandment VIII – Thou Shalt Not Suffer Fraud to Succeed

a. What do the Results of the Effort Against Fraud Really Show?

b. What Is Fraud?

c. Investigating Fraud

d. Conclusion

9. Claims Commandment IX – Thou Shalt Not Pretend to Be a Lawyer

10. Claims Commandment X – Thou Shalt Empathize with the Claimant

11. Claims Commandment XI – Thou Shalt Stay with a Claim

12. Claims Commandment XII – Thou Shalt Educate Thyself Continuously

13. Claims Commandment XIII – Thou Shalt Adjust

14. Claims Commandment XIV – Thou Shalt Not Be Cruel

Chapter 4 Limitation on State's Enforcement of Regulation

A. Administrative Law Judge Ruling Changed CDI's Ability to Impose Penalties Against Insurers

B. The Text of the Ruling

Chapter 5 Insured Plaintiff's Trial Preparation and Trial

A. Document Denial of the Claim

B. Initiate the Lawsuit

C. Conduct Discovery

1. E-Discovery

2. Deposing the Claims Adjuster

3. Deposing Insured's Counsel

D. The Use of Experts

1. Do You Need an Expert to Prove Bad Faith?

2. Admissibility of the Expert's Opinion in Federal Court

3. The Expert's Report

4. The

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