Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) has hired Jane North as its new vice president of claims.
With more than two decades of legal experience representing insurance carriers and corporations, North is also a frequent lecturer on subjects such as product liability and bad faith litigation.
Speaking to
Insurance Business America, she says among her priorities in her new role with PHLY is to assess the business’ management of litigation and the selection panel process:
“One of my priorities is to ensure that we have claims matched with the lawyers possessing the best expertise in that area,” North said. “Another priority is to ensure prompt communication and evaluation from our defense counsel so that we can evaluate a claim’s exposure as early as possible. A third priority is lending my expertise as a former litigator to the evaluation of whether cases should be tried or resolved before trial.”
In private practice, North observed an increase in time limits to settle claims. Personally, she believes an insurance carrier should set a clear timetable for information to ensure defense lawyers know what is expected and when.
She has also seen an increase in the level of litigation, as well as the swiftness with which it is instigated.
“The body of bad faith case law and statutory law that has developed in most states has emboldened attorneys to pursue litigation sooner than they would have historically,” North said. “From the insurance side, I think that carriers are getting more proactive about pursuing declaratory judgment actions at an earlier stage.”
North says she believes there is a good relationship between the insurance and legal professions, and says that PHLY shares the view that counsel should be true partners rather than “just another vendor” and she’s pleased that many of the trusted lawyers she has known in private practice are on the company’s legal roster.
