Douglas Herman is an experienced litigation attorney based in Savannah, Georgia, where he serves as Chief Legal Officer and Director of Litigation for the Hostilo Law Firm. In this role, Douglas Herman oversees legal operations while also handling complex cases involving serious injuries and insurance coverage disputes. His professional background includes work as a partner at Oliver Maner LLP and prior litigation experience with Marshall Dennehey in Philadelphia and Caldwell and Kearns in Harrisburg.
Douglas Herman earned his juris doctor magna cum laude from Widener University School of Law, where he was an academic merit scholar and an editorial board member of the Widener Journal of Public Law. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Pittsburgh. Through years of practice, Douglas Herman has developed a focus on navigating the procedural, contractual, and strategic challenges that arise when individuals pursue claims against insurance companies.
Complications in Suing Insurance Companies Require an Attorney
In the Southeastern United States, consumers involved in insurance disputes face the additional challenge of finding attorneys who specialize in certain types of insured claims. As Douglas E. Herman- Chief Legal Officer and Director of Litigation for the Mike Hostilo Law Firm- explains their law firm provides quality legal representation against insurance companies, for clients in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, after they have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Securing the right legal counsel can make a meaningful difference in navigating the procedural and substantive complexities of insurance litigation.
Many consumers question whether fighting an insurance company in court is worthwhile, particularly when settlement negotiations may lead to compensation without litigation. Going to court requires not only time commitment to the case, but also an emotional investment. Depending on the complexity of the case against an insurance company, litigants can be involved for as little as 12 to 14 months or as long as three to five years. Further, going to court takes an emotional toll beyond the trauma that the client has incurred from his or her injuries.
Then, the financial considerations of taking an insurance company to court also influence whether it is worth pursuing a lawsuit. Contingency fee arrangements might reduce the cost of retaining counsel and obtaining representation in court, but the fees can range from 30 to 40 percent of the award if the suit is successful for the plaintiff. For small suits under $15,000, consumers might reconsider a court battle for multiple reasons. Moreover, in cases involving larger insurance companies with substantial resources, litigants must weigh the probability of winning against them, as these companies tend to be aggressive in paying out smaller claims.
Herman explained, in a July 2023 Vanguard Magazine article, that many insurance companies do not adequately compensate consumers because they do not believe consumers will sue them. He adds that taking a hardball approach by going to court is a chance to present the case to a jury and secure a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. So far, this approach has worked for the law firm, and Herman has helped his firm double the average case value since joining in 2018.
Regardless of claim value, retaining an attorney can help litigants navigate challenges such as interpreting complex insurance policy language. Ambiguous or convoluted wording often creates disputes over coverage scope, as provisions may be subject to multiple interpretations. As insurance products have evolved, policies have increasingly incorporated specialized jargon and layered contractual terms. These factors make resolving coverage questions difficult without legal guidance.
By extension, these issues with policy language can also result in challenges with policy exclusions, leading to problems with what is not covered in a policy. Often, an insurer will cite policy exclusions to deny a claim, pointing to specific conditions or circumstances under which it does not have to cover a claim. Attorneys can untangle complex language to help litigants clarify the scope of coverage and exclusions. When applicable, counsel can culminate in litigants obtaining an award in their favor.
Complex coverage and exclusion language represent only one of many challenges litigants face when pursuing claims against insurance companies. Additional complications include claim denials due to authenticity disputes, regulatory and compliance issues, bad-faith practices resulting in unreasonable denials, and procedural or jurisdictional hurdles during filing and settlement.
Ultimately, hiring an attorney can level the playing field for litigants seeking damages from their insurance company for a denied claim. Herman is part of an expanding group of law firms in the Southeast that represent consumers battling their insurance companies in court.
About Douglas Herman
Douglas Herman is a litigation attorney based in Savannah, Georgia, serving as Chief Legal Officer and Director of Litigation for the Hostilo Law Firm. He focuses on complex injury cases and insurance coverage disputes, while also overseeing firm operations and litigation strategy. A magna cum laude graduate of Widener University School of Law, Douglas Herman has practiced law in both Pennsylvania and Georgia and has been recognized by peer-reviewed legal organizations for his work in litigation and legal leadership.