--- title: 2015 August url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august --- # [2015 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august "2015 August") [![Advocate Aug15 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2015/08-august/Advocate-Aug15-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2015/August2015/html5/Advocate-Aug15-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [The lid is off the policy . . .But what’s next?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/the-lid-is-off-the-policy-but-what-s-next-2 "The lid is off the policy . . .But what’s next?") Winning and collecting from an insurer a judgment that exceeds the policy limits [Matthew Clark](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/matthew-clark "Matthew Clark") [Ricardo Echeverria](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ricardo-echeverria "Ricardo Echeverria") ## [The carrier’s duty to investigate](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/the-carrier-s-duty-to-investigate-2 "The carrier’s duty to investigate") An insurer’s failure to completely investigate a claim is a crucial part of any bad-faith case [Heather M. McKeon](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/heather-m-mckeon "Heather M. McKeon") [Michael L. Cohen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-cohen "Michael L. Cohen") ## [Ten things to watch out for when litigating ERISA cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/ten-things-to-watch-out-for-when-litigating-erisa-cases-2 "Ten things to watch out for when litigating ERISA cases") You won’t get a jury or a shot at punitive damages in an ERISA case, but there are many similarities to the ordinary bad-faith case [Christian J. Garris](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/christian-j-garris "Christian J. Garris") ## [The duty to provide an adequate defense](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/the-duty-to-provide-an-adequate-defense-2 "The duty to provide an adequate defense") Insurer’s potential bad-faith liability for the breach of the duty to provide competent counsel, fund the defense and provide independent counsel as required [James R. Kristy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/james-r-kristy "James R. Kristy") ## [Liability insurance and catastrophic loss](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/liability-insurance-and-catastrophic-loss-2 "Liability insurance and catastrophic loss") The search for negligent parties and additional insurance coverage [Adrian Hern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/adrian-hern "Adrian Hern") [Lee S. Harris](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lee-s-harris "Lee S. Harris") ## [Defeating sneaky defense tactics](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/defeating-sneaky-defense-tactics-2 "Defeating sneaky defense tactics") How to break that dog of sucking eggs [Demian Oksenendler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/demian-oksenendler "Demian Oksenendler") [Gerry Mannion](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/gerry-mannion "Gerry Mannion") [Kelly Mannion](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/kelly-mannion "Kelly Mannion") ## [Claims against insurance brokers for negligence or breach](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/claims-against-insurance-brokers-for-negligence-or-breach-2 "Claims against insurance brokers for negligence or breach") A look at trying the “case within a case” or the situation where the broker sides with the insurance carrier in the denial of a claim [Kirk Pasich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/kirk-pasich "Kirk Pasich") ## [Health insurance: The coverage for prosthetics in group health plans](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/health-insurance-the-coverage-for-prosthetics-in-group-health-plans-2 "Health insurance: The coverage for prosthetics in group health plans") How the Ninth Circuit, in Garcia v. Pacificare, gutted California Health & Safety Code section 1367.18 — and how you can fix it [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Appellate Reports and Cases in Brief](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/appellate-reports-and-cases-in-brief-6 "Appellate Reports and Cases in Brief") [[case]]Bermudez v. Ciolek[[/case]] — Logical discussion of [[case]]Howell[[/case]] issues concerning proof of medical expenses for an uninsured client [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Liability insurance and catastrophic loss](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/liability-insurance-and-catastrophic-loss "Liability insurance and catastrophic loss") The search for negligent parties and additional insurance coverage [Adrian Hern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/adrian-hern "Adrian Hern") [Lee S. Harris](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lee-s-harris "Lee S. Harris") ## [The duty to provide an adequate defense](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/the-duty-to-provide-an-adequate-defense "The duty to provide an adequate defense") Insurer’s potential bad-faith liability for the breach of the duty to provide competent counsel, fund the defense and provide independent counsel as required [James R. Kristy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/james-r-kristy "James R. Kristy") ## [Defeating sneaky defense tactics](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/defeating-sneaky-defense-tactics "Defeating sneaky defense tactics") How to break that dog of sucking eggs [Demian Oksenendler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/demian-oksenendler "Demian Oksenendler") [Gerry Mannion](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/gerry-mannion "Gerry Mannion") [Kelly Mannion](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/kelly-mannion "Kelly Mannion") ## [What’s happening in the OC with OCTLA?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/what-s-happening-in-the-oc-with-octla "What’s happening in the OC with OCTLA?") Bench and Bar softball game and golf tournament [Ted B. Wacker](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ted-b-wacker "Ted B. Wacker") ## [Claims against insurance brokers for negligence or breach](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/claims-against-insurance-brokers-for-negligence-or-breach "Claims against insurance brokers for negligence or breach") A look at trying the “case within a case” or the situation where the broker sides with the insurance carrier in the denial of a claim [Kirk Pasich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/kirk-pasich "Kirk Pasich") ## [CAALA VEGAS - A definition right out of Webster’s](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-august/caala-vegas-a-definition-right-out-of-webster-s "CAALA VEGAS - A definition right out of Webster’s") If you haven’t yet registered, here’s what you will be missing. Online registration is open through September 5 [Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville")