Merlin Law Group attorney Rene Sigman has been appointed to a working group for Pandemic Litigation Discovery Protocols by the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System.

In a press release the IAALS stated:

Through the Initial Discovery Protocols for COVID-19 Insurance Claims project, IAALS is creating pattern protocols that will require both businesses and their insurance companies to automatically disclose certain information and documents early in the case. This will make the discovery process—normally one of the most expensive, contentious, and lengthy parts of litigation—far more efficient and targeted. The IAALS protocols will provide judges and courts with a new pretrial procedure to follow, which will make it easier and faster for the parties and their counsel to:

• Exchange important information and documents early in the case;
• Frame the issues to be resolved;
• Value the claims for possible early resolution; and
• Plan for more efficient and targeted subsequent formal discovery, if needed.

Rene Sigman is part of an impressive group of attorneys who have been selected. Steve Badger and his law firm have certainly been leaders for the insurance industry’s perspective on the pandemic litigation. Adam Levitt is an extraordinary plaintiff’s class action attorney. I was on a phone call with him a couple of weeks ago analyzing these cases. Joyce Wang is a respected West Coast property insurance defense attorney I have known for over 20 years.

Making discovery efficient and helping judges better understand the complex nature of insurance disaster litigation is something all attorneys in this field of law should strive to do. Access to justice for many less affluent policyholders requires streamlined but pointed discovery to issues which are at the heart of litigation. I am certain that this distinguished panel of attorneys and jurists will help make the current litigation faster, more relevant, and less costly for all.

Thought For The Day

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.
—Aristotle