Vernon E. Murray v. Bankers Standard Insurance Company

I. Factual and Procedural Background

On January 12, 2023, Plaintiffs initiated this suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against defendants Bankers Standard Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company, PURE Programs, LLC, Privilege Underwriters, Inc., ESIS, Inc., David S. Updegraff, Rosemary Cooke, USI Insurance Services, LLC, John LaSalle, Tawni Hylen, Eric Saunders, Samuel Vazquez Altero, Marilyn Cartrett, Clyde Nelson, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, USA, and Does 1 through 50 (“Defendants”). On April 5, 2023, defendants Bankers Standard Insurance Company and ESIS, Inc. removed this action based on diversity jurisdiction. (See Notice of Removal, Docket No. 1.) The Complaint (“Removed Complaint’) alleges that Defendants failed to properly handle Plaintiffs’ insurance claim and negligently misrepresented that no coverage or duty to defend existed under Plaintiffs’ insurance policies. The Complaint asserts ten causes of action: (1) Bad Faith Tortious Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing against defendants Bankers Standard Insurance Company, ESIS, Inc., David S. Updegraff, and Rosemary Cooke (the “Chubb Defendants’); (2) Bad Faith…