Includes continental breakfast.

Use of the appraisal process in property insurance disputes has increased dramatically over the past few years. Is this the direct result of State Farm v. Johnson? Is it because of Hurricane Ike and recent severe hail storms? Or are there other reasons? Examine the current status of the Texas insurance appraisal process from both the policyholder and insurer perspectives.

Steven J. Badger, Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mason LLP - Dallas, TX
Timothy M. Hoch, Hoch Law Firm, PC - Fort Worth, TX

The Stowers doctrine has now been a fixture in Texas insurance law for more than 85 years. Explore successes and failures in key cases, as well as recent developments that may impact how you approach these issues.

David H. Timmins, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP - Dallas, TX

Often done, but often done wrong, learn the ABC's of Reservation of Rights letters and what to put in them, as well as how to respond to them.

Robert O. Lamb, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, L.L.P. - Dallas, TX

Hear from an insurance broker, a major company senior counsel and a carrier in-house attorney about what they are looking for from their attorneys and how they approach coverage issues.

Moderator:
Stephen A. Melendi, Tollefson Bradley Mitchell & Melendi, LLP - Dallas, TX
Panelists:
Donald E. Bowles, McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP - Dallas, TX
D. Christopher Heckman, Exxon Mobil Corporation - Irving, TX
Kiera O'Connell Goral, XL Group - Dallas, TX

Included in registration.

Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP

An examination of the special problems and challenges of practicing insurance law, including how to be a better coverage lawyer, how to avoid becoming a fact witness, how to avoid becoming an adjuster and other traps.

William J. Chriss, Law Office of William J. Chriss, P.C., Of Counsel to Gravely & Pearson, L.L.P. - Corpus Christi, TX

Gain a better understanding of the TDI's role as an agency.

Sara Waitt, Texas Department of Insurance - Austin, TX

Discussion of the coverage battles that have historically existed in environmental claims and how the battlefields have shifted in the last few years. Particular emphasis is given to the impact of Don Building and Lennar on the current battles being fought in environmental cases.

R. Brent Cooper, Cooper & Scully, P.C. - Dallas, TX

Gilbert, Ewing and Lennar are landmark cases with respect to Texas construction defect insurance law; however, these cases are relevant to many different types of coverage and bad faith disputes. Gilbert seems to sanction an insurer requiring an insured to move for summary judgment on counts that will eliminate a defense obligation and Lennar takes the prejudice requirement to a new level.   

Robert D. Allen, Law Offices of Robert D. Allen, PLLC - Dallas, TX

An important preliminary consideration in any insurance coverage action or bad faith lawsuit is whether the action should be filed in state or federal court. Identify the strategies employed by both insurers and policyholders to secure, and protect, the most advantageous forum.

J. James Cooper, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP - Houston, TX
Rhonda J. Thompson, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP - Dallas, TX

Mediation has too often become more of an exercise rather than a help to settling cases. Hear some ideas from those on the front lines about how to make it useful once again.

Moderator:
Vincent E. Morgan, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP - Houston, TX
Panelists:
Jeff Kichaven, Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation - Los Angeles, CA
Paul J. Van Osselaer, Van Osselaer Dispute Resolution PLLC - Austin, TX

A distinguished panel of judges share their thoughts and opinions on what it takes for attorneys to successfully present insurance cases to both the judiciary and the venire, with helpful tips on what works and what does not.

Moderator:
Lisa A. Songy, Tollefson Bradley Mitchell & Melendi, LLP - Dallas, TX
Panelists:
Hon. David C. Godbey, United States District Court - Dallas, TX
Hon. Douglas S. Lang, Fifth Court of Appeals - Dallas, TX
Hon. Jim R. Jordan, 160th Civil District Court - Dallas, TX
Hon. T. King Fifer, Dallas County Court At Law No. 2 - Dallas, TX

Thank You to Our Sponsor

Martin Disiere Jefferson & Wisdom

Includes continental breakfast.  

An overview of the who, what, where, when and how with regard to the tripartite relationship between an insurer, its insured, and the defense counsel, placing particular focus on the ethical dilemmas faced by the parties, and when the insured is entitled to the selection of independent counsel.

Jes Alexander, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. - Dallas, TX

Is a carrier's course of treatment of other claims for the same insured relevant? What if it is a different insured? Is there a new national trend developing?

Michael W. Huddleston, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. - Dallas, TX

A survey of recent, significant decisions construing Texas law across a broad array of oil patch claims including control of well, personal injury, business interruption, pollution, subrogation and additional insured status. 

Claude L. Stuart III, Hall Maines Lugrin, P.C. - Houston, TX

Additional insured issues can present unique problems, ranging from choice-of-law, the interplay of the policy and the underlying agreement between two counter-parties, and "other insurance" clauses. Learn how to properly analyze these issues so you are prepared to deal with them when they arise.

Ernest Martin Jr., Haynes and Boone, LLP - Dallas, TX

All too frequently, insurance coverage lawyers know little about their own E&O insurance policies. An exploration of E&O issues that every lawyer should know when submitting the application, evaluating available coverages and asserting a claim under the policy, including a review of disclosure and reporting issues, construction and application of "innocent insured" provisions, coverage for fee disputes, tail coverage, and various exclusions to coverage.

Veronica Carmona Czuchna, Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, LLP - Austin, TX

A primer on key business interruption and the time element coverage, along with a discussion of how to prepare a claim for these losses.

Moderator:
Beth D. Bradley, Tollefson Bradley Mitchell & Melendi, LLP - Dallas, TX
Panelists:
Peter Hagen, Hagen, Streiff, Newton & Oshiro Accountants, PC - Dallas, TX
Nigel P. Henley, EY - Dallas, TX

Included in registration. 

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Designed for lawyers, judges, legal scholars, law students, and paralegals alike, this presentation focuses on sound writing advice and practical tools. The goal, in essence, is to teach straight-thinking by studying:

• Principles applicable to all legal writing
• Principles mainly for analytical and persuasive writing
• Principles mainly for legal drafting
• Principles of document design
• Ways to continue improving your writing skills

Bryan A. Garner, LawProse, Inc. - Dallas, TX

Review of leading edge cases in homeowners and auto insurance litigation.

George L. Lankford, Martin Disiere Jefferson & Wisdom - Dallas, TX

An update on extracontractual claims under Chapters 541 and 542 and the common law duty to good faith and fair dealing, including the current state of the “independent injury rule”, adjuster liability, and recovery of attorney fees in absence of damages.

David J. Schubert, Schubert & Evans PC - Dallas, TX

Insurance agent liability issues, including whether the retail agent is the agent for the insured or the insurer, with discussion of common claims and defenses.

Thomas A. Culpepper, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP - Dallas, TX

The post-Lennar world reveals several issues raised by settlements and/or judgments in connection with policy conditions, trigger, and allocation.

Aaron Mitchell, Tollefson Bradley Mitchell & Melendi, LLP - Dallas, TX
Lee H. Shidlofsky, Shidlofsky Law Firm PLLC - Austin, TX