GEICO v. Whiteside: Navigating Complex Post-Loss Duties in Bad Faith Refusal to Settle Cases

Regarded by clients as their “chief contact for high-exposure work,” Ms. Hudgins helps policyholders maximize their available insurance recoveries. She has litigated hundreds of insurance coverage and bad faith disputes in state and federal courts across the country and U.S. territories. Yet, as a seasoned litigator, she also recognizes the strategic and financial value of pre-suit resolutions, helping clients navigate risk to maximize their recoveries. Ms. Hudgins has been involved in a wide variety of unique cases, like parasailing-related injuries, fraternity party injuries, blockades at the Indian-Nepali border, mass livestock deaths, exploding e-cigarettes, art provenance investigations, and free-fall drops at county fairs. Her practice spans catastrophic injury claims (premises, workplace, auto, trucking, aviation, environmental, firearm, opioid, extreme sports, and entertainment), property damage disputes (natural disasters and builder’s risk), C-suite subpoenas and investigations, art provenance issues, and trade credit claims. 

Mr. Johnstone has litigated a wide variety of matters, including insurance disputes, business disputes, fraud, personal injury, maritime injuries, and property litigation. He has tried cases in both state and federal courts and has been published nationally. He has represented plaintiffs in suits involving insurance bad faith, personal injury, health care, exposure to toxic chemicals, defective pharmaceutical drugs and products (including PPA, Vioxx, and Renu by Bausch & Lomb), the mishandling of private consumer data by a major discount retailer, banking fraud, and real estate fraud.

Mr. Cavallo is an insurance coverage litigator representing insurers in high-value cases in state and federal courts. His practice involves drafting coverage opinions and memoranda analyzing his clients’ rights and obligations under complex insurance contracts and providing advice to claims personnel and assigned counsel concerning a wide variety of coverage issues.