Insurance Bad Faith Consultants: 29

For 34 years, Steven Plitt has represented policyholders / insureds in litigation and trial as well as representing insurance companies in Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith matters. During his career, he has reviewed thousands of claim files from more than 100 insurance companies. He has regularly consulted with all levels of claim department management from claim adjusters, supervisors, branch claim managers, claim-legal personnel and executive level insurance company management. Mr. Plitt has also consulted with underwriting departments and participated with insurance company product development units and claims-legal to draft insurance policy language. He has reviewed and analyzed a broad spectrum of testimony from claims adjusters, claims management, claims attorneys, underwriters and other insurance company management as well as other insurance experts. He has reviewed an extensive variety of claims manuals, claims guidelines and other claims directives and practices. Mr. Plitt is a nationally recognized expert witness in insurance claim handling and bad faith cases and has been retained as an expert in hundreds of cases nationally. He has qualified in both state and Federal Courts as a claims handling and insurance expert. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Arizona where he teaches insurance law. Areas of Expertise:

Insurance Extra-contractual Bad Faith Claims / Breach of Contract Claims Claims Handling Practices Unfair Claims Practices Policy Interpretation Coverage Denials

Property & Casualty Insurance Personal & Commercial Lines Surplus Lines Excess & Umbrella Insurance Insurance Agent / Broker Errors & Omissions Miscellaneous Coverage

Mr. Plitt has an LL.M. in Insurance from the University of Connecticut. He is the current successor author to COUCH ON INSURANCE 3D where he and his team are rewriting and revising the entire treatise. He has written other books on insurance law. He has published in excess of 320 law reviews and other professional publications on insurance law in addition to his books. Mr. Plitt has been cited by the Supreme Courts in 32 states, the Intermediate Appellate Courts in 23 states, 10 of the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal, 54 Federal District Courts, the Federal Court of Claims and Federal Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Plitt has been cited in the Code of Federal Regulations. Mr. Plitt has also been cited in 91 scholarly articles. Steven Plitt has been continuously listed as a top 50 lawyer in Arizona (2007-2014) by SOUTHWEST SUPER LAWYERS®, has been listed in BEST LAWYERS® since 2007 (insurance), and was named the Insurance Lawyer of the Year by BEST LAWYERS® in 2012 for Phoenix. He is a Fellow in the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel and a Member of the American Law Institute where he is a consultive member on the development of the RESTATEMENT OF LIABILITY INSURANCE.

Allan Windt specializes in the areas of Insurance Coverage, Duty to Settle and Bad Faith. In over 30 years in the insurance business, he has handled more than 10,000 claims for more than 70 insurance companies and hundreds of insureds in all 50 states. Mr. Windt has served as an expert witness in dozens of states.

He is the author of Insurance Claims & Disputes, Representation of Insurers and Insureds, West, 1982 first edition, 1988 second edition, 1996 third edition, 2001 fourth edition, and 2007 fifth edition. Mr. Windt's books have been cited as authoritative by more than 300 courts throughout the country.

Paul F. Amoruso, CPCU, has more than 45 years of experience working for several major insurance carriers as a Senior Vice President of Claims and Operations. As a licensed insurance agent in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, an New Jersey and licensed public adjuster, he is uniquely qualified to assist either plaintiff or defense attorneys on insurance related issues on local or national issues.

If you are an insurance company, insured, or law firm and need an independent review of an insurance issue regarding litigation, agency or company operations, practices or procedures, he is available to assist.

Mr. Amoruso has served as an Expert Witness in many states in both State and Federal court . Having worked in all operation areas of the insurance industry he is able to testify to the generally observed and accepted industry practices.

Areas of Expertise:

• Insurance Customs and Practices
• Company Policies
• Management Involvement
• Proper Staffing
• Coverage Denial
• Agency and Insurance Company Relationships
• Case Evaluation
• Reserve Policies
• Workers Compensation
• Liability Personal or Commercial
• Commercial and Personal Property Losses
• Authority Level
• Industry Ethics and Norms
• Bad Faith
• Claims Handling Practices
• Insurance Company Operations

Archuleta & Associates Investigative Services, a Division of Archuleta & Associates, Inc., has been providing investigative services within various industries since 1982. They are the overwhelming leaders within the CA Central Valley.

The clientele of Archuleta & Associates, Inc. consists of every level of business, from both the private and public sector. Due to the wide range of services provided and their 25 years within the industry, they have worked with an extremely diverse and vast clientele base, from the largest of litigation firms to the smallest of personal clients.

