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The Monson Law Firm attended the Young Insurance Professionals of Louisiana’s 2016 Annual Winter Conference in Lafayette. This year’s conference offered 6 hours of continuing education on the following topics: “Who’s Insured on What Auto, Determining Insured Status on Commercial and Business Auto Policies and Turning Your Technical Knowledge Into Dollars.” We would like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at the World Series Exhibit Hall, we look forward to seeing you again next year! Pictured are Matthew Monson, Esq. and Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA.

The Monson Law Firm attended the Louisiana 1752 Club’s annual meeting in Lafayette. The mission statement of the 1752 Club is, “To Unite and Inspire Insurance Marketing Professionals to Excellence by Networking, Training, and Mentoring.” Congratulations to Andrew Marin for being elected to serve on the 2016 Board of Directors. Pictured are Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA, Marketing Director of The Monson Law Firm and Andrew Marin with Americas Insurance Company.

Attorneys Blake Lusk and Donald J. Latuso, Jr. were recently successful in winning summary judgment on behalf of Southern Fidelity Insurance Company in the Eastern District of Louisiana before the Honorable Ivan Lemelle in the case entitled “Rachel Dubois, et al. v. Southern Fidelity Insurance Company”.  In this case, plaintiffs made claim for bad faith damages after the 2013 hailstorm.  The court recognized that plaintiff’s previous claims for Hurricane Isaac damages, which were paid in full by SFIC, gave SFIC the “reasonable basis to not immediately pay or offer to settle plaintiffs’ claims” related to the subsequent hailstorm.  Accordingly, the court held that SFIC provided evidence to support its position that it “had a reasonable basis to defend the claims and that there was a genuine dispute over the amount of the loss so as to bar the assessment of fees.”

Click here for a copy of the Judgment.

While most other law firms are hesitant to file bad faith Motions for Summary Judgment, The Monson Law Firm wins them.  If your company is in need of defense of Bad Faith claims in Louisiana and Texas, contact The Monson Law Firm today!

The Monson Law Firm attended the Baton Rouge Chapter of Professional Insurance Agents February lunch meeting at Oak Lodge. We learned from State Representatives, Chad Brown-District 60 and Rick Edmonds- District 66 of Baton Rouge. Chad and Rick spoke on the upcoming legislative session and what changes they plan to make with state budget crisis. The 2016 First Extraordinary Session starts this Sunday, February 14 at 4:00 pm. For more information on the session you can visit the Louisiana State Legislatures website at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Home.aspx. Pictured are Chad Brown, State Representative, District 60, Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA and Rick Edmonds, State Representative 66. Click here to view pictures!

Thank you to The Williams Team for helping our counselors with a kick start the crawfish season in style. We are grateful for our relationship with Louis Williams, Whitney Hartson and the rest of The Williams Team! Click here to view pictures!

Today we celebrate our 5th anniversary. We want to thank our family, friends and clients for making this possible. We look forward to serving you for many years to come! Click here to view pictures!

Three of The Monson Law Firm’s attorneys were recently nominated and selected to the 2016 Louisiana Rising Stars list for the Super Lawyers Magazine. Only 2.5% of attorneys are selected to Rising Stars. We are proud that 43% of The Monson Law Firm’s attorneys are officially Super Lawyer Rising Stars. Sarah Murphy Barro was selected for the practice area of Employment Litigation Defense. Donald Latuso and Laura Abel were each selected for the practice area of Insurance Coverage. Congratulations! Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm was represented at the Risk Management Society’s luncheon at Mr. B’s Bistro. The topic of the RIMS meeting was how to prepare claims adjusters and client representatives for depositions. Pictured are Chris Wilson with Midlands Management, Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA with The Monson Law Firm and Brittany Davis Stoudt with Emergency Restoration, Inc. Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law firm attended the Louisiana Pond’s Honorable Order of Blue Goose dinner meeting at Don’s in Metairie. We enjoyed learning what the future generation’s workplace will look like in the insurance industry for Generation X and Millennials. Pictured are Lyndsey Manalla Graham with Servpro Industries, Inc. and Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA, Marketing Director of The Monson Law Firm.  Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the Baton Rouge Chapter of Independent Insurance Agents January Installation Luncheon at Ruffino’s. We enjoyed hearing guest speaker, IIABA Chairman, Randy Lanoix, give an update on what the IIABA is working on this next year and what his goals are as the National Chairman. Randy is the owner of Lanoix Insurance located in Lutcher and Port Allen. Pictured are Randy Lanoix, CIC, Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA and Matthew Monson, Esq. Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the Northshore Claims Association’s January lunch meeting at The Chimes in Covington. We enjoyed hearing St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Elect, Randy Smith, speak on his future plans for the parish when he takes office in July. Randy is a 28-year veteran law enforcement officer and a lifetime resident of St. Tammany Parish. He has served as Chief of Police for the City of Slidell since 2010. Pictured are Matthew Monson, Esq., Randy Smith, Sheriff Elect, Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA and Randy Jackson with Abercrombie, Simmons & Gillette, Inc.

Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the New Orleans Chapter of Professional Insurance Agents January luncheon at Impastato’s restaurant in Metairie. We learned from guest speaker, Brady Holley, on the topic of Personal Protection with Firearms. Brady is the owner of Holley Tactical Training Institute located in Abbeville, Louisiana. Pictured are Brady Holley, Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA and Alicia Stanley, N.O. PIA President. Click here to view pictures!

The Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal recently granted a writ filed by The Monson Law Firm attorneys Sarah Barro and Laura Abel in relation to an insurance coverage dispute.  In “Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation v. Bertha Cooper, et al.,” Gloria McKee was bit by Bertha Cooper’s dog while delivering meals on behalf of her employer.  Capitol Preferred Insurance Company (“CPIC”) was sued in its capacity as Ms. Cooper’s homeowners’ insurer.  CPIC filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, asserting that an Animal Liability Exclusion in Cooper’s policy excluded coverage for the plaintiff’s claims.  The district court denied CPIC’s motion because the Animal Liability Exclusion in Cooper’s policy had a signature line, but was unsigned.  However, the First Circuit overturned this decision, ruling that the Animal Liability Exclusion was enforceable, despite the lack of a signature on the exclusion page.  In support of the decision, the First Circuit cited Reaux v. Moresi, 120 So.3d 959 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 8/28/13), a case in which The Monson Law Firm attorneys Donald Latuso and Laura Abel successfully argued the same issue before the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal in 2013.  Pursuant to the First Circuit’s decision, all claims against CPIC were dismissed, with prejudice.

Click here for a copy of the decision.

The Monson Law Firm teamed up with the Louisiana State Bar Association/Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Community Action Committee to participate in the 2015 Secret Santa Project. We want to thank our generous attorneys for helping to brighten the holidays for children and families in need this Christmas! Pictured are Rachel Flarity, Janna Underhill, Donald Latuso, Sarah Barro and Laura Abel. Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the Young Insurance Professionals Annual “Holiday at the Races” in New Orleans. We would like to thank Noel Bunol with National General Insurance for teaching a 3 hour continuing education course on the topic of Flood Facts and Program Updates for Louisiana. Pictured are Jennifer Engle, with MDD Forensic Accountants, Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA and Allison Salter with Guarantee Service Team of Professionals. Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the Risk Management Society’s Christmas Luncheon at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Donations were given to the Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Michael’s Special School, Boys Hope/Girls Hope, Hope Stone NOLA, ULL Risk Management Program and Easter Seals Disability Services for a grand total of $6,000! RIMS also collected socks for the Center of Jesus the Lord Homeless Ministry Sock Drive. Pictured are Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA, Stephen Trauth with U.S. Health and Environmental Liability Management, LLC, Susan Piasant with LWCC, Coco Bendernagel with Younger and Associates and Carol Osborne with Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group. Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the New Orleans Chapter of Professional Insurance Agents Annual Installation and Christmas Banquet at the New Orleans Country Club. Congratulations to Alicia Stanely who was sworn in as the 2016 President. Alicia is the first national carrier representative in the history of this chapter to be elected president and she is the first Markel FirstComp employee to hold the title of president for a major insurance association. We would also like to congratulate all the newly installed 2016 officers and directors! Pictured are Chad and Alicia Stanley, Ann’Lee Earles and Graham Inman, Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance, Jim Donelon, Matthew and Kathy Monson. Click here to view pictures!

The Monson Law Firm attended the New Orleans Claims Association’s Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas luncheon at the Bourbon House in New Orleans. We enjoyed singing, jingling, and mingling with our fellow NOCA members! Pictured are Ann’Lee Earles, CPIA, Zack Klein, Matt Edwards, and Allison Salter with Guarantee Service Team of Professionals, Matthew Monson, Esq. and Randy Jackson with Abercrombie, Simmons & Gillette, Inc. Click here to view pictures!