With decades of experience representing major insurers and insurance pools, as well as business and commercial insurance policyholders, Shumaker lawyers are skilled at the interpretation of policy provisions and the resolution of coverage claims. We have developed an insider's perspective on how insurance companies work, enabling us to handle their coverage issues more effectively by combining substantive knowledge of coverage law with practical familiarity on claims handling procedures. Our coverage practice involves both representing the insurers and the insureds.
What Makes Us Different
Work for the insurers includes serving as coverage counsel for two state-wide insurance pools. Our role as coverage counsel involves issuing coverage opinions and defending declaratory judgment actions, breach of contract or bad faith claims, and litigating some subrogation issues. The coverage practice also involves representing our commercial clients against their insurers on claims of breach of contract or bad faith claims arising under bodily injury, property damage, professional liability and D&O coverages.
And we are more than just claims litigators. For example, we review your business insurance policies to determine the actual coverage on such potential claims dispute areas as liability coverage or Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance, and advise whether coverage is properly documented for your level of risk.
Our Clients
- A wide range of business and commercial insureds, including construction and manufacturing companies in Ohio, Florida and North Carolina, turn to Shumaker for representation in coverage claims disputes.
- Two major Ohio-based insurance pools covering governmental entities.
Why You Benefit
For any coverage issue for insurers or insureds, our capabilities as a full-service firm give us the ability to bring in professionals who fully understand the substantive law issues.
If going to trial is necessary, you will be represented by seasoned litigators who have the training and maturity to be effective courtroom advocates. We never oversell a position and rack up litigation fees just to settle – you get a complete up-front analysis of legal issues to assess the strength of your claim, and an accurate assessment of whether trial, mediation or settlement is the best course.
We believe our clients will attest that we offer responsive, personalized service that fully recognizes the importance of efficient claim resolution.
Core Services
- Serving as coverage counsel to two major insurance pools.
- Representation in coverage disputes against insurers.
- Policy review and risk assessment.
What you can expect from Shumaker
In representing policyholders, our familiarity with how insurance companies underwrite, reinsure, and evaluate risks and claims helps us secure for our clients the coverage they are entitled to under their policies. Our approach combines technical knowledge of insurance company coverage procedures with practical, hands-on business experience to help clients avoid problems when possible and secure the maximum coverage when necessary. That includes representing business policyholders in disputes over denial of insurance coverage, as we skillfully reconcile the coverage needs of our clients with the settlement strategies carriers prefer.
