Personal Injury Defense 

With decades of experience in representing a broad spectrum of insurers and their insureds, from large corporate policyholders to small, closely-held businesses, Cotten Schmidt, L.L.P. has a proven track record in insurance litigation and coverage matters.

We advise insurers on first- and third-party insurance policy coverage, including questions arising under commercial and personal lines, homeowners insurance, personal and commercial automobile insurance, transportation/trucking insurance, comprehensive general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, professional medical liability insurance, excess, and umbrella policies.

In litigation, our personal commitment to early, efficient, and thorough assessment and handling of claims is a cornerstone of our success.  We are well-tested in claims-handling issues, including first- and third-party coverage claims, extra-contractual or “bad faith” matters, and declaratory judgment actions.  We have found that there is no substitute for prompt, on-the-scene investigation and witness interviews, and a timely recommendation for the involvement of appropriate expert witnesses. These initial actions provide insurance professionals with a concrete basis for early reserve evaluation and cost-effective decision-making – ultimately supporting the resolution of dangerous, high-exposure, claims, whether through early settlement or the decision to pursue a trial.

Beyond motion practice, settlement and trial, our attorneys have been directly involved in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, as well as appellate actions addressing expert witness admissibility and substantive coverage issues.