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Bad Faith Blog

We cover current issues, highlights and best practices exclusively on claims of bad faith and extra contractual damages.

Bad Faith Blog
September 25, 2016

Proper Brandt Fees Usage to Calculate Punitive Damages in California Bad Faith Cases

Summary: Stonebridge Life provided hospital indemnity coverage to Nickerson who was hospitalized for 109 days after a severe leg fracture. The trial court directed a verdict for Nickerson on the breach of contract claim, entered judgment on the jury verdict for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and imposed a $19,000,000 punitive damages award. The parties stipulated to attorneys’ fees (Brandt fees) of $12,500 to be imposed by the trial court post-verdict. The trial court reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000, 10 times the compensatory damages, but did not include the Brandt fees in that calculation. The California Supreme Court reversed and found the Brandt fees were incurred to recover the insurance benefits so were properly a component of compensatory damages. Accordingly, they were properly included when calculating the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages to determine whether the punitive damages award satisfied due process.

Bad Faith Blog
July 16, 2015

Attorney-Client Privilege Survives in South Dakota

Summary: Andrews had a compensable work-related injury while working as a gold polisher for Ridco. Andrews sued Twin City Fire Insurance Co. (“Twin City”) and Ridco for the alleged bad faith handling of his worker’s compensation claim. During the course of that case, the circuit court ordered unredacted materials produced from nearly 200 claim files which Twin City claimed were protected under the attorney-client privilege. The Supreme Court of South Dakota reversed and remanded with directions.

Bad Faith Blog
April 21, 2015

Triable Fact Issues on Washington Bad Faith Claims

Summary: Great American insured Bayley, a general contractor on a $12.3 million renovation project in Orange County, California. After its air conditioning subcontractor was found to have violated California’s prevailing wage law, the Community College District served Bayley with a “Notice of Withholding Contract Payments” as well as the procedural right to dispute the withholding. On cross-motions for partial summary judgment the district court found that Great American had a duty to defend which Great American had breached, but also found in favor of Great American on the statutory and non-statutory bad faith claims.

Bad Faith Blog
April 8, 2015

Washington Insurer Gets to Depose Opposing Insurer’s Coverage Counsel

Summary: A Washington homeowners association filed suit against Derus Wakefield II, LLC for property damage at a condominium project. Derus tendered the suit to the association’s insurer, QBE, which denied the tender for defense at which point Everest agreed to defend under a reservation of rights. It then sued QBE arguing it had a duty to defend under Washington law. The matter was removed to federal court where the district court judge found the action was timely and further found that Everest could depose QBE’s coverage attorney in light of the bad faith claims.