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Jury Finds Ace American and Gallagher Bassett Acted in Bad Faith

On April 28, 2022, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP secured a $500,000 (plus attorneys’ fees) verdict against Ace American Insurance Company and Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona. Specifically, the jury determined that Ace and Gallagher Bassett acted in bad faith by wrongfully denying payment of workers’ compensation benefits to an employee who worked for a mining company and awarded compensatory damages.
Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client suffered an undisputed lumbar spine injury while working in a copper mine. Although three doctors confirmed that the client needed a fusion surgery, Gallagher Bassett’s adjuster refused to authorize the surgery and denied the client’s claim.
After hearing four days of testimony and argument in the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona, the jury found that Ace and Gallagher Bassett denied the plaintiff’s claim without a reasonable basis and refused to complete a reasonable investigation of the workers’ compensation claim. Specifically, the jury determined that Ace breached the duty of good faith and fair dealing owed to Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client. The jury also determined that Gallagher Basset aided and abetted Ace in delaying and denying the claim without a reasonable basis.
Based upon these determinations, the jury found that Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client was entitled to $500,000 in damages to compensate for past and future mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. At the judgment stage of the case, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s attorneys will be able to request an award of attorney’s fees and litigation costs, in addition to the $500,000 of compensatory damages.
The case was tried by Michael Patrick Doyle (lead counsel) and Jeffrey Avery (second chair). Following the case, Mr. Avery stated, “In reaching this verdict, the jury sent an important message to insurers throughout the state of Arizona that they will be held accountable for failing to measure up to their required standards.”
If you were harmed by the wrongful conduct of an Arizona workers’ compensation carrier, contact Doyle Dennis Avery LLP for a free evaluation of your potential claims.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Sues Travelers Indemnity Company of America

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP filed a bad faith insurance lawsuit against Travelers Indemnity Company of America in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client worked at a pizza restaurant and was injured on the job. When employers purchase workers’ compensation insurance to protect their injured employees, insurance companies must complete a reasonable investigation of the employee’s compensation claim. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable.
Following the client’s on-the-job injury, the client was diagnosed with articular cartilage lesion. As a result, the client’s doctor recommended surgery and supportive care. Unfortunately, Travelers Indemnity ignored the doctor’s requests for treatment. Rather than properly investigate and adjust the client’s workers’ compensation claim to ensure that the client would receive the medical, financial, and other benefits to which he was entitled as a beneficiary of the workers’ compensation promised to the employees of the pizza restaurant, the insurance company denied payment of benefits.
Doyle Dennis Avery LLP has significant experience in holding insurance companies accountable. This year, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP secured a $500,000 verdict in a bad faith lawsuit against Ace American Insurance Company and Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. In that case, the Maricopa County jury found that Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client was entitled to $500,000 in damages to compensate for past and future mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you are an injured worker who was harmed by the wrongful denial of workers’ compensation benefits, life insurance benefits, property damage benefits, or other insurance payments, you may have a claim for insurance bad faith. Doyle Dennis Avery LLP will not charge you to complete an initial evaluation of your claim.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Files Suit After Client Killed At Burdogz Bar and Grill

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP recently filed a lawsuit in Victoria County, Texas against Burdogz LLC, D/B/A Burdogz Bar and Grill (“Burdogz Bar and Grill”) following the death of AquCraigis Watson at Burdogz Bar and Grill for negligent security.


AquCraigis Watson worked as a bartender at Burdogz Bar and Grill. Prior to his death, Mr. Watson had completed a work shift. Before Mr. Watson left, Burdogz Bar and Grill requested that he remain at the restaurant because there was not enough security. Mr. Watson agreed to help. On or about that time, an altercation between restaurant patrons ensued. During the altercation, Mr. Watson was shot and killed. The shooter has since been charged by the Victoria County District Attorney in Mr. Watson’s death.
After Mr. Watson was killed, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Specifically, Burdogz Bar and Grill knew or should have known that the premises required security measures. Burdogz Bar and Grill also knew or should have known of numerous similar violent incidents before the incident forming the basis of the lawsuit, but refused to take reasonable steps provide for the safety and security at Burdogz Bar and Grill. Burdogz Bar and Grill failed to provide adequate security and safety measures to the individuals at Burdogz Bar and Grill.


The condition at Burdogz Bar and Grill was such that it created an unreasonably dangerous condition which Burdogz Bar and Grill knew, or should have known, was unreasonably dangerous. Further, Burdogz Bar and Grill failed to exercise ordinary care to provide reasonable safety and/or to adequately warn Mr. Watson of the dangerous condition. Burdogz Bar and Grill’s failure to correct the condition and/or to adequately warn Mr. Watson constituted negligence. Burdogz Bar and Grill’s negligence was the proximate cause of the incident in question and Mr. Watson’s resulting injuries and death.
Because of Burdogz Bar and Grill’s negligence, Mr. Watson’s mother, wife, and three children have suffered significant harm. In addition, Mr. Watson’s estate is a separate plaintiff in the lawsuit, and the Representative of Mr. Watson’s Estate has sued for recovery for the physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical impairment suffered by Mr. Watson prior to his death, and for any medical expenses and funeral expenses of last interment.


