RLI Insurance v. Coe

I concur. For me, the difficult issue in this appeal is the due process question raised by RLI. As pointed out by the majority, RLI had notice of the pending lawsuit, but relied upon the insured’s and the primary carrier’s (Farmers Insurance’s) attorney, G. William Lavender, to keep RLI apprised as to the progress of the case. The majority opinion correctly details the facts leading to Lavender’s failure to inform RLI of the insured’s and Farmer’s settlement with the plaintiff, Jackie Coe. Nor did Lavender inform RLI of the March 23, 1989, trial that resulted in the eight million dollar…