Complex Insurance Litigation:

Bad faith, wrongful termination, high dollar commercial claims, arson, fraudulent, and suspect claims are terms that can mean significant one-time pay-outs for insurance companies.

ESI International, Inc. has taken traditional insurance investigation techniques to a higher level by providing services that assist adjusters and attorneys in making the best decisions, and in achieving the best results possible, in a prompt and economical manner. Our case managers can pull together the proper team (investigators, accountants, interviewers, analysts, surveillance technicians, and experts) to gather and assemble the facts needed to successfully resolve major claims that have serious civil exposure, and that deal with sensitive issues, criminal behavior, violence, and/or fraud.

Case Studies:

An international company discovered evidence that its branch manager had engaged in a number of illegal schemes which deprived the company of assets while personally enriching the manager. The company used its accountants and company officers from other locations to develop preliminary information, and later engaged the services of an international accounting firm to quantify the loss, and present the matter to law enforcement.

In the interim, the company terminated the manager and several other employees. The terminated manager filed an unlawful termination and defamation lawsuit, seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages. Because of the financial exposure to the insurance company, and the presence of numerous allegations of criminal behavior (and possible violent criminal tendencies on behalf of the terminated manager), ESI International, Inc. was engaged to conduct an investigation into the activities of the former manager.

ESI International’s investigation substantiated many of the initial allegations posed by company officers against the former manager. Additional information was developed relating to other illegal activities on behalf of the former manager, as well as other former company employees and vendors. The information and evidence gathered by ESI International was used by the insurance company and the Victim Company to reduce their initial exposure (tens of millions) to a low five-figure settlement.

ESI International, Inc. conducted an extensive investigation in the matter of Laniado v. CalFarm Insurance, a bad faith action brought in Los Angeles County Superior Court, resulting from the denial of a claim made by a clothing manufacturer for an arson loss.

ESI International’s investigators, engaged by defendant CalFarm, were on the scene as the ashes were cooling. The investigation conducted by ESI International included a comprehensive review of the business records and financial dealings of the clothing manufacturer to determine the economic motive for the arson, and to verify the value of the goods destroyed in the fire. The investigation led to the successful resolution of the case in favor of the insurance carrier.