Turley Law's online newsletter for July 2018
JULY 2018 Toll Free 888.907.7260 Local 619.207.4015
Nobody Said ThisWould Be Easy THE PROTRACTED BATTLE OF DBA CLAIMS
If you want to know how difficult DBA claims cases can be, here’s the best way I can describe it. The people filing these claims are among the bravest folks you’ll ever meet. Most of them have been in environments that regular people can’t even imagine. They go to sleep to the sound of mortar fire, live in hostile surroundings, and do work that can only be described heroic. Given their determination, you would think an insurance case would be a walk in the park for them. Sadly, that’s not always the case. DBA insurance companies don’t make anything easy. Their desire to deny claims is so intense that I have seen steel-tough, ex-special forces guys who want to throw in the towel. To be honest, I never expected to find myself in a situation where I am convincing somebody 100 times braver than I am to see their claim through. But it’s a conversation I’ve had time and time again. Maybe it’s better to explain the process from the view of the DBA insurance companies. They get into the business with dollar signs in their eyes. The huge premiums are the initial draw. Once the claims start rolling in, though, they realize maybe it’s not the easy money they thought it was. Their only resource to make the numbers work is that old adage: deny, deny, deny. At first, they want to litigate every case. “Why pay anything if you don’t have to?” goes the thinking. After they are stung one too many times in the courtroom, they change their tune. Now, they want to settle for the lowest amount possible. Eventually, they will probably get out of the business altogether, only to be replaced by a new crop of companies. What you’re going to see is that the DBA insurance companies come and try to go. They may stop writing DBA policies, but due to PTSD claims and other claims, they can never really leave the DBA insurance business. It’s sort of like the Eagles’ “Hotel California”: “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!”
It wasn’t so long ago that the major players (read: DBA insurance companies) were CNA, AIG, ACE, Zurich, and Liberty Mutual. All of them have mostly stopped writing new DBA insurance policies. But the claims keep coming in. For example, many folks take years before they figure out they are disabled from PTSD. That, sadly, can just sometimes be the nature of PTSD. Currently the major DBA insurance companies are Allied World (AWAC) / Broadspire, AIG, and Starr Indemnity / Gallager Bassett. Right now — and I’m not going to sugarcoat this — we are in the hardest part of that cycle. Companies like Starr want to litigate every claim that comes in. They’re betting that if they make the process hard enough, claimants will give up. At times like these, it’s more important than ever that you do everything you can to hold these companies accountable. Their behavior makes me sick to my stomach. These guys are putting their bottom line before caring for our heroes. People filing DBA claims have been trained to put the needs of others first. The insurance companies do just the opposite. When they look at a claim, they don’t see the people behind it. Do they dwell on the fact that an American hero might not be able to provide for their family? Not for a second. All they consider are dollars and cents. Filing a claim shouldn’t be a protracted, stressful process, but all too often it is. All you can do is go into it with your eyes open. Nobody who’s being honest with you will tell you it’s going to be easy. Luckily, you have the truth on your side. It might take longer than anyone would like for that truth to emerge, but it will. The DBA insurance companies are banking on you giving you up. Prove them wrong. Hold them accountable. Win with the truth. It’s the only way to show them what’s what.
-Bill Turley
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Celebrity Veterans
Service people are the backbone of our country. They protect our freedom and way of life. Many of them have also accomplished incredible things outside of the military. Here is a list of some of America’s most famous veterans.
people in the world at the time, Williams could’ve avoided serving if he’d desired. The fact that he felt a duty to protect his country speaks volumes about his character.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY A man whose appetite for life was
JOHNNY CASH He may be forever known as the “Man in Black,” but there was a time when Johnny Cash wore Air Force blues. In fact, if not for his service, we may never have heard classics like “Folsom Prison Blues” at all. Cash grew up poor and couldn’t afford his first guitar until he received payment for his service. The enduring image of Cash may be as a rebel, but he was proud of his service until his dying day.
insatiable, Ernest Hemingway enlisted in the military during World War I. He was an ambulance driver and was wounded by mortar fire while serving in Italy. His experiences overseas would later inspire “A Farewell to Arms,” widely regarded as one of the best war novels ever written. Hemingway was a big-game hunter, bullfight enthusiast, and master of the English language. But before he was any of these things, he was a serviceman.
TEDWILLIAMS In 1942, Ted Williams won baseball’s Triple Crown while playing for the Red Sox. The next year, he fought in World War II. A lot of ballplayers who served spent most of their duty playing baseball on service teams. Ted chose a different route. He became a naval aviator and a member of the Marine Corps. After his playing days, he also served in Korea. One of the most famous
MORGAN FREEMAN You know him as a movie star in such movies as “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Seven,” and “Invictus.” But he was also in the United States Air Force. “I joined the Air Force. I took to it immediately when I arrived there. I did three years, eight months, and 10 days in all, but it took me a year and a half to get disabused of my romantic notions about it,” says Morgan.
'win your defense base act case' call here 619.207.4015 The easiest way to refer other people to us!
We realize that some folks may be a tad squeamish about referring others to a lawyer. We make it easy for you. Just call us and we’ll send a free copy of our book to you or to whomever you think might benefit from reading the book. Call 619.207.4015 or email Lisa at lromero@turleylawfirm.com . Thanks for thinking of us. -Bill Turley
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Waian in her fourth grade play
Kai with her best friends at her sixth grade promotion
Kai wins another beach volleyball tournament in Ocean Beach
Kai addressing the school at her sixth grade promotion
Waian with a friend at SD County Fair enjoying an ice cream
when we win, you win
Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw Mayumi Turley’s Recipe of the Month :
No matter where you stand on the great ketchup versus mustard debate, you’ll love these spicy, tangy, easy-to-make buffalo dogs. They’re the perfect way to elevate your Fourth of July cookout.
Ingredients
1 package of your favorite hot dogs 1 package hot dog buns
FOR CELERY SLAW: •
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4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
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1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce
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2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon olive oil
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
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Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Directions
Every case is different. Great results in past cases don’t guarantee great results in your case.
1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve.
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inside
DBA Cases Can Be a Battle PAGE 1 Service People Who Achieved Fame PAGE 2 Get a Free Copy of Our Book PAGE 2
Turley’s Corner
Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw PAGE 3
Pet Photo Contest PAGE 4
Pet Photo Contest
OUR PET PHOTO CONTEST CONTINUES Please send us your cool, cute, or bizarre pet photos. We still have a lot of great prizes to give out! Please email your pet photos to ebarrena@turleylawfirm.com or text them to 858.281.8008.
Here are some of the winners so far ...
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