Robert A. Archuleta launched his career as a Private Investigator in 1983, after five years as an officer, investigator and sergeant for the Lodi Police Department, followed by stints as an engineering contractor and a deputy U.S. Marshal. Among his other clientele, Mr. Archuleta has been as an Expert Witness for the Department of Consumer Affairs for the State of California.

Services Include:

Accident Reconstruction AOE / COE Civil Litigation Copyright Infringement Criminal Defense Criminal Prosecution General Engineering GPS Location / Tracking

Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Defense Seminar Training Surveillance Traffic Reconstruction Video Evidence Voice Stress Analyzation Workers Compensation

AXIOM Claims Analytics, LLC, excels at providing resources and training to manage complex Construction Defect and other General Liability Claims. Clients have included GL Adjusters; Mediators; Insurance Brokers and Agents; Attorneys; General Liability Claims Consultants and Companies. 

Axiom Construction Defect Approach - This new strategy for handling CD claim in an efficent and "fair to all parties" methodology was the subject of much discussion at the 2017 WCC CD Seminar. With a panel led session and input from across the industry, this new approach to CD claims handing was introduced for consideration. 

CD Damage Investigation & Resolution Approach Guidelines - The CD Investigation & Resolution Approach Guidelines outline the steps that should be agreed to by any party who is interested in an early and equitable resolution of their CD claims. We believe an added benefit to participating in the approach would be a substantial reduction of their handling and litigation costs.

Support Materials:  

• Case Overview Summary - A definition of the approach and a primer for it's basis
• Current CD Litigation-Handling Issues
• Plaintiff's Problems with Current CD Litigation Handling
• Defense Summary Problems & Solutions
• Neutral Consulting Expert - Scope of Work

Hugh W. Black CPCU, ARM, AIC, CCLA, Principal at Axiom, has over 45 years of Insurance Industry experience reviewing and analyzing thousands of claim files for many different insurance companies and third party administrators. This experience gives him tremendous insight into the custom and practice of insurance claims departments and other insurance company operations. 

Mr. Black has conducted contract work for several third party administrators and independent adjusting firms handling Construction Defect, General Liability, Professional Liability, and Property Claims. His assignments have included claims investigation, mediations, mandatory settlement conferences, additional insured defense cost sharing programs, legal bill auditing, and insurance claims training including the development of construction defect claims handling guidelines.

View Hugh Black's Expert Witness Profile.

Barrington Capital Management, Inc. provides customized financial solutions for unique financial challenges and objectives. Their expertise is in the development, implementation and ongoing management of a customized and diversified investment strategy. Barrington's mission is to assist in building, enhancing, and protecting personal wealth and maintaining financial security. 

President and Chief Executive Officer, Bob Lawson, has over 35 years of financial services experience as an Investment Advisory and Insurance Agency Executive, Securities Principal, and Options Principal. Bob proudly serves as an industry arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the National Futures Association (NFA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), ERISA (3)-21 Fiduciary, Master Registered Financial Consultant, and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary. In addition to teaching advanced investment strategies and Retirement Planning classes throughout the year. 

Bob Lawson has special expertise in stock options and has presented the following Options Industry Council (OIC) seminars to retail and industry professionals throughout the United States:

Options Basics Options Intermediate Advanced Options

Covered Calls Options Spreads Option Volatility

View Bob Lawson's Expert Witness Profile.

  

Mr. Beringer is the Principal of Beringer & Associates (B&A) and Liability Program Management (LPM). He is an approved consultant by the A.M. Best organization, since 2006, for claims, liJohn-Beringer-Insurance-Management-Expert-Photo.jpgbility, and insurance program management, including matters involving construction, OCIP, TPA, JPA, Captives, Memorandum of Coverage, and insurance coverage analysis. The Cayman Island Monetary Authority approved Mr. Beringer as a licensed captive owner in 2002 for Segregated Portfolio Company Creative Solutions, SPC.

Mr. Beringer holds an LPCS, RPA; is a founding member of CLM, a published author in various publications, and presenter at the CIMA, CPA, A.M. Best, and other conferences.

Mr. Beringer, as B&A, has provided expert services for risk analysis and management services to the insurance, reinsurance, construction, and transportation industry since 2000. Previous to the formation of B&A, he worked in the insurance industry for 30 plus years as a region Litigation Manager with Automobile Club, Industrial Indemnity, Great American, and The Hartford's Speciality Risk Service. Since B&A’s formation, Mr. Beringer assisted Reliance, AIG, Swiss Reinsurance, and Sterling Insurance for review of their insurance programs, analysis, and performance of claims systems and operations.

