Discovery in Suits Against Insurers are Aggressive and Expensive
Post 4837
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The USDC conducted a discovery conference with the parties concerning their discovery disputes. Federal discovery rules are accorded a broad and liberal treatment to achieve their purpose of adequately informing litigants in civil trials. At some point discovery yields diminishing returns, needlessly increases expenses, and delays the resolution of the parties’ dispute. Finding a just and appropriate balance in the discovery process is one of the key responsibilities of the Court.
In Kwame Moore v. Western World Insurance Company, Civil Action No. 3:23-cv-3029-KHJ-MTP, United States District Court, S.D. Mississippi, Northern Division (July 12, 2024) the USDC dealt with discovery disputes between parties who could not resolve their differences.
THE DISCOVERY RULE
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1) provides that: “Parties may obtain discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case, considering the importance of the issues at stake in the action, the amount in controversy, the parties’ relative access to relevant information, the parties’ resources, the importance of the discovery in resolving the issues, and whether the burden or expense of the proposed discovery outweighs its likely benefits.”
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
According to Defendant, “Plaintiff has failed to produce emails, text messages and other documents which Western World knows were sent to Plaintiff.” As an example, Defendant stated that in response to a subpoena, Tom Weems (a third party who provided a report to Plaintiff indicating that hail caused damage to Plaintiff’s building) produced text messages between he and Plaintiff, which have not been produced by Plaintiff in response to requests for such information.
Plaintiff, through counsel, asserts that he has “conducted a search of his files and has no other documents to produce” and “cannot produce documents he does not have.”
Ordinarily, the representation of a party’s attorney that no additional documents exist is sufficient to defeat a motion to compel absent credible evidence that the representation is inaccurate. At this time the record does not establish that Plaintiff did or did not conduct a reasonable search. Plaintiff does not explain what efforts he made to find and produce responsive information or why responsive information he once possessed is no longer in his possession. Defendant has also not made this showing. Thus, Defendant has not demonstrated that Plaintiff is unlawfully withholding responsive information despite Plaintiff’s representations. Without more, counsel’s representation that Plaintiff does not possess responsive information is sufficient to defeat the Motion to Compel.
The denial of the Motion to Compel, however, was issued without prejudice to Defendant’s right to reassert it if Defendant can show Plaintiff possesses the information, failed to conduct a reasonable search, wrongfully disposed of the information, or otherwise violated his duties in discovery.
Defendant also requested that the Court compel a forensic examination of Plaintiff’s computers, cellphones, and mail servers. The Court found that the request is premature. If Plaintiff no longer possesses this information, the Court cannot determine whether a forensic examination is warranted. Thus, this request was denied without prejudice.
The Court also noted that Plaintiff also argued that he should not be required to produce duplicative documents which are already in Western World’s possession. However, it is not a bar to the discovery of relevant material that the same material may be in the possession of the requesting party or obtainable from another source. That Plaintiff makes this objection is curious given Plaintiff’s representations that he has no such information, duplicative or otherwise. To the extent Plaintiff is withholding responsive information based on this or any other objection, the Court grants the Motion to Compel.
On or before July 22, 2024, Plaintiff shall produce any responsive information previously withheld based on this objection or inform Defendant in writing that he is not withholding information based on this objection.
ZALMA OPINION
Before I retired from the practice of law I was an active insurance litigator and dealt with multiple annoying and overbroad discovery disputes designed to cost the insurer or the policyholder, rather than obtain information that would assist in the trial of the matter. The bludgeon of discovery became a weapon used to force a settlement unfavorable to the insurer or policyholder to avoid excessive attorneys fees and costs. The court tried to calm the excesses.
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Concealing a Weapon Used in a Murder is an Intentional & Criminal Act
Post 5002
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In Howard I. Rosenberg; Kimberly L. Rosenberg v. Chubb Indemnity Insurance Company Howard I. Rosenberg; Kimberly L. Rosenberg; Kimberly L. Rosenberg; Howard I. Rosenberg v. Hudson Insurance Company, No. 22-3275, United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (February 11, 2025) the Third Circuit resolved whether the insurers owed a defense for murder and acts performed to hide the fact of a murder and the murder weapon.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Adam Rosenberg and Christian Moore-Rouse befriended one another while they were students at the Community College of Allegheny County. On December 21, 2019, however, while at his parents’ house, Adam shot twenty-two-year-old Christian in the back of the head with a nine-millimeter Ruger SR9C handgun. Adam then dragged...
