Linda B. Oliver

Practice Experience

Linda Oliver has extensive experience in complex civil litigation and class actions in federal and state court and in arbitration. She represents insurance companies, mortgage lenders and other business entities in litigation involving class actions, ERISA, life insurance and disability claims, bad faith, elder abuse, unfair competition, sales practices, agency termination. Linda has handled matters in many states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Insurance and Employee Benefits

• Defended automobile, homeowner and commercial insurers against bad faith claims and class actions and prepared coverage opinions for automobile and property claims.
• Defended claims against life insurers selling universal life insurance policies in FINRA arbitrations.
• Defended life insurers in numerous consumer class actions involving claims that the fixed annuities were unsuitable for seniors and that their true costs were not disclosed during the sales process, resulting in settlements on a class-wide basis significantly below clients' total.
• Defended claims against life insurers selling universal life insurance policies in FINRA arbitrations.
• Defended life insurers in numerous consumer class actions involving claims that the fixed annuities were unsuitable for seniors and that their true costs were not disclosed during the sales process, resulting in settlements on a class-wide basis significantly below clients' total pre-trial exposure, and defense of those settlements on appeal. She also obtained a summary judgment for one insurer that assumed the business of another, insolvent insurer.
• Defended life insurer in disputes regarding agency termination through summary judgment and appeal. Also investigated claims of employment discrimination and sexual harassment at captive agency resulting in a settlement without litigation.
• Defended life insurers in class actions involving claims that modal premium charges violate the terms of the insurance contract and state unfair and deceptive business practices statutes.
• Defended life insurers in class actions involving claims that defendants violated California law and regulations.
• Defended life insurers in disability and life insurance bad faith claims, including one trial to verdict after summary judgment on the extra-contractual claims.
• Defended life insurers in cases involving employee benefit claims under ERISA, including trials to verdict and appeals.
• Prosecuted cases for life insurers to rescind life insurance policies obtained with the intent to sell to third parties, resulting in settlements.
• Defended health insurers in class and individual actions in court and in arbitration alleging claims for violations of state unfair and deceptive business practices statutes and regulatory violations, including post-claim underwriting and premium billing practices, physician contracting and coverage for experimental treatment.

Banking and Mortgage Servicing

• Defended class actions and individual claims in court and in arbitration against banks, including many cases against reverse mortgage lenders alleging violation of unfair business practices statutes relating to shared appreciation loans.

Labor and Employment

• Defended employers in wage and hour class actions.
• Counseled employers investigating claims of sexual harassment.
• Counseled employers regarding California law and regulations.