Category Archives: Insurance Bad Faith

Insurance companies in the United States are required by law to act in good faith when resolving customer claims. If you have made a boat or home insurance and feel that your insurer is acting in bad faith, you may have a tort claim as well as a breach of contract suit. Here are five signs that may mean you’re working with a bad faith insurer.

1. Do they neglect to return your calls?

If a representative from your insurance company fails to respond to a claim, or to an inquiry about a claim within 24 hours, it could be a sign that they are acting in bad faith. The reason? The longer the company waits before paying out your claim, the more money they make on the premiums you’ve already paid.

2. Has your claim been unfairly denied?

If your insurer claims that your situation is not covered under its policy, or if they claim you failed to pay premiums or were not covered at the time of the incident for another reason, it may be a red flag that you’re working with a bad faith insurer.

3. Has your claim been settled too quickly?

An insurer that offers an immediate settlement or bullies you into settling is often offering much less than you rightfully deserve. Consult an expert in maritime or insurance law to ensure that you are getting your due. 

4. Has the insurer asked for excessive documentation?

Sometimes, insurance companies act in bad faith by asking for undue documentation, including copies of items that are irrelevant to the claim. When using this tactic, they may deny your claim if you are unable to supply the documents requested.

5. Has the insurer used threats?

If your representative warned you of skyrocketing rates, or that you’ll experience other adverse consequences if you move forward with a claim or refuse to settle, he or she is acting in bad faith.

Wrongful Termination – Personal Injury

Doyle LLP Trial Lawyers has filed suit against Creative Resource Group LLC n/k/a Onpoint Industrial Services, LLC on behalf of an employee who was terminated following a work injury. The suit was filed under the Texas Labor Code § 451.001, for wrongful termination and discrimination. The case will be heard by a jury in Nueces County District Court, located in Corpus Christi, Texas.

On April 7, 2016, Doyle LLP’s client suffered a work injury due to a fall at the Citgo Corpus Christi plant. Doyle LLP’s client filed a workers’ compensation claim to ensure that she received medical treatment and income replacement benefits for any time missed from work. Following the claim, Creative Resource Group LLC n/k/a Onpoint Industrial Services, LLC began taking discriminatory actions against Doyle LLP’s client. The conduct ultimately resulted in the client’s wrongful firing on or about April 20, 2016 – less than two weeks after her work injury.

The Texas Labor Code gives a workers’ compensation claimant a cause of action against an employer who discriminates against or wrongfully terminates them. Under this statute, Doyle LLP’s client is seeking damages to compensate her lost wages and mental anguish, among other damages. In addition, the suit seeks an award of punitive or exemplary damages.

Doyle LLP’s attorneys have years of experience and knowledge regarding the representation of injured workers who suffer from discrimination or wrongful termination by their employer. If you or someone you know has been harmed by an employer who engages in discriminatory conduct or wrongful termination following a work injury, please contact our office for an evaluation of your potential claim.

In January 2021, Doyle LLP and co-counsel filed a suit on behalf of our clients who are nationals of the Republic of Kosovo. The suit was filed against CIGNA Defendants, including Life Insurance Company of North America et al, and AECOM Defendants, including AECOM and AC FIRST LLC. The lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of The State of California County of Los Angeles pertains to our clients’ work in Afghanistan for AECOM as part of AECOM’s contracts to provide support services to the United States military personnel. We are proud to assist our clients seeking the compensation and benefits owed to them for their support of American military in Afghanistan.

In 2016, AECOM was awarded the EAGLE-AFG contract by the Army Contracting Command – Rock Island. The EAGLE-AFG is a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract valued at $429 million with 1 base year and 4 option years. Under this contract, AECOM was to provide maintenance, supply, and transportation services to the U.S. and Coalition partners at several locations in Afghanistan, including Kandahar and Bagram Airfields. AECOM used its entities GSS and AC First to supply this labor and fulfill the contract.

Doyle LLP’s clients were employed in Afghanistan from 2012 through 2017 by AECOM. The clients were nominally employed at the time by GSS, but were actually the employees of AC First and AECOM. As part of these contracts for employment, the AECOM defendants represented that they would offer and procure long-term disability insurance for employees working in Afghanistan. Indeed, each of our client’s contract with GSS included, upon agreement of employment, the offer of a benefits plan including Long Term Disability Coverage. The AECOM Defendants told our clients that they had contracted with CIGNA to provide long-term disability insurance. Doyle LLP’s clients accepted the coverage with the AECOM defendants and paid monthly for the CIGNA disability insurance coverage through payroll deductions. AECOM after procurement of the policy through CIGNA was provided coverage to employees, like Doyle LLP’s clients, who worked for either AC First or, nominally, for GSS. This policy went into effect on January 1, 2017.

