Insurance
We have more than four decades of experience providing counsel and legal defense to insurance companies, self-insured clients, businesses and individuals. The firm has represented thousands of insured clients of leading insurance companies in a wide range of cases and has represented insurers in cases involving coverage disputes, policy interpretation, bad faith claims and workers’ compensation.
The following are some of the key focus areas:
Property and Casualty Defense
We represent insurance companies at the national and local level, regularly representing parties in lawsuits involving accidents, premises liability, fire loss, maintenance defects, construction defects and products liability. We also defend
We have more than four decades of experience providing counsel and legal defense to insurance companies, self-insured clients, businesses and individuals. The firm has represented thousands of insured clients of leading insurance companies in a wide range of cases and has represented insurers in cases involving coverage disputes, policy interpretation, bad faith claims and workers’ compensation.
The following are some of the key focus areas:
Property and Casualty Defense
We represent insurance companies at the national and local level, regularly representing parties in lawsuits involving accidents, premises liability, fire loss, maintenance defects, construction defects and products liability. We also defend individual homeowners and motorists, as well as owners of commercial property, retail spaces and businesses.
Even when claims are legitimate, there may be questionable or unnecessary expenses and procedures involved in an injured person’s treatment or in the repair of damaged property. Exaggerated claims are not rare. Sometimes, the injured party shares the fault for what happened. To find out what really happened, we investigate every case thoroughly, taking the time to talk to every client and client representative and meet with them in person whenever possible.
Coverage Opinions
We have extensive experience in coverage analysis and representation, including commercial and personal lines, primary, umbrella and excess coverage and first- and third-party coverage. We also handle an assortment of coverage issues, including advertising injury, personal injury, construction defect, automobile, underinsured motorists, personal injury protection, homeowner’s, environmental, property, products-completed operations, E&O and D&O. We have the depth of experience necessary to provide insightful coverage advice to insurers when handling matters in Tennessee, and the legal analysis, research and writing skills needed for effective representation.
Because a clear understanding of the validity and scope of a claim can mean the difference between spending or saving thousands of dollars, our clients rely upon us to provide them with coverage opinion letters. For a coverage opinion, our legal experts assess the current state of the law regarding potential claims arising under an insurance policy and provide an accurate determination as to: whether coverage exists; the extent of liability; the strengths and weakness of the claim; and the defense options available.
Bad Faith
We represent some of the nation’s largest insurance carriers and are recognized as leaders in the field of insurance litigation. We have significant experience defending insurance companies and related entities and individuals in lawsuits alleging bad faith and other claims arising out of first- and third-party property/casualty insurance matters.
We have extensive bench and jury trial experience in both state and federal courts, as well as effectively presenting cases at the appellate level.
Workers’ Compensation
Lewis Thomason serves large and small businesses and their insurance carriers across the state of Tennessee. We routinely guide our clients through the complex web of workers’ compensation rules and regulations. We advise clients on the interplay of workers’ compensation, the American with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act and how they affect business goals. Our attorneys have long term litigation and mediation experience on the many different applications of workers’ compensation, from the administrative level all the way through the Supreme Court.
We are committed to providing excellent representation and client service, while at the same time containing fees and expenses. Our client commitment is evidenced by:
- Client notification on changes in workers’ compensation law and trends in compensation awards
- Complimentary manuals, revised annually, on workers’ compensation in Tennessee
- Efficient staffing, using experienced legal assistants to contain costs when appropriate
As evidence of the respect we have earned in the area of workers’ compensation, shareholder Leslie Bishop was appointed to serve as a member of the Governor’s Task Force charged with reform of workers’ compensation laws in the state of Tennessee.
Professional Liability
As a professional, your reputation means everything. We are sensitive to the fact that professional liability lawsuits affect reputations, as well as personal finances, and we stand ready to aggressively protect your practice at both the trial and appellate levels.
Representative clients include:
- Accountants
- Architects
- Contractors
- Directors of Corporations
- Physicians, Nurses and other Medical Professionals
- Hospitals
- Engineers
- Insurance Professionals
- Attorneys
- Financial Advisors
We also regularly provide professionals with legal counsel to help them avoid claims and lawsuits.
Elizabeth S. Alrutz
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDKevin Baskette
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDR. Dale Bay
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDLeslie Curry Bay
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDSamantha E. Bennett
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDJohn J. Britton
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDCaitlin Burchette
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDNatalie Bursi
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDGrant A. Carringer
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDMark Castleberry
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDDavid A. Chapman
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDClaire McClain Cissell
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDJoseph M. Clark
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDLisa Ramsay Cole
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDSam Doak
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDJohn Dotson
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDDavid A. Draper
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDRodney A. Fields
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDR. Kent Francis
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDMichael S. Holder
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDAriane Sowa Hookman
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDJ. Wallace Irvin
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDBenjamin W. Jones
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDWeslen T. Lakins
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDChris W. McCarty
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDJennifer Noell
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDNoor S. Obaji
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDDaniel W. Olivas
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDWilliam C. Podesta
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDLogan Punch
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDPatrick S. Quinn
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDMargaret Cooper Roney
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDAdam F. Rust
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDRyan T. Shannon
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDAshton Smith
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDMarshall Stair
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDJohn R. Tarpley
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDMikel A. Towe
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDChristopher L. Vescovo
Memphis[email protected]
VCARDGina S. Vogel
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDGlenn R. Walter
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARDJames L. Weatherly, Jr.
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDMary Beth White
Nashville[email protected]
VCARDW. Paul Whitt
Knoxville[email protected]
VCARD