Lee Tran & Liang LLP (LTL) disposes of two cases alleging “bad faith” via summary judgment.
Defending a leading national property and casualty insurance company, LTL obtained summary judgment in a “bad faith” matter on the eve of trial before the Los Angeles Superior Court. The insured plaintiff sought damages and punitive damages potentially totaling seven figures in connection with the handling of a claim by LTL’s client in the aftermath of a landslide. LTL conducted strategic and cost-effective discovery, and obtained important discovery admissions from the plaintiff, prior to filing the summary judgment motion. Citing extensively to the evidence submitted and legal arguments developed in LTL’s briefs, the Court found that LTL’s client has correctly interpreted the policy at issue and appropriately handled the claim submitted by the plaintiff.
In a separate matter representing a national life insurer, LTL obtained summary judgment in a multi-million dollar “bad faith” case litigated before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiff is the CEO of a multi-line insurance brokerage business. He claimed that LTL’s client improperly allowed his substantial term life insurance policy to lapse and wrongfully denied his application to convert the term policy to a whole life policy with cash value. Again, LTL obtained crucial admissions from the plaintiff at his deposition. Those admissions proved critical later on, when the District Court agreed with LTL’s client that the plaintiff’s declaration submitted in opposition to the summary judgment motion should be stricken for violating the sham affidavit rule. The District Court granted summary judgment after finding that LTL’s client has acted correctly and reasonably at all relevant times, and dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety.
“We are pleased for our clients, which, as insurance carriers, have their claim decisions closely scrutinized by the courts in these types of cases,” stated partner Geoff Tong, who heads the firm’s insurance litigation practice. “We will continue to vigorously defend our clients and provide them with the effective and innovative representation that they deserve.”
About Lee Tran & Liang LLP
Lee Tran & Liang LLP (LTL) is a boutique law firm focused on complex litigation and trials. Based in California, LTL tackles matters nationwide and represents global companies. LTL was named as one of ten firms to the National Law Journal’s Litigation Boutiques Hot List (2014). The firm’s attorneys have practiced at prominent law firms including Quinn Emanuel, Morgan Lewis, Lovells, Manatt Phelps, and Perkins Coie, and are graduates of top law schools. Primary practice areas include complex business litigation, intellectual property litigation, class actions, and employment defense. LTL offers a number of creative fee arrangements in appropriate matters. For more information, please contact partner Thomas Suh at (213) 612-8900 / thomas.suh@ltlattorneys.com or visit our website at www.ltlattorneys.com.