Robert is HKR’s Managing Partner. An active litigator, Bob also acts as a mediator and a private Arbitrator within HKR’s burgeoning ADR practice group with a focus on commercial disputes, insurance claims/cases and subrogation. With numerous jury trials to verdict, Bob litigates in his native Philadelphia often. He also sits as a Judge Pro Tem in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas, having conferenced hundreds of civil matters for settlement. His publications and presentations have addressed trial tactics, emerging issues and insurance coverage. Bob also co-authored/edited the treatise Extracontractual Litigation Against Insurers and served for 6 years as General Counsel to the 4000 member International Association of Special Investigative Units (“IASIU”), along with a term on the National Committee of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (“CLM”).
Insurers created the appraisal process to provide an efficient way to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom using disinterested experts, but lately
One issue generating attention is whether an appraiser — and/or an umpire, for that matter — is disinterested. Some policies and courts have also considered an appraiser’s impartiality as well. The existence of an appraiser’s contingency interest in a potential appraisal award (or loss payment) is likely one factor in an analysis of whether that appraiser is interested.