Insurance

Expert Analysis

• Tightening Up Contracts In A Hardening Insurance Market

  

  Commercial property insurance terms and conditions have softened in the last decade, but underwriters may consider adding important clauses into their contracts as the market shows signs of hardening, say Jason Reeves of Zelle and Helen Campbell of Argo Insurance Bermuda.

• How Associate Life Has Evolved Over The Past Decade

  

  During the last 10 years, the need to embrace change was fundamental for law firms, and that change affected associates in many ways — most, but not all, for the better, says Brad Kaufman, co-president of Greenberg Traurig.

• Gov't Initiatives May Boost Health Coverage For Genetic Tests

  

  Recent initiatives by Congress and federal agencies may help expand insurance coverage for, and patient access to, genetic testing technologies that would allow more accurate diagnoses of rare diseases in the U.S. health care system, says Ethan Jorgensen-Earp of Holland & Knight.

• NY Sex Abuse Insurance Suit Showcases Possible Arguments

  

  Continental Insurance's complaint against the Diocese of Buffalo in a New York state court raises almost every possible defense an insurer may have against providing coverage to a policyholder accused of sex abuse under the New York Child Victims Act, say Robert Chesler and Pamela Hans of Anderson Kill.

• Series

  Judging A Book: Dyk Reviews 'Democracy And Equality'

  

  In their new book "Democracy and Equality: The Enduring Constitutional Vision of the Warren Court," Geoffrey Stone and David Strauss provide valuable context for U.S. Supreme Court decisions under Chief Justice Earl Warren that have profoundly affected the country, but their overly protective attitude sometimes obscures reality, says Federal Circuit Judge Timothy Dyk.

• State Net

  How States Are Responding To The Insulin Price Crisis

  

  Increases in the need for insulin and dramatic surges in its cost have made access to the drug one of the biggest health policy issues at the state and federal level, and now state legislators are taking action to rein in prices, says Dave Royse of State Net Capitol Journal.

• 7 Insider Tips For Working With In-House Counsel

  

  For outside firms wondering how to best support busy in-house lawyers, several practices can help navigate critical legal issues and novel business challenges while strengthening the working relationship, says Virginia Hudson, associate general counsel at Capital One.

• 50 Years Later, Interpretive Challenges Remain For RICO

  

  In the 50 years since the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was passed, courts' attempts to clarify the statute have had some success, but many interpretive dilemmas remain unresolved, says Randy Gordon of Barnes & Thornburg.

• 7 Ethics Tips For Lawyers' Pretrial Social Media Use

  

  As ethical constraints on pretrial social media use evolve, the American Bar Association's Model Rules and several court opinions provide guidance on avoiding violations when collecting evidence, researching jurors and friending judges, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Mark Davis at Harris Wiltshire.

• Opinion

  States Should Not Follow ABA On Attorney Conduct Rules

  

  Because the American Bar Association's new rule on diversity continues to use the Model Rules of Professional Conduct as a cultural bludgeon, states should create independent codes limited to constitutionally valid purposes of attorney regulation, says Bradley Abramson of Alliance Defending Freedom.

• Lessons For Calif. Health Payors From 2019 Filing Trends

  

  Health care litigation filing trends from 2019 reveal some of the legal and legislative issues California health care payors can expect to remain prevalent in the coming year, say attorneys at Troutman Sanders.

• How Courts And Litigants Can Benefit From Special Masters

  

  As we approach the first anniversary of the American Bar Association's adoption of guidelines for the appointment and use of special masters in civil litigation, retired U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, now at Stroock, explains how special masters can help parties and courts with faster decision-making and subject matter expertise.

• Uber Policy Calls For Refresher On ABA Confidentiality Rules

  

  Uber's recent policy update allowing drivers to audio-record passenger rides is a reminder for lawyers to observe the highest standard of care in protecting client information under the American Bar Association's confidentiality model rule, says Paul Boehm at Williams & Connolly.

• Using Missing Facts As A Defense In NYC Asbestos Suits

  

  Recent cases from the New York City Asbestos Litigation illustrate that defendants can prevail by arguing that the evidentiary record cannot support an inference of a plaintiff's exposure to asbestos, says James Lee of Hawkins Parnell.

• 4 Simple Rules For Witness Note Taking

  

  Witness notes that form the center of a plaintiff’s case have largely been replaced by digital systems, but they remain on defense counsel’s radar, and with proper safeguards can be a witness's best friend, says Matthew Keenan at Shook Hardy.