In these trying economic times, businesses large and small have taken measures to combat events and forces that negatively affect their bottom lines. Accordingly, a renewed interest has arisen among insurance providers, corporations and other entities in pursuing their rights of subrogation, and reimbursement. Navigating the legal waters necessary to recoup funds to which these entities are entitled can be complicated. Fortunately, CMDA has several attorneys on staff who are highly skilled and experienced in these areas of law and litigation.
Subrogation issues often arise in the context of arson and fraudulent insurance claims for fire damage. In 2007 alone, a structure fire occurred in the U.S. once every 59 seconds, while vehicle fires occurred once every 122 seconds. The resulting property damage amounted to $12 billion. Much of that cost was passed on to insurance companies in the form of payments to their policyholders for loss of damaged property.
Property insurance policies, however, exclude coverage for property damage resulting from fires that are set intentionally by or at the direction of persons insured under a policy. Since intentional fires account for more than $1 billion annually, it is critical that insurance and others companies have access to attorneys who possess the skills required thoroughly to investigate suspicious fires and to obtain recoupment of insurance proceeds from those responsible through aggressive subrogation actions.
Enter CMDA. Our team of experienced subrogation litigators has investigated suspicious fires throughout the state and prevailed on behalf of our clients through aggressive subrogation actions. Insurance and other companies with equitable and contractual rights to subrogation need highly skilled lawyers to conduct investigations and to preserve critical evidence. In the event of litigation, a strong litigator can see the process through to assure maximum recovery of monies paid.
Livonia lawyer Timothy Young has been representing CMDA’s insurance, corporate and utility clients for nearly 25 years. During that time, he has gained extensive experience in investigating fraudulent claims, insurance coverage disputes and related litigation. Through his work with utility companies, he has developed an in-depth understanding of the mechanics of a fire — from electrical and mechanical sources to explosions, collapses and fire spread.
Christopher Cooke, who practices in CMDA’s Traverse City office, has similar expertise, having investigated arson and fraudulent claims for insurance companies for the past 20 years. He set up the first national subrogation program as house counsel for a national insurer, and he has contact with a broad range of specialty expert witnesses in fire cause-and-origin, explosions, mechanical malfunction, product liability and related areas for residential, commercial and vehicular losses.
Grand Rapids-based Allan Vander Laan has been a trial lawyer for more than 18 years, during which he has gained a wealth of experience developing winning litigation strategies for CMDA’s insurance clients. Skilled in arson and fraud investigation and coverage defense, as well as subrogation, he has been recognized by the legal community as a leader in fire-related cases, having lectured extensively on topics ranging from the spoliation of evidence to arson and strategies for subrogation litigation.
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CMDA’s lawyers across the state have the talent, skill and resources to give any company a head start in the process of collecting monies wrongfully paid due to arson or other fraudulent activity. Our strategic and aggressive investigation and litigation can be your keys to maximizing recovery
