Cumis Counsel in San Diego

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Many homeowners, professionals and other insured parties are not aware of California’s Cumis Counsel law and how that affects us here in San Diego.  The principle of Cumis Counsel is not as complex as it sounds, and might be easier to grasp if you think of an “independent counsel.”  The issue comes down to the inherent conflict of interest insurance companies have when defending you on a policy.  We purchase insurance to protect us in the event of the unexpected, especially if it is due to our own negligence.  The insurance company steps in to represent us in a lawsuit, and provides attorneys who are there to protect our legal and financial interests, right?

Not quite.  The lawyers for the insurance company owe their primary allegiance to the policy itself, not to you.  It may be in the best interests of the policy (and the insurance company) to (in effect) throw you under the bus to protect the insurance company or to prevent the policy itself from being exposed financially.  California established the Cumis Counsel to allow you to protect and defend yourself, without having to go to the expense of hiring and paying for your own attorney.  Your insurance company must pay for your Cumis Counsel based upon guidelines established by California law when you have conceivable exposure outside of the insurance policy.

The attorneys at the Watkins Firm have decades of litigation experience, and we are a sound choice to represent you as Cumis Counsel.  If you are being sued or are the defendant in a lawsuit, we invite you to contact us for a free and substantive consultation at 858-535-1511.  Learn about your potential exposure and the services we can provide to protect and defend your interests.