Mr. Beringer has participated in over 300 mediations, managed handling of over 30,000 cases in federal, state, and local venues on behalf of clients, and provided expert services to plaintiff and defense counsel.

Peter J. Bondy FSA, MAAA, has more than 45 years of experience as an Actuary and a Financial Services Professional. He has served as a corporate executive, as a corporate director, and as a consultant domestically and internationally. Mr. Bondy has extensive experience with insurance company and reinsurer matters and practices ranging from basic business practices to matters involving financial projections and valuations as well as sales practices. He has served on corporate boards and brings a broad understanding of the issues involved. A published author, Mr. Bondy has delivered lectures and spoken frequently around the country. He is fluent in English and Spanish, his first language.

Litigation Support - Having had experience with many complex projects throughout his career, Mr. Bondy is able to serve as an expert consultant or as an expert witness for complex matters and issues regarding annuities, insurance, reinsurance, emerging mortality, experience issues, and corporate matters. He provides a broad range of litigation support services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

• Actuary / Actuarial
• Reinsurance
• Economic Loss
• Joint Marital Property
• Mortality and Life Expectancy
• Life Settlements
• Valuation of Life Care Plans
• Valuation of Streams of Contingent Future Payments
• Usufruct Arrangements
• Private Annuities
• Insurance : Life / Health / Annuities / Disability
• Life Settlements / Structured Settlement Annuities
• Appraisal and Performance Evaluation of: Life Insurance / Life Settlement Transactions / Annuity Benefits / Retirement Benefits

Clarity Concepts, Inc. provides risk consulting and training services that help develop businesses into a high-functioning organization through specially designed consulting and training programs that suit both individual and corporate needs. 

Clarity Concepts, Inc.'s Services:

Corporate strategy Enterprise Risk Management Outsourced Risk Management Insurance Program Analysis Claims reduction through Risk Control

Corporate Governance Consulting and Training Organizational / Group Training Teambuilding for Organizational Effectiveness Strategic Innovation Training Crisis Management Planning

Principal, Jane Marie Downey, M.Ed, ARM, has over 35 years of experience in Risk Management and Property, Casualty, and Professional Liability Insurance. A well-known risk management consultant, leadership trainer, and frequent public speaker, she provides risk consulting, insurance broker management, outsourced risk management, as well as leadership and team training. Her risk management clients have included Schott Corporation, Carl Zeiss, Inc., Main Line Health Systems, Genencor International, Entech Creative Industries, Saint-Gobain Corp., Commerce National Insurance Services, Napco and CIGNA International. 

Background - Ms. Downey’s corporate experience includes risk management positions with IU International, PaineWebber Group, Inc., and The West Company. She also worked as an Account Executive in insurance brokerage with the Hobbs Group, now part of Willis.

 She taught Risk Management at Temple University's Fox School and Crisis Management at Penn State's Graduate Program. She currently teaches Continuing Educations courses for brokers and agents for the Institute of Strategic Educational Parners. 

View Jane Downey's Expert Witness Profile.

CMC Advisors Inc. (CMC) provides expert Insurance Consulting and offers clients the upper hand in managing their assets and liabilities. They assist clients in managing investment portfolios by helping to determine if current Financial Retirement plans such as IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, 401(K), Keogh Plans, Pensions and Profit Sharing Plans are meeting retirement goals.

Consulting Areas:

Annuities Life Insurance Term Insurance Single Premium Variable Insurance

Retirement Disability Insurance Consultant Expert Witness Services

Wayne Citron has 45 years of experience as an expert in Forensic Reconstruction of Insurance Transactions. He is an insurance expert and consultant.

Mr. Citron established the Citron Agency and CMC Advisors Inc. in 1972, where his duties included executive and managerial responsibilities, sales, service, compliance with all insurance matters as well as securities laws and regulations. Both firms are leaders in life, health, disability and property and casualty insurance.

Mr. Citron has served as an instructor for Prudential Insurance Company Brooklyn Agency (1973) educating personnel in general insurance matters, underwriting, and insurance law. He has worked with companies including Prudential Insurance Company, United States Life Insurance Company, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, American General Life Insurance Company, William Penn Life Insurance Company, American Life Insurance Company, Chubb Insurance Company, Travelers Insurance Company, Mass Mutual Insurance Company, John Hancock Insurance Company, and American International Group (AIG), among other.

Mr. Citron recently volunteered for Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group (OCLTRG) to reopen Super Storm Sandy flood claims and examine National Flood Insurance Policies, as well as deal with FEMA in these matters (2015 & 2016).

View Wayne Citron's Expert Witness Profile.

Vera Dolan is an epidemiologist with over 30 years of experience in the life and health insurance industries. She is one of the leading mortality experts in the life insurance industry. She writes underwriting manuals and policy and procedure manuals for life and health insurance companies.

Vera has testified in both state and federal court, and has been retained in over 150 cases since 2006 for plaintiffs and defense on an equal basis. She is very credible testifying in deposition and on the stand.

* Life expectancies that are personalized and accurate to the standards of the life insurance and life settlement industries. Addresses the cases when life expectancies that are simply taken from a life table or estimated by a doctor, actuary or biostatistician are too long, too short, insufficient or not credible. Addresses the cases when a complete insight into the individual's medical conditions and/or personal history of high-risk behaviors is needed to assist the judge or jury in their decision. This information often decides the case, see article for details.

* Expert in bad faith/wrongful denial of life/health insurance claims.

* Expert in life/health insurance underwriting material misrepresentation.

* Expert in medical risk assessment and underwriting issues.

* Expert in life insurance underwriting policies and procedures.

* Expert in epidemiology. Previous cases include infectious diseases, occupational and environmental exposures, pesticides and tobacco.

* Approved life expectancy expert with the U.S. Department of Justice.

* Active consultant to the life insurance industry conducting cohort mortality studies, and writing underwriting and policy and procedure manuals.

* Over 100 articles published on mortality research and underwriting.

* Friendly, clear, concise, objective and quantitative.

* There is no charge for the initial phone consultation.

* There is no charge for travel time.

David Haass is the COO of Elite Insurance Partners & MedicareFAQ. A visionary with experience propelling innovation in the Insurance field, he is highly regarded for driving industry standards in client experience and cutting-edge technologies. Mr. Haass is an active contributor on the Forbes Financial Council, recognized for building brand trust and establishing strong customer relations, motivated by a genuine desire to demystify health insurance options. 

Mr. Haass and his team at EIP represent over 30 carriers throughout the nation. They work with clients nationally, helping them make educated decisions on all their healthcare insurance needs. EIP ranks in the top 5 Medicare brokerages in the nation and their licensed agents are considered to be the best in the Medicare insurance industry.

EIP's primary market is Medicare, but they also help with: 

Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Cancer Insurance Heart Attack insurance

Stroke Insurance Long-Term Care Insurance Disability Insurance  HMO / PPO Insurance

Frederick J. Fisher, JD, is the President of Fisher Consulting Group, Inc. and was the Founder of E.L.M. Insurance Brokers, a Wholesale & MGA facility specializing in Professional Liability and Specialty Line risks. He is a Member of the Editorial Board for Agents of America; a Faculty Member of the Claims College, and Member of the Executive Council, School of Professional Lines sponsored by the Claims & Litigation Management Association and a course designer and webinar Instructor for the Academy of Insurance. Consulting - Since his career began, Mr. Fisher focused on one vision: providing financial security to the client. The result was a successful 40 year career in Specialty Lines Insurance which have resulted in substantial cost savings for clients. He provides consulting and audit services in all areas of Professional Liability, D&O, and EPLI Insurance. This includes Processes, Underwriting, Claims, and Product Distribution. Background - In 1975, Mr. Fisher began his career on the service side, as an Independent E&O claims adjuster. In 1982, he bought the Company and increased annual billings by 400% in only 4 years. In 1995, he formed what is now known as ELM insurance Brokers, a firm that has acted as an MGA and Wholesale Broker of Professional Liability Insurance and Specialty Lines. From nothing, the firm grew rapidly to a $30 Million dollar facility when sold in 2008. Author and Speaker - Frederick Fisher has lectured extensively on professional liability issues since 1978, and authored over 64 articles in trade journals and periodicals. He is the author of BROKER BEWARE, Selling Real Estate within the Law. Mr. Fisher remains a Special Materials Expert for several RPLU courses and is the Senior Technical Advisor for The Professional Liability Manual, first published by the International Risk Management Institute in 1990. He has taught over 100 CE classes and lectures. Mr. Fisher can be reached at: fjfisher@fishercg.com View Frederick Fisher's Expert Witness Profile.

