Dallas Fort Worth Insurance Lawyer Blog

Insurance Lawyers Fighting Federal Court

October 21, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Fort Worth insurance lawyers and those in Grapevine, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, and other parts of Tarrant County need to know how to handle Federal Court cases.

Insurance companies prefer to fight cases is Federal Court. When they remove a case that was filed in State Court to Federal Court, a lawyer needs to know some of the ways to get the case back into State Court and or prevent the removal in the first place.

A recent court opinion styled, Beverly Nichols v. Allstate Texas Lloyd’s is an example.

Insurance Lawyers And Federal Court

October 20, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Dallas insurance attorneys and those in Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Duncanville, and all over Dallas County need to keep up with recent court cases. Here is one from the U.S. Southern District Court, Houston Division.

The style is Herman J. Benton Jr. Revocable Trust v. Lexington Insurance Company et al. The opinion was issued on August 31, 2012.

This is a case that was filed in State District Court and removed to Federal District Court. A Motion to Remand was filed by attorneys for Benton.

Insurance Attorneys Make A Difference

October 18, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Weatherford insurance law attorneys and those in Aledo, Springtown, Cool, Millsap, Mineral Wells, and other places in Parker County need to be keeping up with what insurance companies get caught doing wrong.

A Beaumont, Texas, newspaper ran an article regarding an insurance company treating Louisiana insureds wrong. The article tells us that a state-run insurance company of last resort agreed in September to settle two remaining class-action lawsuits tied to claims handled after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The board for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. voted unanimously to settle the long-running lawsuits for $61 million. Policyholders sued the company over the slow handling of claims after the hurricanes struck in 2005.

Insurance Companies Doing Wrong

October 16, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Grand Prairie insurance attorneys and those in Irving, Dallas, Fort Worth, and other areas in Texas need to keep informed about the wrongs insurance companies are committing on their insureds.

It turns out that State Farm is being investigated for criminal wrongs committed on its insureds arising from hurricane claims. This has been reported by Bloomberg Business Week and the Austin Statesman, as well as other news outlets.

Texas investigators have opened a criminal probe into how State Farm handled what may turn out to be thousands of insurance claims from Gulf Coast homeowners involving damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008, officials said Friday.

Insurance Lawyers And Uninsured Coverage

October 14, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Grand Prairie lawyers and those in Irving, Arlington, Dencanville, De Soto, Cedar Hill, Mansfield and other places in DFW need to now about this opinion.

The opinion is a case out of the San Antonio Court of Appeals. It is styled, Ruben L. Briones v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Here is some relevant information.

This is an appeal from a take nothing summary judgment. This court ruled that the trial court erred in granting the summary judgment because there was a genuine issue as to material facts, namely whether the tractor-trailer in which Briones was a passenger at the time of his injuries was furnished or available for his regular use, as that term is used in his policy of insurance.

Insurance Companies Denying Claims And Raising Rates

October 13, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Dallas insurance attorneys need to keep up with what is going on in the insurance industry. An Austin paper ran an article talking about rate hikes and the insurance company claim for the necessity of the rate hike. Here is what the article tells us.

State Farm Lloyds of Texas said Friday that it intends to raise homeowner policy rates in Texas by an average of 20 percent.

In a move that drew criticism, the state’s largest writer of homeowners insurance submitted a notice of the increase to the Texas Department of Insurance. The changes will be effective Nov. 1 for new customers and Dec. 1 for existing customers, if the change is not denied by the department.

Home Owners Insurance Claims

October 11, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Dallas insurance attorneys and those in Mesquite, Garland, Richardson, and other places in Dallas County need to be aware of the insurance practices related to some home owners claims that were discussed in a recent article titled, “Can Mortgage Lenders Hold Your Insurance Money Hostage?”

Here is what it tells the reader:

If your home has been seriously damaged or destroyed, your insurance company will release a check made out to both you and your mortgage lender to pay for the necessary repairs.

Is The Car Still Covered?

October 9, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Dallas insurance law attorneys and those in Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, and other places in Dallas County need to be aware of this opinion.

The Houston Court of Appeals, 14th District, issued an opinion in 2003 that insurance law attorneys need to know. The style of the case is, Armendariz v. Progressive. Here is some relevant information about the case.

Alejandro and Alma Armendariz, appeal from cross-motions for summary judgment granted in favor of Progressive County. In two issues, they contend that Progressive owed Alma the duty to defend and indemnify her in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Alma’s mother.

Automobile Coverage

October 7, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Dallas insurance lawyers and those in Mesquite, Garland, Richardson, Irving, and others areas in the metroplex need to be aware of this case.

The Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in 1972, that is still good law. The style of the case is, Snyder v. Allstate Insurance Company. Here is some relevant information.

The controversy here is between Allstate, which issued an automobile insurance policy to J.B. Rhodes, and Fidelity and Casualty Company, which issued a policy to John Snyder, as to which insurer was obligated to defend Robert Snyder (minor son of John Snyder) and pay damages arising out of the collision of an automobile in the possession of and used by Darla Rhodes (minor daughter of J.B. Rhodes) while being driven by Robert Snyder with Darla Rhodes as a passenger.

Life Insurance Payment Denied

October 6, 2012 | Mark S. Humphreys

Weatherford insurance attorneys and those in Aledo, Azle, Springtown, Cool, Millsap, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, and other places in Parker County need to know when to fight an insurance company.

A 1988, opinion issued by the Beaumont Court of Appeals styled, Massachusetts Indemnity v. Morrison, is a worth while read. Here is some relevant background.

Michael Morrison died when his car veered off the road and hit a tree. A handwritten note found at the scene appeared to be a suicide note.