Insurance Law

GMSR has a long history of representing insurance carriers on a wide range of issues, including first- and third-party coverage, excess insurance, contribution and allocation claims, as well as bad faith liability issues, such as Brandt fee questions and punitive damages.  GMSR’s appellate lawyers regularly use this experience to assist clients in all facets of the appellate process.  The firm also counsels both carriers and policyholders regarding their potential liabilities and rights.

Court of Appeal Affirms Judgment For GMSR Client, Making New Law On The Interplay Of Two Statutes

Following a fender-bender, plaintiff was treated for minor injuries covered by workers’ compensation insurance.  Plaintiff nevertheless sued the other driver’s employer (GMSR’s client) for millions of dollars, and rejected a Code of Civil Procedure section 998 settlement offer.  The jury awarded plaintiff less than the

Ray v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co. (9th Cir. Oct. 21, 2021, No. 20-55989) 2021 WL 4902357

Ninth Circuit affirms judgment, rejecting plaintiffs’ belated effort to change insurance bad faith theories

Ninth Circuit Affirms Judgment, Rejecting Plaintiffs’ Belated Effort To Change Insurance Bad Faith Theories

Plaintiffs injured in a car accident obtained an assignment of the at-fault driver’s rights and sued the driver’s insurance carrier for bad faith.  They alleged that they had sent the carrier a settlement demand letter, but the carrier failed to timely accept.  The carrier moved

Carachure v. Scott (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 16

Court of Appeal rejects plaintiff’s attempt to disavow $15,000 settlement so as to pursue a multi-million-dollar claim

Court Of Appeal Rejects Plaintiff’s Attempt To Disavow $15,000 Settlement So As To Pursue A Multi-million-dollar Claim

A plaintiff was seriously injured in an auto accident. Her counsel demanded that the defendant and the defendant’s insurance carrier settle the plaintiff’s injury claim by paying the full $15,000 policy limit. The carrier accepted and complied with all the demand’s short-fuse conditions, thereby dashing

Court Of Appeal Rejects Insureds’ Cumis Claims And Affirms Judgment For Insurer

Plaintiff insureds owned a residential property where a squatter died in during a fire. The insureds tendered the defense of the ensuing lawsuit to their insurance carrier, which hired counsel to defend the insureds. Purportedly dissatisfied with appointed counsel’s performance, the insureds demanded independent “Cumis”

Nede Mgmt., Inc. v. Aspen American Ins. Co. (2021) 68 Cal.App.5th 1121

Court of Appeal rejects insureds’ Cumis claims and affirms judgment for insurer

Durment v. Burlington Insurance Company (9th Cir. 2020) 820 Fed.Appx. 561

Underlying this insurance bad faith dispute was a lawsuit involving alleged breaches of a joint venture agreement and an intellectual property agreement.  The insurers failed to defend the policyholders against an amended complaint tendered to the insurers on the eve of trial.  The policyholders then

Picazzo v. C.W. Driver, Inc. (Feb. 28, 2020, B289070) 2020 WL 967087 [nonpublished opinion]

GMSR obtains $2.8 million appellate victory for workers’ compensation carrier

GMSR obtains $2.8 million appellate victory for workers’ compensation carrier

GMSR’s client, a workers’ compensation carrier, paid benefits to an injured employee of its insured, a security company. The employee sued others for negligence, including the university where he had been assigned to work for a number of years. The jury found the university at

Who We Serve

PUBLIC ENTITIES

Whether on appeal, assisting trial counsel, or advising government officials contemplating legislative action, GMSR provides unique insight into the complex laws that impact public entities.

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INSURERS

Where coverage may exist, GMSR represents insureds on appeal effectively and efficiently. Where it does not, the firm protects insurers’ right to deny claims.

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BUSINESSES

GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.

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TRIAL COUNSEL

The firm’s lawyers are team players, collaborating with trial counsel at any level from legal strategy to writing or editing trial court motions and appellate briefs.

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INDIVIDUALS

GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.

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COMMUNITY PRO BONO

As part of GMSR’s long-standing commitment to social justice and equality, GMSR provides pro bono appellate services to individuals and to community organizations on issues of concern.

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