Scope of Practice
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. has been involved in insurance defense litigation for most of its existence. Due to the firm’s extensive experience with all aspects of insurance litigation, we are often called on to assist insurance companies with their own defense in court. This includes questions of whether an insurer actually has coverage for a particular claim against the insured. Often these coverage issues may be complex or revolve around unusual fact patterns. The attorneys at Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. pride themselves on keeping up to date on the latest changes in insurance law and can help clients untangle the constant and confusing legislative changes in insurance requirements.
The firm has represented insurance companies as both plaintiffs and defendants in coverage cases. Our experience also extends to the issue of bad faith litigation. Not only have we successfully defended numerous insurers against bad faith claims from their own insureds, we have taken a proactive approach to this type of litigation. That means protecting claims files from burdensome, and frequently premature, discovery requests from aggressive personal injury lawyers determined to harass the insurer into an unwarranted settlement.
Sometimes clients approach us before suit is filed so that we can give coverage advice that may help them avoid lawsuits. However, our firm can provide representation for these claims at any level of the litigation process. We have been involved in such claims in state court, federal court, and the appellate courts. Several of the firm’s cases have even gone up to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars have been announced for 2021. Bell, Moore & Richter is pleased to introduce their attorneys receiving this recognition for 2021: Ann Emmerich, Patricia Putney, David McFarlane, John Moore, Ward Richter, Sheila Sullivan and David Ress.
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is pleased to announce that Melita M. Mullen became a Director at the firm.
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is pleased to announce that Sheila M. Sullivan has been named the 2021 Advocate of the Year by the Wisconsin Defense Counsel (WDC).
Eileen Dorfman was recently interviewed by the State Bar of Wisconsin on how the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy helped her to develop her leadership skills. Read more from the State Bar of Wisconsin "Inside Track," September 4, 2019 attached.
Melita Mullen (book review), Wisconsin Lawyers (December 2014). Read more about this book review by clicking on the link.
Ann C. Emmerich admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers (See Press Release attached.)
Bell, Moore & Richter is very pleased to announce that on March 2, 2019, Ann C. Emmerich was sworn in as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Attorneys at its 2019 Spring Meeting of the College in La Quinta, California. (See attached.)
Patricia Putney wrote an article that appeared in the State Bar of Wisconsin - Law Student Associate News and Opportunities, March 2019 edition. Read what Patti had to say on networking for law students.
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is pleased to announce that David G. Ress became a Shareholder at the firm on January 1, 2018.
The Rudolph A. Janata Award was presented at the DRI Annual Meeting in Chicago on October 5, 2017. (Read more)
Bell, Moore & Richter is very pleased to announce that on September 16, 2016, David McFarlane was sworn in as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Attorneys at its annual meeting in Philadelphia.
David G. Ress has been recognized by the Wisconsin Law Journal as a 2016 "Up and Coming" Lawyer (Read more).
BMR is pleased to announce that Ann Emmerich was elected into membership in the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. (Read more)
In deciding a significant duty to defend case June 30, 2016, the Wisconsin Supreme Court cited BMR’s Sheila Sullivan four separate times (on her work supplementing the "Wisconsin Insurance Law") as authority for its decision.