Richard L. McMonigle Jr.

Richard L. McMonigle, Jr. is Senior Counsel with the firm's Insurance Law Department. A former Principal and Past Chair of the Department, Mr. McMonigle has spent over three decades representing national clients in significant insurance coverage and claims compliance matters. In more than 25 years with Post & Schell, he has earned a stellar reputation defending insurance companies and their employees in litigation involving complex coverage issues, alleged bad faith, policyholder fraud, and life, health, and disability claims, and bringing such matters to an expedited and fair resolution.

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• Am. Nat'l Prop. & Cas. Co. v. Felix, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61020 (W.D. Pa., April 11, 2018)  (successful motion for summary judgment on behalf of property insurer dismissing statutory and common law bad faith claims in case alleging fraudulent misrepresentations made by the insured in the presentation of a fire loss claim in excess of $1 million.)
• Corley v. Nat'l Indem. Co., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52017 (E.D. Pa., Apr. 18, 2016) and 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124538 (E.D. Pa. September 9, 2016) (successful representation of a commercial auto insurer in removing a matter to a preferred federal court venue, based on the fraudulent joinder of a co-defendant, despite aggressive opposition from plaintiff’s counsel, and later successful motion to bifurcate plaintiff’s bad faith claim and stay all discovery pending resolution of the UIM contract claim).
• Stanford v. Nat'l Grange Ins. Co., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 155323 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 3, 2014) (summary judgment obtained in favor of motor vehicle insurer on breach of contract and bad faith actions under Pennsylvania and Delaware law based upon insurer’s reasonable handling of UIM claim).
• Tubman v. USAA Cas. Ins. Co., 943 F. Supp. 2d 525 (E.D. Pa. 2013) (dismissal obtained of extra-contractual claims against auto insurer alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of common law bad faith, and violation of Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law).
• Foster v. USAA Cas. Ins. Co., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 181560 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 31, 2013) (summary judgment obtained in favor of auto insurer based upon UIM policy exclusion for injury to covered person occupying motor vehicle owned or regularly used by insured).
• Kelly v. National Liability & Fire Ins. Co., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68959 (E.D. Pa. July 9, 2010), affirmed, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 19025 (3d Cir., September 12, 2011)(summary judgment and successful appeal in favor of business auto liability insurer on breach of contract and bad faith claims based upon contractual definition of named insured).
• Bariski v. Reassure Am. Life Ins. Co., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 72459 (M.D. Pa., July 6, 2011) (summary judgment in favor of life insurer, dismissing bad faith claim on statute of limitations grounds).
• NVR, Inc. v. National Indemnity Company, 2010 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2336, 2010 WL 358163 (Super. Ct. Middlesex County, July 30, 2010) (trial verdict in favor of commercial liability insurer based upon application of policy subcontractor exclusion and the insured's failure to cooperate).
• Dubrosky v. Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co., 129 Fed. Appx. 691 (3d Cir. 2005) (winning motion and appeal upholding insurer's termination of agent's right to commissions due to unfair competition).
• Adams v. Reassure America Life Insurance Company, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5433 (M.D. Pa. 2003) (successful action to rescind disability policy based on known loss doctrine and misrepresentation in application).
• Alexander v. Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co., 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4498 and 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4495 (M.D. Pa. 2003) (summary judgment granted in favor of insurer, dismissing bad faith and contract claim).
• Delosky v. Penn State Geisinger Health Plan, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17188 (M.D. Pa. 2002) (summary judgment in favor of medical health plan based upon exclusion for coverage under plan language).
• Snook v. Penn State Geisinger Health Plan, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25036 (M.D. Pa. 2001), recon. denied, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25695 (M.D. Pa. 2002) (successful action establishing that ERISA governmental plan exemption did not apply to medical health plan affiliated with state university).
• Financial Systems Software v. Financial Software Systems, 85 F. Supp. 2d 482 (E.D. Pa. 1999), affirmed, 261 F. 3d 491 (3d Cir. 2001) (successful action and appeal in favor of computer software company in trademark infringement case).
• Laucks v. Provident Companies, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22857 (M.D. Pa. 1999) (winning ERISA trial verdict and successful appeal in favor of insurer, against healthcare professional claiming total disability based upon addiction to controlled substances).
• Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Nissenbaum, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18576 (E.D.Pa. 1998) (protective order granted in favor of insurer in bad faith case based upon attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine).
• Doe v. Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20770 (E.D. Pa. 1997) (opinion granting motions to exclude at trial evidence regarding insurer’s prior claims handling, other lawsuits, company finances, marketing and business practices).
• Ballard v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9073 (E.D. Pa. 1995) (jury verdict in favor of insurer in property insurance fraud and alleged bad faith case; post-trial motions denied).
• Asplundh Tree Expert Company v. Pacific Employers Ins. Co., 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19171 (E.D. Pa. 1992) (successful verdict in favor of excess insurer on coverage issue concerning defense costs; bad faith dismissed).
• Carlson v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1488 (E.D. Pa. 1992) (summary judgment in favor of homeowner’s insurer based upon policy exclusion for water damage caused by flooding).
• Kaufman v. Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company, 828 F. Supp. 275 (D.N.J. 1992), affirmed, 993 F. 2d 877 (3d Cir. 1993) (summary judgment in favor of insurer based upon dual occupation clause in disability policy).

