Insurers Can Rely On Our Catastrophe Weather Response Team

The major storms on the Gulf Coast, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Dolly, led to a proliferation of high-volume property insurance litigation. To help our clients navigate the wide-ranging implications, Thompson Coe has assembled a Catastrophe Weather Response Team. We stand ready to assist clients in navigating the numerous anticipated issues arising from this catastrophe.

For 70 years, the attorneys at Thompson Coe have been recognized for their expertise on significant coverage issues benefiting the insurance industry on all types of first-party and third-party policies. We have unmatched experience helping insurers formulate defense strategies to respond to a high volume of lawsuits and claims after a catastrophe.

Thompson Coe has:

• • Defended insurers in thousands of catastrophe claims, including over 400 Hurricane Rita and over 2,000 Hurricane Ike property damage suits and appraisals;

• • Formulated and implemented mediation and appraisal strategies for resolution of voluminous contested claims;

• • Developed efficient and cost-effective corporate document management and discovery strategies for large volume litigation;

• • Gained an in-depth understanding of the strategies employed by the major players among the catastrophe plaintiffs’ firms;

• • Prepared and tried hurricane cases to jury verdict;

• • Represented insurers in class-action litigation involving coverage and claims handling practices;

• • Succeeded in consolidating over 500 similar Hurricane Dolly and Ike cases into more cost-effective “Multi-District Litigation”;

• • Developed Alternative Fee Agreements (such as flat-fee or phased billing) that reduce post-catastrophe legal expenses;

• • Provided insurer clients with custom-certified continuing education seminars and webinars addressing subjects critical to claims handling and litigation both before and following hurricanes and other catastrophes;

• • Assisted insurers in the formulation of claims policies and procedures for catastrophe claims management, including coordination of defense with independent adjusting firms and independent adjusters;

• • Represented insurers before Departments of Insurance in enforcement proceedings and civil investigations relating to policy provisions and claims practices; and

• • Defended insurers on complex commercial property, business interruption losses, and and inland marine claims, including Hurricanes Harvey, Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Dolly.

Louisiana Single Deductible Statute: The statute allows the insurer to apply any remaining deductible of the first applied named storm to the later named storm in the same calendar year or the amount of the other all perils deductible, whichever is greater. Read more >

One Hundred Thirty-One Carriers Jointly File Subrogation Lawsuit: The petition alleges that ERCOT and the other 36 defendants were at fault for an electrical energy failure within the State of Texas beginning on February 15, 2021, and continuing throughout the following week. Read more >