Title Insurance
We represent title insurance companies in coverage and other disputes in five Pacific Northwest states. We have successfully litigated abstractor’s liability and bad faith claims. We have substantial experience in defending against bad faith claims. We have obtained numerous summary judgments of dismissal for title company clients, and determinations that the title company had no duty to defend or indemnify.
Among our most far-reaching results is a decision from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, in the Shellfish Litigation. Indian tribes had claimed the right to harvest shellfish from insured landowners’ property and the right to traverse the property of other insureds to reach shellfish beds. The Court granted our motion for summary judgment, finding that title companies had no duty to defend or indemnify.
- Rose v. First Franklin Financial (Oregon - Bankruptcy Court). Represent insured lender in an effort to establish priority of lien. Competing claimant alleges that subordination agreement upon which insured lender relied is invalid, and that the insured lender is not entitled to equitable subordination or subrogation.
- First Interstate Bank v. McBroom (Idaho - State Court). Represented insured lender in dispute over lien priority, and the effect of a Montana statute requiring certain formalities of Montana trust deeds. Our client prevailed on summary judgment.
- Sewat, J.V. v. Alcan Aluminum Co., et al. (Washington - Federal Court). Represented a manufacturer of steel against claims of more than $4 million arising from allegedly defective steel. The claims against the company were stayed and later dismissed.