Books & Treatises:

• Book, Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania, ALM, Editions 1 (2000) through 24 (2024)
• Book, Insurance Bad Faith in New Jersey, ALM, Editions 1 (2014) through 4 (2017) (co-author)

Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Issues:

• Co-author, Course Materials: "Recent Developments, Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," PA Bar Institute Litigating the Insurance Bad Faith Claim Seminar (December 2017).
• Author, Course Materials, "Bad Faith Review 2017," Pa. Defense Institute, July 2017
• Co-author, Course Materials: "Recent Developments, Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," PA Bar Institute Litigating the Insurance Bad Faith Claim Seminar (December 2015).
• Co-Author, "After 25 Years, Bad-Faith Statute Still Challenging Attorneys," The Legal Intelligencer - Insurance Law Supplement (August 2015)
• Co-Author, "The Top 10 Decisions From 25 Years of Bad-Faith Law," The Legal Intelligencer (July 7, 2015)
• Co-Author, Course Materials, "Auto Law Update: Pennsylvania Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 21st Annual Auto Law Seminar (October 2014)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "2014 Update on the Law of Bad Faith,” Pa. Bar Institute Bad Faith Seminar (April 2014)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Severance and Bifurcation in the UM/UIM Bad Faith Case,” Pa. Bar Institute Bad Faith Seminar (April 2014)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Expert Evidence in the Bad Faith Case,” Pa. Bar Institute Bad Faith Seminar (April 2014)
• Article, "A Dozen Years After Birth Center, the Third-Party Bad Faith Claim Continues to Expand," PDI Counterpoint, (August 2013)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Insurance Bad faith in Pennsylvania 2013," Pa. Bar Institute 17th Annual Insurance Institute (April 2013)
• Article, “Sandy Claims May Have Lawyers Consulting N.J. Bad-Faith Law,” New Jersey Law Journal (March 4, 2013)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Auto Law Update: Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update (October 2012)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Discovery Issues in Pennsylvania Bad Faith Litigation," Pennsylvania Bar Institute 16th Annual Insurance Institute (May 2012)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Auto Law Update: Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update (October 2011)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Update on Pennsylvania Insurance Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Tort Law Update (August 2011)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "UM/UIM Severance Issues in a Post-Koken Era: The Defense Perspective," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Bad Faith Litigation Seminar (July 2009)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Recent Developments in the Law of Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Bad Faith Litigation Seminar (July 2009)
• Article, "Bad Faith Claims Continue to Occupy the Courts," Counterpoint, Pennsylvania Defense Institute (April 2009)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Damages in the Bad Faith Case," BVR Legal/Mealey's Bad Faith Litigation Conference (November 2008)
• Course Materials, "Update on Recent Bad Faith Cases," Dispute Resolution Institute Personal Injury Seminar (April 2008)
• Course Materials, "Recent Verdicts, Selected Bad Faith Cases," Dispute Resolution Institute Personal Injury Seminar (April 2007)
• Course Materials, “Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania – Significant Decisions” and “Discovery and Bad Faith Litigation,” PBI Bad Faith Seminar (November 2005)
• Course Materials, “Bad Faith Update,” Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Bad Faith Seminar (October 2005)
• Course Materials, “Recent Developments In Pennsylvania Bad Faith,” Mealey’s Motor Vehicle Liability Conference (March 2005)
• Article, “Tips For Avoiding Bad Faith in Wake of Hollock v. Erie,” Counterpoint (October 2004)
• Course Materials, “Recent Developments in the Law of Insurance Bad Faith: The Defense Perspective,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Annual Insurance Institute (April 2004)
• Article, “Wrong Turn: Pa. District Courts Chart New Course, Holding That Bad Faith Claims Are Not Pre-empted By ERISA,” Mealey’s Litigation Report (November 2003)
• Article, "Pennsylvania Insurance Bad Faith - 2003 Update," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (July 2003)
• Article, "Litigation Roundtable: Bad Faith Issues on the Horizon in Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Law Weekly (Supplement) (July 2003)
• Co-Author, "Point-Counterpoint: Mishoe Bad Faith Decision Will Combat Runaway Jury Awards," The Legal Intelligencer (June 30, 2003)
• Co-Author, "Double Impact:  Mishoe and Campbell Reduce Chances of Punitive Damages in Bad Faith Cases," Pennsylvania Law Weekly (June 30, 2003)
• Course Materials, “The Law of Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania,” American Conference Institute, San Francisco, CA (April 2003)
• Article, “ERISA Preemption of Bad Faith Claims: An Old Debate Rages Anew in Pennsylvania With Implications for ERISA Practitioners Nationwide,” Mealey’s ERISA Litigation Report (October 2002)
• Co-Author, “ERISA and Bad Faith: Strange Bedfellows or A Perfect Match?,” The Legal Intelligencer (September 12, 2002)
• Course Materials, “The Law of Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania,” American Conference Institute, San Francisco, CA (April 2002)
• Article, “Birth Center Allows For Compensatory Damages In Bad Faith Insurance Case,” The Legal Intelligencer (January 25, 2002)
• Article, “Limits On Punitive Damages in Bad Faith Cases," The Legal Intelligencer (May 21, 2001)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Considerations in Defending Bad Faith Cases," Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association (March 2001)
• Article, "Attorney-Client Privilege Still Possible in Bad Faith Cases," The Legal Intelligencer (February 26, 2001)
• Article, "The Erosion of Attorney-Client and Work Product Protections in Bad Faith Cases: Aberration or Trend?," Counterpoint (October 2000)
• Course Materials, "Bad Faith Update," Auto Law Seminar, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (September 2000)
• Course Materials, "Procedural Issues Under Section 8371," Bad Faith Claims Seminar, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (August 2000)
• Article, "Litigation Conduct: Zealous Advocacy or Bad Faith?," Counterpoint (October 1999)
• Course Materials, "First Party Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," Bad Faith Claims Seminar, PA Bar Institute (July 1999)
• Co-Author, "Bifurcation: Protecting the Insurer's Right to a Fair Trial," Counterpoint (January 1998)
• Article, "Non-Coverage Seen? Intervene! Intervention Options in Coverage Disputes," Counterpoint (October 1997)
• Co-Author, "Who Pays to Defend Insurer's Declaratory Judgment Action?," Counterpoint (October 1995)
• Article,"Defining First Party Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," Counterpoint (October 1992)
• Article, Act 6: "Ready or Not, Here Comes First Party Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," Counterpoint (April 1992)
• Article, "When the Landlord Discriminates," Insurance Coverage Issues, XXV, Tort and Insurance Law Journal 1, Page 15 (Fall 1989)

