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Insurance Arbitration and Litigation in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana

Fighting for policyholders throughout the Southeast

Disputes often arise when homeowners and business owners submit insurance claims. Disputes can center around issues of coverage, whether other insurance policies should pay the damage, the items that need repair, and the cost to repair property and damaged possessions. If a business is forced to stop operations, insurance companies will often contest how much money you are actually losing.

Ideally, most disputes are resolved through negotiation. When disputes can’t be resolved amicably, then you may need to file a legal claim. At Warhurst Law, we work aggressively to try to settle your case. Our insurance dispute attorneys have a strong record of obtaining just settlements for clients in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and throughout the Southeast. We are always prepared and ready to try your case in the correct legal forum.

What is arbitration?

Arbitration is a process that keeps you out of the courts. A form of alternative dispute resolution, arbitration is legally binding and enforceable.

How does arbitration work in an insurance dispute case?

There are generally two ways an insurance dispute is submitted to an arbitration panel. The first is when both the insured and the insurance company agree to have arbitrators decide the case. The second is when arbitration is required under the terms of the insurance contract. More and more, insurance companies have a provision in their policies called “mandatory arbitration.” This means that disputes must be decided by a board of arbitrators.

Each state generally has its own set of rules in arbitration to ensure some level of fair play. There are separate arbitration rules for federal disputes.

Arbitration rules generally cover the following issues:

How an arbitrator is selected or appointed and how many are appointed. Usually, an odd number are chosen to ensure that there will be a final decision. Often the parties each choose an arbitrator and then those two arbitrators choose a third arbitrator.
Legal counsel. Each side normally does have the right to be represented by a lawyer. The insurance company will almost certainly have a lawyer so you should also have an experienced lawyer on your side.
Discovery before the hearing. The arbitrator(s) have the authority to require that the parties and witnesses submit to oral depositions – a formal question and answer process.
The hearing. Like a formal court hearing, both the insured and the insurance company have the right to present their case.
The decision process. Arbitrator(s) can generally order that an insurance company pay the damages they owe according to the terms of the contract. They can include an order for punitive damages. They can also deny the insured’s claim – something we always work to avoid.

Areas of Focus

Insurance litigation process

In cases that are not heard by arbitrators, insurance disputes are submitted to a judge or a jury. The civil litigation process in both Alabama and Florida generally allows each party to present its claim before the judge and/or a jury.

Similar to arbitration, each side has the right to a lawyer. Each side can depose other witnesses and parties. Each side can usually also submit written questions to the other side. If the case can’t be resolved before trial, then a judge and/or jury hears the evidence and gives a decision.

Our Case Results

$2.4 Million Settlement in Commercial Tornado Claim

Warhurst Law secured $2.2 million in additional recovery for a lumber mill damaged in a tornado.

The pros and cons of arbitration and litigation

The main benefits of arbitration are:

The case may be heard sooner
There is normally less discovery, which means the legal fees normally aren’t as high as a trial
The rules of evidence are usually less formal

The main benefit of litigation is that jurors are often more like homeowners than insurance companies. Like you, they worry about paying their bills. They want a roof over the head and a secure place for their family. If they own a business, they want to make the business a success.

There’s a reason insurance companies favor arbitration and try to make them mandatory. They know jurors are more sympathetic to insureds than arbitrators. Many arbitrators just see the legal and financial issues. Jurors see the human side of insurance claims.

Mediation

In addition to arbitration and litigation, states such as Florida also authorize a mediation process. In mediation, one mediator works to try to resolve the disputes. Mediation is less formal than arbitration or litigation. Unlike arbitration or litigation, the mediator does not have the ability to decide any contested issues. If the case can’t be resolved, then the dispute is heard by arbitrators or by a judge and jury.

Negotiating strong settlements is as much an art as it is a science. It’s critical to have the right documentation on your side such as engineering and contractor reports and appraisals. It helps greatly though to have an experienced insurance dispute lawyer on your side.

Contact an experienced insurance dispute attorney in Florida or Alabama

You may have options when it comes to your issuance dispute. We can talk to you about those options, and help you plan a course for the future. Call Warhurst Law at 251-694-1932 or complete our contact form. We understand the arbitration and litigation process. We handle insurance cases through the Southeast including the Florida Panhandle, the Gulf Coast, and Mobile, Alabama.

* Warhurst Law cannot and does not guarantee an outcome to any case.