First Party Insurance Committee

Mission Statement
The First Party Insurance Committee’s goal is to foster, through written materials and arranging panel discussions at ACCC events, an understanding of the key, emerging issues relating to first-party coverages whether substantive, related to trial practice or extra-contractual. Principally, the work of the Committee will concern property coverages; however, as significant court rulings may impact life, health and disability and other first-party coverages, the Committee will work to enhance and bring current policy holder and insurer understanding of those issues as well.  The Committee offers high-quality and current educational programs and materials for and by seasoned practitioners.  It also fosters a high-level and balanced dialogue among members on relevant issues in a way designed to balance the needs, concerns, and understanding of both policyholder- and insurer-side counsel.

2023-2024 Co-Chairs
Melissa Sims
Gina Clausen Lozier

Contact: firstparty @ americancollegecoverage.org

First-Party Property Insurance Compendiums

The First Party Insurance Compendium (Compendium) covering 50 states and the District of Columbia is a project of the First Party Property Insurance Committee of the American College of Coverage and Extra Contractual Counsel (ACCEC). Its contributors are all Fellows of ACCEC--premier attorneys representing either insurers or policyholders throughout the United States and Canada.

There are two editions of the First Party Insurance Appraisal Compendium, 2015-2016. 

There is one edition of the First Party Insurance Fee Shifting Compendium, 2017

ACCC Fellows can view the Compendiums by logging into the site.

Selected Presentations & Papers:

Posted 3/12/3034
Prejudice Rule Applies To Property Claims: Colorado Supreme Court
A divided Colorado Supreme Court excused policyholders for filing late claims in connection with occurrence-based, first-party homeowners' property policies and reversed insurers' wins in hail damage coverage disputes.

Posted 2/9/2024
Texas Supreme Court: Full Appraisal and Interest Payment Bars Insured’s Recovery of Attorney’s Fees

Posted 12/8/2023: 
5th Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment for Insurer that Damage to Roof was Cosmetic.

Posted 11/14/2023: 
5th Circuit Reverses Sum J for Insurer Based on Insured’s Expert Negating Cosmetic Damage Exclusion

Posted 10/27/2023: 
Texas Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on /whether Public Adjuster Laws Breach Free Speech Rules
Oral argument: 22-0427 Tex Dep’t of Ins. v. Stonewater Roofing, Ltd. - YouTube.

Posted 4/26/2023 
ANATOMY OF AN ENTRENCHED ERROR: “Concurrent Causation” in Texas Coverage Litigation
By Marc E. Gravely and Brendan K. McBride of Gravely, P.C.


Past Co-Chairs

2022-2023
Hugh Lumpkin
Melissa Sims

2021-2022
Rick Hammond
Hugh Lumpkin

2020-2021 
Rick Hammond
Hugh Lumpkin
Stephen Goldman
Suzan Charlton

2019-2020
Rick Hammond
Hugh Lumpkin
Stephen Goldman

2017-2018
Neil Rambin
Hugh Lumpkin

2016-2017
Neil Rambin
Hugh Lumpkin

2015-2016
Janet Brown
Bernard Bell

2014-2015
Janet Brown
Bernard Bell