Renewal Notices Sent Electronically Are Legal, Approved by the State and Effective
Post 5000
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Washington state law allows insurers to deliver insurance notices and documents electronically if the party has affirmatively consented to that method of delivery and has not withdrawn the consent. The Plaintiffs argued that the terms and conditions statement was not “conspicuous” because it was hidden behind a hyperlink included in a single line of small text. The court found that the statement was sufficiently conspicuous as it was bolded and set off from the surrounding text in bright blue text.
In James Hughes et al. v. American Strategic Insurance Corp et al., No. 3:24-cv-05114-DGE, United States District Court (February 14, 2025) the USDC resolved the dispute.
The court’s reasoning focused on two main points:
1 whether the ...
Rescission in Michigan Requires Preprocurement Fraud
Post 4999
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Lie About Where Vehicle Was Garaged After Policy Inception Not Basis for Rescission
This appeal turns on whether fraud occurred in relation to an April 26, 2018 renewal contract for a policy of insurance under the no-fault act issued by plaintiff, Encompass Indemnity Company (“Encompass”).
In Samuel Tourkow, by David Tourkow v. Michael Thomas Fox, and Sweet Insurance Agency, formerly known as Verbiest Insurance Agency, Inc., Third-Party Defendant-Appellee. Encompass Indemnity Company, et al, Nos. 367494, 367512, Court of Appeals of Michigan (February 12, 2025) resolved the claims.
The plaintiff, Encompass Indemnity Company, issued a no-fault insurance policy to Jon and Joyce Fox, with Michael Fox added as an additional insured. The dispute centers on whether fraud occurred in...
Insurance Fraud Leads to Violent Crime
Post 4990
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CRIMINAL CONDUCT NEVER GETS BETTER
In The People v. Dennis Lee Givens, B330497, California Court of Appeals, Second District, Eighth Division (February 3, 2025) Givens appealed to reverse his conviction for human trafficking and sought an order for a new trial.
FACTS
In September 2020, Givens matched with J.C. on the dating app “Tagged.” J.C., who was 20 years old at the time, had known Givens since childhood because their mothers were best friends. After matching, J.C. and Givens saw each other daily, and J.C. began working as a prostitute under Givens’s direction.
Givens set quotas for J.C., took her earnings, and threatened her when she failed to meet his demands. In February 2022, J.C. confided in her mother who then contacted the Los Angeles Police Department. The police ...
Police Officer’s Involvement in Insurance Fraud Results in Jail
Post 4989
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Von Harris was convicted of bribery, forgery, and insurance fraud. He appealed his conviction and sentence. His appeal was denied, and the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction.
In State Of Ohio v. Von Harris, 2025-Ohio-279, No. 113618, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District (January 30, 2025) the Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On January 23, 2024, the trial court sentenced Harris. The trial court sentenced Harris to six months in the county jail on Count 15; 12 months in prison on Counts 6, 8, 11, and 13; and 24 months in prison on Counts 5 and 10, with all counts running concurrent to one another for a total of 24 months in prison. The jury found Harris guilty based on his involvement in facilitating payments to an East Cleveland ...
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To Dispute an Arbitration Finding Party Must File Dispute Within 20 Days
Post 4988
EXCUSABLE NEGLECT SUFFICIENT TO DISPUTE ARBITRATION LATE
In Howard Roy Housen and Valerie Housen v. Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, No. 4D2023-2720, Florida Court of Appeals, Fourth District (January 22, 2025) the Housens appealed a final judgment in their breach of contract action.
FACTS
The Housens filed an insurance claim with Universal, which was denied, leading them to file a breach of contract action. The parties agreed to non-binding arbitration which resulted in an award not
favorable to the Housens. However, the Housens failed to file a notice of rejection of the arbitration decision within the required 20 days. Instead, they filed a motion for a new trial 29 days after the arbitrator’s decision, citing a clerical error for the delay.
The circuit court ...
