SB2801 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 16796 EGJ 41143 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB2801

Introduced 2/17/2016, by Sen. John G. Mulroe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Insured's Independent Counsel Act. Provides that if an insurer has a duty to defend an insured under a policy of insurance and a significant and actual conflict of interest arises that imposes a duty on the insurer to provide independent counsel to the insured, the insurer shall provide independent counsel to the insured unless the insured waives the right to independent counsel in writing. Defines "significant and actual conflict of interest". Adds provisions governing: the selection of independent counsel; retention of other counsel by either insurer or insured; duties of the independent counsel; privileged information; waiver of the right to select independent counsel; and cooperation between the insurer, insured, and independent counsel.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning insurance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Insured's Independent Counsel Act.

Section 5. Provision of independent counsel required.

(a) If an insurer has a duty to defend an insured under a policy of insurance and a significant and actual conflict of interest arises that imposes a duty on the insurer to provide independent counsel to the insured, the insurer shall provide independent counsel to the insured as provided in this Act unless the insured waives the right to independent counsel in writing.

(b) For purposes of this Act, "significant and actual conflict of interest" means an insurance policy coverage issue upon which the insurer has reserved its rights and that the outcome of that insurance policy coverage issue can be controlled by the insured's counsel's defense of the lawsuit. A "significant and actual conflict of interest" does not include:

(1) claims or facts in a civil action for which the insurer denies coverage;

(2) the mere issuance of a reservation of rights letter by the insurer;

(3) a claim of damages in excess of the policy limits;

(4) a claim of punitive damages; or

(5) any other conflict that is not significant and actual.

Section 10. Independent counsel selection.

(a) If a significant and actual conflict of interest arises that requires appointment of independent counsel, the insurer shall provide the insured with a list of 3 attorneys who are independent of the insurer's approved law firm panel and meet the criteria set forth in subsection (b). The insured must either select one attorney from the list or select alternative counsel of its choosing who also meets the criteria set forth in subsection (b) to defend the insured.

(b) Independent counsel retained under this Act must have:

(1) significant defense litigation experience in the general subject areas at issue in the civil action; and

(2) malpractice insurance.

(c) The insurer may also require that the independent counsel follow any guidelines the insurer has in place for counsel it retains in the defense of similar civil actions in the ordinary course of business. The obligation of the insurer to pay the fee charged by the independent counsel is limited to the rate that is actually paid by the insurer to an attorney in the ordinary course of business in the defense of a similar civil action in the community in which the claim arose or is being defended. In providing independent counsel, the insurer may not be responsible for the fees and costs of defending an allegation for which coverage is properly denied and may only be responsible for the fees and costs to defend those allegations for which the insurer either reserves its position as to coverage or accepts coverage. The independent counsel shall keep detailed records allocating fees and costs accordingly. Nothing in this Section shall require the insured to hire separate independent counsel to defend the insured for counts for which coverage has been properly denied. Independent counsel may defend the insured on all counts filed against the insured.

(d) An insurance policy may contain a provision that provides a method of selecting independent counsel which complies with this Section.

Section 15. Other counsel. Any counsel the insured may retain in addition to the independent counsel selected under Section 10 of this Act shall be hired at the insured's sole expense.

Section 20. Duties of independent counsel; privileged information. Independent counsel hired under this Act shall timely consult with the insurer on all matters relating to the civil action and shall disclose to the insurer in a timely manner all information relevant to the civil action, except privileged information solely related to the significant and actual conflict of interest. A claim of privilege is subject to review in the appropriate court. Information disclosed by the independent counsel or the insured to the insurer does not operate as a waiver of any applicable privilege or work product protection.

Section 25. Waiver of right to select independent counsel. An insured may waive the right to select independent counsel by signing a statement that reads substantially as follows: "I have been advised of my right to select independent counsel to represent me in this lawsuit and of my right under State law to have all reasonable expenses of an independent counsel paid by my insurer. I have considered this matter fully and at this time I am waiving my right to select independent counsel. I have authorized my insurer to select a defense counsel to represent me in this lawsuit.".

Section 30. Cooperation between insurer, insured, and independent counsel. Independent counsel shall cooperate fully in exchanging information that is consistent with ethical and legal obligations to the insured. Nothing in this Act is intended nor shall restrict independent counsel's exercise of professional judgment in rendering legal services for the insured or otherwise interfere with any ethical directive governing the conduct of counsel. Nothing in this Act relieves the insured of the duty to cooperate fully with the insurer as required by the terms of the insurance policy.

Section 35. Insurer's counsel. The insurer has the right to retain its own counsel in addition to the independent counsel selected under Section 10 of this Act to associate in and participate in all aspects of the lawsuit at the insurer's own expense.