R. Wardell Loveland
R. Wardell Loveland
Of Counsel
He/Him
"I defend insurance clients with strength, professionalism, and every ounce of the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the course of my career."
R. Wardell Loveland
Of Counsel
He/Him
"I defend insurance clients with strength, professionalism, and every ounce of the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the course of my career."
About Ward
Ward represents clients in a broad range of insurance-related disputes, including class actions, multidistrict litigation (MDL), administrative proceedings, and appeals. He defends insurers in lawsuits arising from bad-faith claims handling, business practices, and regulatory matters tied to claims operations.
For more than three decades, he has taken hundreds of disputes to judgment, involving contested auto-body labor rates, claims evaluation tools, total loss valuation, policy interpretation, premium setting, and other issues across property and casualty, commercial, and life insurance. Additionally, Ward defends agents and brokers in cases involving negligence, fraud, and misrepresentation.
Areas of Focus
Experience
- Obtained an appellate court ruling that the uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits cannot be assigned, protecting the insurer from improper claims by third parties. The decision restricts hospitals from seeking payment unless specific conditions are met.
- Represented an insurer in a claim in which the court found no bad faith in handling a homeowner insurance claim, confirming the insurer acted reasonably and paid all benefits owed.
- Obtained a settlement, on behalf of an insurer, that was upheld despite post-agreement attempts to change its terms, ensuring the original deal remained binding and enforceable.
- Obtained court affirmation that hospitals cannot charge patients or insurers above agreed rates without a written contract, limiting balance billing practices.
Recognition
- Northern California Super Lawyers, 2007 – 2010, 2014 – 2024
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rating
Credentials
Education
- Boston College Law School, JD, 1986
- Princeton University, AB, 1981
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- US District Court for the Central District of California
- US District Court for the Eastern District of California
- US District Court for the Northern District of California
- US District Court for the Southern District of California
Thought Leadership
Publications
- "California Insurance Defense Forms," The Recorder, 2013
Press Release
Interests
Did you know...
If he were not a lawyer, Ward could see himself leading historic tours as a travel guide.
Thought Leadership
Publications
- "California Insurance Defense Forms," The Recorder, 2013
Press Release
