What Every Class Counsel Needs To Know About Insurance Coverage

What Every Class Counsel Needs To Know About Insurance Coverage

Insurer-appointed counsel in defense of class claims often are quick to say, “I don’t do insurance coverage work.”  Oh, yes you do, whether you think so or not.  A host of issues often arise during the course of your representation that may affect your client’s rights to coverage under an insurance policy, whether you are aware of them or not.  How you handle covered and non-covered claims, covered and non-covered damages, apportionment in billing, and settlement contributions, all present serious financial risks to your policyholder client.  Knowing what those risks are, and how to work through them, is essential for your representation in the tripartite relationship between you, the insurance company, and your policyholder client.

David A. Shaneyfelt is of Counsel with The Alvarez Firm. He has nearly thirty years’ experience in litigating complex civil matters in state and Federal courts across the country. A former shareholder with the New York-based law firm of Anderson Kill, Mr. Shaneyfelt has represented numerous private and public business entities in disputes against insurance companies and joint powers agencies.

His representative cases and matters include the recovery of insurance policy benefits (defense and indemnity) for employment practices liability (EPLI) cases, wage and hour class actions, director and officer (D&O) liability, public entity liability, professional malpractice, reinsurance, accidental death insurance, and lifetime disability. He has also handled a wide-variety of complex litigation matters involving commercial contract disputes, public affordable housing programs, unfair competition, entertainment, insurance broker malpractice, and attorney malpractice.

This program is approved for 1.5 hrs of CA MCLE general credt hours.

Bridgeport is a State Bar of CA provider of MCLE (Provider 11872) This program offers 1.5 hrs of MCLE. Bridgeport will assist attorneys from outside CA obtain CLE in accordance with the rules of their state.