Insurance

Overview

The Insurance practice group at Taylor English is broad in scope and practice, and our attorneys have substantial experience in issues that run the breadth of the industry. With extensive in-house and outside counsel experience, Taylor English attorneys understand the business and regulatory insurance environment in addition to the legal issues that shape the entire insurance industry. This combination of legal and industry experience enables us to implement practical and cost effective solutions for our clients.

Taylor English attorneys have handled diverse insurance matters, including:

Representation of insurance company receiverships. Represented the Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance as Receiver of a failed surplus lines carrier and a nationwide environmental risk carrier. Worked closely with members of the International Association of Insurance Receivers in its formative stages,
Acquisition, corporate and board counsel for life and health insurers,
General Counsel of multi-billion dollar life and health insurance company,
Multi-billion dollar health insurance corporate acquisition transactions,
Served on board of seven-person Finance Committee responsible for insurance company’s $25 billion investment portfolio,
Appearances before state Insurance Departments on regulatory matters,
Formation and operation of insurance holding companies and related acquisition of domestic insurance company shell entities,
Represented the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance in insurance regulatory development and enforcement as an Assistant Attorney General,
Represented casualty, life and surplus lines carriers in their regulatory compliance and acquisition strategies,
Formation of premium finance company affiliates and layering risk in the reinsurance markets,
Representation of insurance company receiverships for failed insurance carriers,
Defense services for insurance companies in both the general liability and professional liability matters,
Represented national insurance company in putative nationwide class action alleging overcharge of insurance premiums resulting in denial of class certification denied and dismissal of case,
Represented investment and insurance company in loan transactions valued in excess of $1 billion, and
Served as real estate regional counsel for insurance company in real estate transactions totaling almost $3 billion.

Additionally we routinely handle litigation matters covered by insurance and insurance coverage disputes, which provides the firm with insights into the needs and concerns of insurance companies on a day-to-day basis.

Experience

Lead counsel for policyholder involving industrial accident
Lead counsel to general contractor involving multi-million dollar allegations of lost inventory and personal injury claims stemming from industrial accident in North Carolina arising during course of construction.
Lead coverage counsel on behalf of governmental entity facing $11 million discrimination claim
Lead counsel to governmental entity in connection with general liability insurance coverage of employment discrimination claims brought by current and former employees. General liability carrier denied coverage for a significant portion of the claim. Claim was satisfactorily settled prior to hearing on cross motions for summary judgment.
Defense verdict despite admitted negligence, three surgeries and $475,000 in special damages
First-chaired a four day jury trial in an admitted negligence case in which Plaintiff asserted that she began to suffer neck pain shortly after an automobile accident. The plaintiff underwent three cervical spine surgeries, the first surgery occurring a mere five months after the accident. Plaintiff had no significant complaints of neck pain prior to the accident and the defense took the position that the need for the surgeries was not due to the symptomology (neck ...
Lead counsel for policyholder involving $117 million of insurance coverage
Lead counsel to manufacturer in connection with two carriers (primary and excess) in connection with coverage for asbestos claims. In October 2018, the Georgia Court of Appeals issued a sweeping ruling that requires two insurance companies to fulfill their obligations to make available $117 million in coverage to a fabric manufacturer defending ongoing personal injury litigation resulting from exposure to asbestos that its products contained years ago, which ...
Successful defense of admitted negligence personal injury/neck surgery case
Defended client in a clear liability accident that the Plaintiff claimed caused the need for undergo surgery on his cervical spine. Causation of the injury was disputed and taken to a jury. Plaintiff’s counsel requested over $200,000 in damages. The jury returned a verdict of $1,860.
Dismissal of case with prejudice
Represented an insurance company in a lawsuit and obtained a dismissal of the lawsuit, with prejudice, due to the fact that Plaintiff failed to effect proper service prior to or following the expiration of the statute of limitations.
Defense verdict in admitted negligence personal injury case
Successfully defended client in an admitted negligence personal injury action in DeKalb County. Plaintiff claimed to have suffered a significant shoulder injury as a result of a rear-end automobile accident. He eventually underwent two surgeries, including a total shoulder replacement. In addition to his medical expenses, Plaintiff, a private jet pilot, also claimed a significant amount of lost income because he was unable to work. The jury returned a verdict ...
Successful defense of high value pedestrian vs. automobile case
With only a month to prepare for trial, successfully defended client in a pedestrian versus automobile personal injury action in DeKalb County where the pedestrian was injured while crossing a busy street. The pedestrian claimed she was crossing in the crosswalk and had the walk sign when she entered the cross walk. The Defendant consistently testified that she had a green light and that the pedestrian was running across the street, not in the crosswalk, waving down a ...
Summary judgment for major insurance company
Represented an insurance company in a declaratory judgment matter and obtained summary judgment wherein the Court ruled that the insurance policy issued by the client did not provide coverage for a loss that occurred less than two hours before the application for insurance was submitted.