The Louisiana Department of Insurance issued Advisory Letter 2018-01 regarding the interpretation of a named storm or hurricane deductible in Louisiana. Essentially, the named storm or hurricane deductible should only be applied once during a calendar year. If an insured incurs more than one named storm or hurricane loss, the insurer may only apply the balance of any unused separate deductible. Please click here for a copy of the letter.LDI Advisory Letter 2018-01
The Monson Law Firm attorneys Sarah Barro and Blake Lusk recently teamed to deliver a victorious coverage Motion for Summary Judgment. In the case of “Dagoberto Antonio Avila vs. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, et al”, plaintiff, a sushi delivery driver sued Atain Specialty Insurance Company and his employer, Tokyo Sushi, after he was rear-ended while making a delivery. Relying on the Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft exclusion in the Atain policy, the court agreed there was no coverage for plaintiff’s claims and granted summary judgment on behalf of Atain. Please click here for a copy of the judgment. Avila Judgment
Look for The Monson Law Firm attorney Matthew Monson in Dallas tomorrow for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s Women in Insurance Series. Susan Monson, Matthew Monson’s mother, was an insurance executive and her love and support was instrumental in the formation of the firm. Did you know that more than half of the attorneys at our firm are women?
#GirlPower
Happy Father’s Day from The Monson Law Firm! A special thanks to Curtis Monson, father of Matthew Monson, whose example and support made The Monson Law Firm possible.
The Monson Law Firm is please to announce that attorney Ron Hornback has joined our Houston office. From our Houston office, Ron focuses on first-party and third-party defense and handles defense of insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. Ron has jury trial and arbitration experience and has been recognized as a Rising Star for 2018 by Texas Super Lawyers.
Ron has also served our country in the U.S. Army as an officer and aeromedical evacuation pilot, saving over 200 lives while flying both fixed wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
Please join us in welcoming Ron to the firm!
The Monson Law firm attorney Kevin Riche recently defeated plaintiff’s challenge to an appraisal award. In “Leticia Wells v. Southern Fidelity Insurance Company (SFIC)”, presently pending in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Plaintiff challenged the appraisal award, arguing (1) The outcome of the appraisal is not binding; (2) Southern Fidelity’s appraiser failed to assign actual cash value and loss to each item;(3) The appraisal award was not properly itemized in accordance with the policy; and (4) Southern Fidelity’s appraiser was not competent or disinterested. The Honorable Kurt Englehardt disagreed, finding that plaintiff’s arguments were “unconvincing” and granted SFIC’s Motion to Confirm the appraisal award. Please click here for a copy of the Order. Wells Decision
Plaintiff also previously sued both the appraiser and umpire in an apparent attempt to intimidate them. However, The Monson Law Firm coordinated an effort resulting in a voluntary dismissal of both parties.
The Monson Law Firm attorney Matthew Monson is attending the National Flood Conference this week in Washington, D.C. The National Flood Conference is the major annual gathering of all the partners in the National Flood Insurance Program and is intended to motivate and educate audiences about the importance of floodplain management and the benefits of flood insurance. We look forward to seeing our friends and clients!
Please join The Monson Law Firm attorney Lauren Baudot tomorrow morning at the Louisiana Claims Association conference for her talk on Fraud Fighting Policy Provisions. As the premier claims association in Louisiana, the Louisiana Claims Association is dedicated to promoting the highest ethical and professional claims handling standards in the insurance industry through leadership in education, member/chapter coordination and support.
The Monson Law Firm is Exhibiting at the Florida Insurance Fraud Education Conference (FIFEC) this week. Come see us at Booth 8!
For the past 26 years, FIFEC has offered continuous annual training seminars for DIF and SIU investigators, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, insurance carrier adjusters and management, insurance defense attorneys and others in the ongoing fight to combat all forms of insurance fraud.
