Peter H. Klee founded the firm's Insurance Litigation Department in 1987. Mr. Klee's focus is defending insurance companies and their affiliates that are sued in individual actions and class actions for bad faith, fraud, unfair competition and other torts. He has handled over 1,000 such cases throughout the country over the past 25 years. His client list includes most of the major insurance carriers doing business in California, including Allstate, State Farm, Fireman's Fund, MetLife, Infinity, St. Paul-Travelers, and the Automobile Club of Southern California. Mr. Klee has handled numerous jury trials in both state and federal court. No client represented in trial by Mr. Klee has ever been held liable for breach of insurance contract, bad faith or any other tort. Mr. Klee is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which limits its membership to the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States and Canada. Mr. Klee has also been recognized as one of California's Top 100 Attorneys by the Daily Journal. Mr. Klee is also a frequent lecturer on insurance issues, and he has conducted training seminars for insurance organizations as well as lawyers. Recent Work / Representative Matters Du v. Deerbrook - Defended Deerbrook in a jury trial. Plaintiff alleged that Deerbrook refused to settle a claim against its insured for the policy's $100,000 limits. Because the claim was not settled, the insured was ultimately found liable for a $5 million judgment. Deerbrook was sued for the amount of the judgment based on a "bad faith refusal to settle" theory. Defense verdict. This case was selected by the Daily Journal as a "Top Defense Verdict" for 2010. 21st Century Ins. Co. v. Superior Court - Defended 21st Century in a class action alleging that it improperly asserted contractual reimbursement rights to recover med pay benefits it had paid. Defense verdict with published California Supreme Court decision at 47 Cal.4th 511 (2009). Maystruk v. Infinity Ins. Co. - Defended Infinity in a class action alleging that it violated anti-steering laws by reducing coverage if a policyholder had the vehicle repaired at a non-approved repair shop. Defense verdict with published decision at 175 Cal.App.4th 881, 96 Cal.Rptr.3d 494 (2009). Caserta v. State Farm - Defended State Farm in a 5-week jury trial. Plaintiff alleged that State Farm wrongly accused him of submitting a fraudulent theft claim and that his Navy career was ruined by the accusations. Defense verdict. Burton v. Allstate - Defended Allstate in a jury trial. Plaintiffs, who lost their home in a wildfire catastrophe, alleged that they were underinsured as a result of their Allstate agent's misrepresentations and negligence. Defense verdict. Williams v. Interinsurance Exchange - Defended the Interinsurance Exchange in a class action alleging that it charged illegal installment fees. Defense verdict with published decision at 148 Cal.App.4th 1218 (2007). Drommi v. Allstate - Defended Allstate in a 6-week jury trial. Plaintiff alleged that Allstate mishandled her earthquake claim and wrongfully rescinded an offer to pay her over $400,000 in policy benefits. Defense verdict. Bryan v. State Farm - Defended State Farm in a jury trial of a claim for malicious prosecution. Defense verdict. Richmond v. Allstate - Defended Allstate in a class action alleging that Allstate violated the law by systematically paying less than the "stated value" on stated value boat policies. Defense verdict. Aronson v. State Farm - Defended State Farm in a bad faith trial arising out of an uninsured motorist claim. Plaintiff alleged that State Farm acted in bad faith by refusing to offer any money at all for a claim that an arbitrator later determined to be worth over $500,000. Defense verdict. Recognition Chambers USA Ranking
2011: Band 3
2010: Band 3
2009: Band 4
Insurance, Insurer Firms, California. Martindale-Hubbell® AV Rating. Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (honoring top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States and Canada). Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates. Recognized as one of the Daily Journal's "Top 10 Leading Rainmakers - 2009." Recognized as one of California's "Top 100 Attorneys" by the Daily Journal in 2007. Co-Counsel for Du v. Deerbrook Insurance Co. - Selected by the Daily Journal as one of the "Top Verdicts of 2010". One of the 500 lawyers in America selected as "New Stars" for 2006 by Lawdragon. Best Lawyers in America® - First Year Listed: 2009 - Most Recent Listing: 2012 (Insurance Law). Super Lawyers: Corporate Counsel - Most Recent Listing: 2010 (Insurance Coverage). Super Lawyers: Business Edition - 2011 (Insurance Coverage). San Diego Super Lawyers - Most Recent Listing: 2011 (Insurance Coverage). Top 50 San Diego Super Lawyers - Most Recent Listing: 2011. Partial Client List Allstate Insurance Company Infinity Insurance Company Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club State Farm Insurance Company Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company Industries Insurance Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology Publications / Presentations Select Linked Articles 10 | 07 | 2010 Legal e-Update
