Why is this issue focused on pre-litigation and our commitments to insurance adjusters? To quote Sun Tzu, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
Adjusters make critical decisions in cases, and we’re committed to helping them make the right ones. This involves “pre-litigation,” shorthand for cases where we haven’t filed a lawsuit yet. In Pre-lit, we gather records, fine-tune investigations, and typically submit a demand package to the adjuster before we file. This helps adjusters set reserves. Increasing reserves later can be hard, so providing detail to set a high number is key. It can also get the case settled, particularly when damages exceed policy limits.
Our Pre-lit practice excels at extracting maximum value while keeping costs low for clients. If we don’t settle, we use an early Formal Offer to Compromise, allowing us to go to trial, shift the costs to the defense when we can beat that Formal Offer number, and still get great results. If you’re a firm that refers cases, consider sending us a test.
We’ll look at two referral cases: one that secured policy limits through good lawyering, and another that creatively turned a workplace injury into a civil case with expanded insurance coverage. We also meet Ian Tate, one of our newer Pre-lit case managers.
Enjoy, learn, and let us know what you think. Got a case? Reach out so we can collaborate!
Happy hunting,
M+M
Miles B. Cooper, Maryanne B. Cooper, and everyone at Coopers LLP
Coopers LLP helps seriously injured people and accepts referrals and co-counsel opportunities from lawyers. We excel in strategizing. Have a matter you’d like to brainstorm? Contact us at (415) 434-2111 or info@coopers.law.
Coopers LLP has lawyers licensed in California, Oregon, and Washington State, and can affiliate with local counsel on matters where Coopers can make the difference.