Under Texas law, the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased individual may have survival claims. If you lost a loved one because of the negligence of a company, contact Doyle Dennis Avery LLP for a free evaluation of your potential legal claims.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP vs. Sakom Services WI, LLC and ABC Insurance Company

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP, with local counsel Urban & Taylor S.C., recently filed suit on behalf of their client against defendants Sakom Services WI, LLC and ABC Insurance Company. The lawsuit was filed in the State of Wisconsin, Circuit Court of Outagamie County. The filing stems from our client suffering injuries in December 2020 in Niger, Africa as a direct and proximate result of Sakom’s employee crashing a vehicle into the back of the stationary vehicle of our client. ABC Insurance Company provided, executed, delivered, and had in full force and effect a policy or policies of liability insurance for Sakom Services WI, LLC, and therefore is a proper party defendant.

          On or about December 30, 2020, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client was employed by DynCorp as a Wire Production Technician in Niger, Africa. As part of his employment with DynCorp, our client was driving a vehicle to escort a water truck. Both the water truck and our client’s vehicle came to a stop at about the same date and time. Another vehicle driven by a Sakom Services employee proceeded to crash into the rear end of our client’s stopped vehicle. As a result of the impact and negligence shown by Sakom, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client suffered various injuries to the neck, shoulder, head, and body generally. Since the time of the incident, our client’s symptoms have continued resulting in permanent and ongoing injuries.

Sakom Services WI, LLC including its employees and agents, at the time owed a duty of reasonable care to our client operating for DynCorp. Sakom breached that duty with respect to this incident in at least the following respects: failure to stop, failure to yield, failure to yield the right of way, failure to maintain a proper lookout, failure to properly manage and control the vehicle, and inattentive driving. These numerous failures and other aspects of Sakom’s negligence will be demonstrated at the time of trial. This negligence is the proximate and direct cause of the severe and long-lasting damage suffered by our client from the collision. Our client will pursue what is legally owed to them including but not limited to: past and future health care provider and medication expenses; past and future pain, suffering and disability/disfigurement; past and future loss of wages and loss of earning capacity and household service capacity.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is a team of trial attorneys with vast experience in courtrooms across the country. We take pride in our ability to present complex cases on behalf of our clients to juries and judges of different jurisdictions. We also aim to provide our clients with the legal team they need to pursue justice. The complexities of the legal system and the various intricacies of a lawsuit can often be overwhelming for plaintiffs. Our firm takes pride in the ability to guide our clients through these difficult and confusing times. Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s decades of experience in courtrooms offer insight and guidance for our clients when they are often left in the dark. Our clients can trust Doyle Dennis Avery LLP has the experience and knowledge to fight on their behalf in pursuing what they deserve legally.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers vs. Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers filed a Jones Act and general maritime lawsuit against Buffalo Marine Service Inc. on June 13, 2017 on behalf of an injured seaman. The suit, which was filed in Harris County District Court in Houston, Texas, arises from injuries that occurred in the Houston Ship Channel on April 27, 2016.

This case was brought under the Jones Act and the general maritime law of the United States of America to collect damages caused by the negligence of Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s Client’s Jones Act employer, Buffalo Marine, and the negligence and unseaworthiness of Buffalo Marine’s vessels the M/V San Blas and barges Buffalo 901 and 902. The serious injuries at issue occurred on April 27, 2016, near the Valero Oil Refinery in the Houston Ship Channel. On the date of the incident in question, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s Client was working in the Gulf of Mexico below the vessel. As he was completing his job as a steersman/tankerman, the vessel was severely undermanned, and due to the negligent acts of the prior tankerman, a wench struck Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s Client in the causing him to suffer severe pain. Because the vessels were undermanned, the crewmember was forced to complete his shift, working in the vessel for hours while severely injured. Buffalo Marine did not properly supervise or train the crew, failed to properly man the vessel, and/or failed to provide adequate equipment, as well generally negligently operating the vessel causing Mr. Rowe to injure his neck, back, arms, elbow, and body generally.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client was employed by Buffalo Marine as a steersman/tankerman and regularly assigned to work in its fleet of vessels of owned and chartered vessels engaged in vessel operations. Buffalo Marine was the owner and operator of the M/V San Blas and the Buffalo 901 and 902. Buffalo Marine. The suit includes causes of action for negligence and unseaworthiness under the Jones Act and general maritime law.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers has a team of lawyers that have spent years representing Jones Act seamen and maritime workers in Jones Act and admiralty cases. If you or someone close to you suffered an injury while working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, Houston Ship Channel, or another navigable body of water, our team can analyze your potential Jones Act or admiralty law claim.

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