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About Gary Williams
 Williams Law Office
252
Blueberry Hill Drive
Quilcene, Washington 98376
Phone 360.765.0729
gw@areyoucovered.com
PRACTICE:
Insurance law and litigation. Represents consumers against insurance
companies. Successfully resolved
cases against State Farm, Allstate, Safeco, Mutual of Enumclaw,
Farmers, USAA, Travelers, Hartford, Country Companies, Unigard,
American States, Aetna, Bankers Life and others.
Handles uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, as well as
liability coverage problems, life, health and disability insurance
claims. Counsels consumers with inadequate coverage, or who are being
defended under a reservation of rights.
Successfully argued cases for insured consumers in State and
Federal trial courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of
Washington.
Martindale-Hubbell rating Av.
Former Chair, Washington State Trial Lawyers Insurance Law Section.
EXPERT WITNESS: Analyzes coverage problems, claim handling
issues, lawyer malpractice and insurance bad faith cases. Retained as
an expert by both plaintiff and defense lawyers, insureds and
insurers.
MEDIATOR: Trained, experienced mediator. Mediates injury,
insurance, and bad faith cases.
ARBITRATOR/APPRAISER: Chosen by both plaintiffs and
defendants to resolve cases without going to court. Serves as an
appraiser or umpire in property insurance policy appraisals.
TEACHER: Consulted to design curriculum for the insurance
adjusting course at Pierce College. Taught in the program, then taught
at the University of Puget Sound School of Law, as a legal writing
instructor and an adjunct trial practice professor. Coached Moot Court
teams which reached national prominence.
LECTURER: Speaks at seminars for lawyers or claim
professionals on insurance law, trial practice, and insurance
adjusting.
PUBLICATIONS: Article on combating an insurance
company's claim fraud defense was published in TRIAL, the
national journal for trial lawyers. See it at atlanet.org
Click publications
for full text of some recent articles and seminar papers.
Included are:
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Litigating
the Bad Faith Case.
A basic,
beginner-level paper on prosecuting an insurance bad faith case in
Washington state. Presented to a King County Bar Association
seminar for lawyers and claim professionals.
-
Combating
the Insurer's Fraud Defense. Magazine
article for TRIAL magazine, October, 1998. Addresses the
common problem when an insurance company wrongly accuses its
customer of claim fraud. This article has a national focus, so most
of the citations are from jurisdictions other than Washington.
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The
Coventry Decision: A Sword for First Party Benefits?
Discussion
of Coventry Associates v. American States Insurance Company,
136 Wn.2d 269, 961 P.2d 933 (1998). This is an important
Washington Supreme Court case which goes a long way in defining bad
faith law in Washington. Written for a Washington State
Trial Lawyers Association seminar in 1999.
-
The
Good Claim File. Mistakes by claims professionals
provide ammunition for policyholder's counsel. This paper
concerns some classic errors. Written for the Fifth Annual Reed
McClure Insurance Law Seminar.
-
How
to Read an Insurance Policy. It is
possible to read and understand a policy. Both practical and
legal tips for lawyers. Published in Trial News, December,
2000.
-
Fire
Insurance Claims -- Combating the Arson Defense. Insurance
companies are quick to accuse their policyholders of arson.
This paper, written for the 2001 WSTLA Insurance Law Seminar, is for
the experienced trial lawyer who hasn't tried an arson defense case.
-
Examination
Under Oath: Investigative Tool or Weapon of Mass Destruction?
Written
for the auto insurance lawyer, this paper addresses the use of the
examination under oath in UIM and PIP claims.
ADJUSTER: Worked as an insurance adjuster, both before and
during law school from 1968 to 1979. Employed by Safeco and American
States. Then worked as an Independent adjuster during law school,
handling property, liability, and injury claims.
EDUCATION: B.A. degree from Central Washington State
University in 1967, Associate in Claims designation in 1974 from the
Insurance Institute of America, and Juris Doctor from the University
of Puget Sound School of Law in 1979. In law school, earned the CJS
Award for Significant Legal Scholarship, and won the moot court
championship. All this occurred a very long time ago. MEMBERSHIPS: American Bar Association, Washington State Bar
Association, American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA), Washington
State Association for Justice (formerly WSTLA).
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