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The Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond Division) recently permitted  a counterclaim for bad faith to proceed in an insurer’s declaratory judgment action, despite the fact that the insurer had not formally denied coverage.  Great American Ins. Co. v. GRM Management LLC, No. 3:14cv295 (Nov. 24, 2014), arises out of a first-party insurance…

A recent case from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, held that an insurer’s underinsured motorist coverage limit totaled $500,000, effectively raising the total available coverage in connection to a motorcycle accident by $250,000.  The UIM carrier had argued that its UM/UIM limit totaled only…

It is increasingly difficult for defendants to win at the demurrer stage in negligence cases in Virginia.  A recent Virginia Supreme Court decision further eviscerated the power of the demurrer and confirmed the Court’s apparent change in direction on this issue, away from the requirement that Plaintiffs must allege proximate cause and…

Stanley P. Wellman


Stan Wellman was born at Edwards AFB, California in 1962. He has a broad civil litigation practice, which includes the areas of transportation, premises and products liability, commercial, construction, day…

Elizabeth S. Skilling


Elizabeth Skilling was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1962. Elizabeth began her career in 1987 with McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe in Richmond, Virginia. She joined Harman Claytor in November…

Thomas S. Garrett


Tom Garrett was born in Bedford, Virginia in 1968. His primary areas of concentration are insurance coverage litigation and civil litigation. Prior to joining the firm in 2006, he worked…

Robert F. Friedman


Rob Friedman was born in Great Neck, New York. He joined Harman Claytor in September of 2011. He focuses his practice in the areas of general civil litigation and insurance…

Mark G. Carlton


Mark Carlton was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1972. Mark began his legal career as law clerk for the Circuit Court for the City of Norfolk. He joined Harman Claytor…