Guy O. Kornblum has specialized as a trial and appellate lawyer for 40 years. He is certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the prestigious National Board of Trial Advocacy, and is a Fellow of the American College of Certified Attorney Specialists. Mr. Kornblum has handled over 4,000 litigated matters to conclusion and has several million dollar plus cases to his credit. He has represented hundreds of clients, small businesses, individuals, and large Fortune 500 corporations during his 40 plus years of practice in his practice. He is highly regarded for his courtroom and appellate skills, and his representation of his clients in mediations, where he has a strong track record of successful settlements. 

Areas of Practice:

Personal Injury Wrongful Death Insurance Law Insurance Coverage / Bad Faith Claims Medical and Legal Malpractice

Punitive Damage Actions Commercial Disputes Class Actions Nursing Home Negligence & Abuse Elder Abuse

Guy Kornblum is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar and Million Dollar Advocate’s Forum, for those attorneys who have achieved multi- million dollar awards or settlements for their clients. He is also a Charter Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary, a Platinum Member of The Verdict Club, recognized for his “professional excellence in litigation,” and is a Legends Society “Top Lawyer” in the personal injury field and a Silver Member of the Elite Lawyers of America. Mr. Kornblum is the author of: Negotiating and Settling Tort Cases: Reaching the Settlement, published by the Thomson West Publishing Company and American Association for Justice, Second Edition, 2013; and co-author of Litigating Insurance Claims: Coverage, Bad Faith and Business Disputes (Wiley & Sons, 1991); and the California Practice Guide: Bad Faith (The Rutter Group, 1986). He also is a contributing author to the California Continuing Education of the Bar’s “Alternative Dispute Resolution in California,” which was published in 2005. He has authored over 200 published articles on trial practice, discovery, civil procedure, and insurance law and related topics.

View Guy Kornblum's Expert Witness Profile.

Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr., CEO of Houston Auto Appraisers, is a well known and respected expert and consultant in the automotive industry. He holds numerous licenses and credentials as an ASE Certified Mechanic, I-Car Collision Specialist, Licensed Auto Appraiser, Insurance Adjuster, Umpire, Mediator, Arbitrator, Classic Car Judge, and Vintage Car Historian. An IACP Certified Auto Appraiser and Field Inspector, Mr. Bent offers appraisal services to insurance companies, attorneys, banks, credit unions, lenders, agricultural credit corporations, accountants, government agencies, auctioneers, farmers, ranchers, transportation companies, and individual consumers. He provides the following selected consulting services:

• Diminished Value Appraisals
• Total Loss / Stolen Vehicle Appraisals
• Certified Real Estate Appraisers and Texas Homeowners Insurance Claims Assistance
• Industrial, Construction & Heavy Equipment Appraisals
• Tractor Trailer and Equipment Appraisals
• Recreational Vehicles
• Motor Homes
• Travel Trailer Appraisals

KPRC 2 Houston News Interview with Roy Bent on Diminished Value

Mr. Bent is the seated President of the Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers (BOCAA), a National Professional Appraisal Credentialing Organization that has trained, tested, and certified over 2,400 students under his leadership in the practices of IACP Certified Auto Appraisals and Litigation assistance. In addition to his appraisal services, Mr. Bent offers  Appraisal Training Certification courses designed to properly train and educate the appraiser with the minimum requirements set forth by the Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers. BOCAA courses include:

• IACP Certification Exam - To provide suitable training and education to the auto appraisal professional. IACPSM Certified Appraisers follow strict adherence to the Bureaus’ Code of Ethics and USPAP guidelines
• Texas Adjusters Pre-Licensing Course - 40-hour Texas Adjusters Pre-licensing course approved by the Texas Department of Insurance as an alternative method of obtaining your Texas Adjusters Property & Casualty license

Auto Appraisals for Law Enforcement Agencies - Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr., IACP Certified Auto Appraiser & Expert Witness is regularly retained by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), U.S. Marshals Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Police Departments to assist with white-collar crimes, vehicular homicide crimes, and felony drug crimes resulting in Federal Criminal Forfeitures, Civil Judicial Forfeitures, Administrative Forfeitures & Seizures of rightfully seized and wrongfully seized assets and personal property including Exotic Luxury Cars, Luxury Motor Homes, Travel Trailers, Custom Motorcycles, and other valuable assets.

View Roy T. Bent's Expert Witness Profile.