Howard v. American National Fire Insurance Co.: Unsettling Case Concerning an Insurer's Duty to Settle 09 | 09 | 2010 Legal e-Update
The Day After Hanif/Nishihama Is Overruled 08 | 27 | 2010 Legal e-Update
Protecting Expert Records 07 | 22 | 2010 Legal e-Update
Court Reverses Course, Allows Defendants in Insurance Bad Faith Lawsuits to Recover Costs After Making Joint §998 Offer to Husband and Wife Plaintiffs 02 | 12 | 2009 Legal e-Update
Protecting Privileged, Attorney-Client Communications: Vigilance Required 12 | 09 | 2008 Legal e-Update
California Court of Appeal Stirs Up Controversy Over the "Genuine Dispute" Doctrine 07 | 31 | 2008 Legal e-Update
Update on Everett v. State Farm 11 | 06 | 2007 Legal e-Update
New Case Law Establishes Important Defenses for Insurers Handling Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Claims Media Presence / Articles About Attorney / Attorney Contribution 09 | 13 | 2011 Recognition
Thirty-Two Luce Forward Attorneys Named to 2011 Super Lawyers Business Edition 09 | 08 | 2011 Recognition
Thirty-Four Luce Forward Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America® 06 | 13 | 2011 Recognition
Luce Forward Earns Top Rankings in 2011 Edition of Chambers USA 06 | 05 | 2011 Recognition
Thirty Luce Forward Partners Named San Diego Super Lawyers 05 | 09 | 2011 Case Study
Insurance Litigation - Featured Case Study 03 | 01 | 2011 Firm Management
Luce Forward Announces Leadership Changes for 2011 02 | 07 | 2011 Recognition
Two Luce Forward Verdicts Selected by Daily Journal as Top Verdicts of 2010 08 | 23 | 2010 Case Study
Luce Forward Obtains a Defense Verdict for Deerbrook Insurance Company 06 | 18 | 2010 Recognition
Luce Forward Earns Top Rankings in 2010 Edition of Chambers USA 06 | 15 | 2010 Recognition
Thirty Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers 11 | 01 | 2009 Recognition
Luce Forward Partner Peter Klee Named One of the Daily Journal's Top 10 Rainmakers 08 | 26 | 2009 Case Study
Luce Forward Obtains Unanimous California Supreme Court Decision 08 | 04 | 2009 Recognition
Luce Forward Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 07 | 01 | 2009 Recognition
Luce Forward Earns Top Rankings in 2009 Edition of Chambers USA 06 | 17 | 2009 Recognition
Thirty-Two Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers 09 | 25 | 2008 Recognition
Thirty-Two Luce Forward Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel 09 | 08 | 2008 Case Study
Insurance Litigation - Featured Case Study 05 | 19 | 2008 Recognition
32 Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers - Five Attorneys Receive Top Honors 03 | 21 | 2008 Appointment
Experienced Litigator Peter H. Klee Is Inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers 09 | 20 | 2007 Recognition
The Daily Journal Honors Luce Forward Partner Peter H. Klee With Top Attorney Designation 06 | 07 | 2007 Recognition
34 Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers 07 | 31 | 2005 Recognition
Three Luce Forward Partners Named "New Stars" by Lawdragon All Authored Works "Howard v. American National Fire Insurance Co.: Unsettling Case Concerning an Insurer's Duty to Settle" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - October 7, 2010. "The Day After Hanif/Nishihama Is Overruled " - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - September 9, 2010. "Protecting Expert Records" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - August 27, 2010. "Court Reverses Course, Allows Defendants in Insurance Bad Faith Lawsuits to Recover Costs After Making Joint §998 Offer to Husband and Wife Plaintiffs" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - July 22, 2010. "Keeping it Confidential" - Legal Strategy Review - Summer 2009. "Protecting Privileged, Attorney-Client Communications: Vigilance Required" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - February 12, 2009. "California Court of Appeal Stirs Up Controversy Over the "Genuine Dispute" Doctrine" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - December 9, 2008. "Update on Everett v. State Farm" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - July 31, 2008. "New Case Law Establishes Important Defenses for Insurers Handling Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Claims" - Luce Forward Legal e-Update - November 6, 2007. Presentations "Class Actions" Emerging Threats From Other States" - 22nd Annual General Counsel Seminar - Las Vegas, NV - July 29, 2011. "Liability Insurer's Obligation to Pay for Medial Services at Billed Rates" - Association of California Insurance Companies (ACIC) 21st Annual General Counsel Seminar - Las Vegas, NV - July 21, 2010. "Automated Claims Handling in a Litigious World" - 20th Annual ACIC General Counsel Seminar - Las Vegas, NV - August 5 through 7, 2009. "Litigating Underinsurance Claims" - Association of California Insurance Companies General Counsel Seminar - Las Vegas, NV - July 2008. Mr. Klee has been a frequent speaker on insurance topics at seminars hosted by The Rutter Group, The American Conference Institute and Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB). (Also at Los Angeles Office) |