“The insurer’s obligation to pay fees to the independent counsel selected by the insured is limited to the rates which are actually paid by the insurer to attorneys retained by it in the ordinary course of business in the defense of similar actions in the community where the claim arose or is being defended.”

The above sentence appears in California Civil Code section 2860(c); it limits a defending insurer’s obligation to provide independent counsel of the insured’s own choosing in cases where the insurer’s reservation of rights gives rise to a potential conflict of interest between the insurer and the insured.

In California, insurers routinely insist that they pay no more than $225 per hour (or even less) to their retained defense counsel, and refuse to pay higher hourly rates to independent counsel. Clearly, the statutory language itself can be used to create leverage points in a negotiation with insurers about “2860 rates,” as it places the burden on the insurer to demonstrate that it routinely pays those rates to defend similar actions in that community.

But before the insurer even announces its intent to impose 2860 rate caps, there are things an insured can do to place itself in a strong bargaining position regarding defense costs issues. By drafting a thoughtful and thorough notice letter, an insured can lay the groundwork (and create leverage) for future negotiations.

Read the full blog post on Policyholder Perspective: Setting Up a Successful Negotiation Regarding “2860 Rates”