Despite this promise of coverage, after our clients sustained disabling injuries, they submitted claims to CIGNA for disability coverage. In response, CIGNA closed the claims and alleged that foreign nationals, like Doyle LLP’s clients, were not covered by the CIGNA Policy. Doyle LLP therefore has filed this lawsuit against both the AECOM Defendants and the CIGNA defendants. Doyle LLP’s clients left the safety of their homes in Kosovo to travel into an active war zone in Afghanistan. Our clients provided necessary support for U.S. Military’s operations in the area. During their employment, Doyle LLP’s clients were exposed to repeated life-threatening and graphic events, including mortar, rocket, suicide, and ground attacks. These incidents and other work-related accidents left our clients with very severe and permanent pain, disfigurement, injuries and damage. Due to Defendants’ conduct and failure to procure or pay disability benefits, Doyle LLP’s clients suffered significant economic damage, humiliation, worry, distress, and continuing economic and physical damage. In denying these claims, misrepresenting our clients’ insurance coverage, and /or failing to produce coverage, Defendants additionally acted with oppression, fraud, and malice.

Doyle LLP is proud to support our foreign clients as they supported our US Military. Countless Americans and thousands of civilians, like our clients from Kosovo, support American Military operations across the world. If you are one of these individuals and suffered serious injury and suffering due to the gross negligence of American corporations you may have a claim to recover damages for injuries and associated damages. American companies at fault due to gross negligence can be held liable for their behavior if you were seriously injured or harmed as a result. Doyle Trial Lawyers can help you understand your rights and how to pursue a claim against defendants whose negligent behavior results in severe injuries and damage to individuals. Doyle LLP will not charge you to complete an initial evaluation of your claim. Call us today to discuss your potential claim.

WORKER DENIED INSURANCE BENEFITS AFTER SUSTAINING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

While working as a Residential Carpenter for TK Brooks Contracting, Doyle Dennis LLP’s client fell approximately fourteen feet from a ladder and sustained a traumatic brain injury. He was then placed in an induced coma and spent four months in the hospital. Due to the severity of his traumatic brain injury, he permanently requires care 24-hours per day.

Arizona law provides that an industrially-injured claimant is entitled to receive compensation for all “medical, surgical[,] and hospital benefits or other treatment, nursing, [etc.] reasonably required at the time of the injury, and during the period of disability.” Sometimes, an injured worker’s family member may be the one providing the home health aide services, including bathing, dressing, performing home exercises, and monitoring the worker’s activities. In those situations, the family member is entitled to compensation for rendering the services in lieu of a third-party caregiver.

After Doyle Dennis LLP’s client was injured, his family was informed that he would need help walking around, getting dressed, and with other daily life activities. Because of the severity of his traumatic brain injury, his Board-certified neurologist determined he cannot be left alone, needs a caregiver to supervise and monitor his activities, and needs a caregiver to be with him to make sure he does not wander away or cause harm to himself.

The Residential Carpenter sought workers’ compensation benefits, including compensation for his wife for the home health and supportive services she provided him. In February 2021, the Industrial Commission of Arizona ordered the workers’ compensation insurance carrier (Carolina Casualty Insurance Company) to pay the long overdue benefits. But still, Carolina Casualty Insurance Company and its third-party administrator, Berkley Net Underwriters, LLC, disputed the amount the Residential Carpenter and his wife were entitled to. Thirteen months later, the Industrial Commission of Arizona correctly determined that Doyle Dennis’ clients should be compensated at $12.50 per hour for 7 days per week because the Residential Carpenter’s wife assists her husband 49 hours per week. However, the wrongful conduct did not stop there. Even though the insurance carrier and third-party administrator were ordered to pay, they continued disputing the benefits owed.

On March 10, 2022, Doyle Dennis LLP filed suit in Arizona federal court against Carolina Casualty Insurance Company, Berkley Net Underwriters, LLC, and the insurance adjuster. The bad faith insurance lawsuit alleges that the defendants breached the duty of good faith and fair dealing and aided and abetted the breach. Arizona law prohibits insurance carriers and third-party administrators from denying workers’ compensation insurance benefits without conducting an adequate investigation. If your workers’ compensation benefits were unjustifiably denied, call us for a free evaluation of your case.