Property and Fraud Claims:

• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Special Investigative Units: Avoiding Bad Faith While Fighting Fraud," Bad Faith and Punitive Damages Seminar, American Conference Institute (March 2001)
• Article, "The SIU Challenge: Fighting Fraud While Steering Clear of Bad Faith," Mealey's Insurance Fraud Report (February 2001)
• Co-Author, "First Party Property Adjustments: Must it Match?," For the Defense (September 2000)
• Course Materials, "First Party Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," Bad Faith Claims Seminar, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (August 2000)

Life Health and Disability Issues:

• Course Materials, "Litigating Under Individual and Group Disability Policies," PBI Tort Law Update (August 2005)
• Co-Author, “ERISA Under Attack: Bad Faith Claims Saved From Preemption in Pennsylvania,” DRI’s Life, Health & Disability News (Winter 2004)
• Co-Author, Point-Counterpoint, “Recent Decisions Make ERISA’s Hottest Issue Even Hotter,” The Legal Intelligencer (September 22, 2003)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: "Able or Not? Extrinsic Limitations on the Disability Claimant's Ability To Work," American Conference Institute (June 2001)
• Article, “Reformation of the Disability Policy: A Viable Alternative to Rescission,” DRI Life, Health & Disability News (Winter 2000)
• Co-Author, “Drug or Alcohol Addiction: Are Impaired Physicians Permanently Disabled?,” For the Defense (May 2000)
• Article, “Disability Litigation: High Stakes, Complex Issues,” Mealey's Litigation Report: Disability Insurance (April 2000)
• Article, “Does a Disability Policy Lapse When Premium Waiver is Obtained by Fraud?,” DRI Life, Health and Disability News (Fall 1999)
• Co-Author; Course Materials: “Extrinsic Limitations On the Disability Claimant's Ability to Work: The Insurer's Perspective,” American Conference Institute (June 1999)

• Course Presenter, “Missed Opportunities in Bad Faith, Defense Perspectives,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Auto Law Update 2018 (October 30, 2018)
• Course Planner, "Litigating the Insurance Bad Faith Claim,"  Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) CLE Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (December 8, 2017)
• Moderator, "Bad Faith Update: Rancosky and Beyond," Pennsylvania Defense Institute's (PDI) Annual Conference, Bedford, PA (July 12, 2017)
• Panelist, “Litigating the Insurance Bad Faith Claim,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA (December 2015). 
• Lecture, "Latest Developments in Pennsylvania Insurance Bad Faith,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s (PBI) 21st Annual Auto Law Update, Philadelphia, PA (October 22, 2014)
• Lecture, “Introduction to the Law of Insurance Bad Faith,” Villanova University School of Law (April 21, 2014)
• Course Planner, “Litigating the Insurance Bad Faith Case,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia (April 2014)
• Lecture, "Current Issues Dealing With Insurance Bad Faith Litigation in Pennsylvania," presented to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Civil Conversations Program (October 2013)
• Lecture, “Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania 2013,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute 17th Annual Insurance Institute (May 2013)
• Lecture, "Recent Developments in Insurance Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, Philadelphia, PA (October 2012); Conshohocken, PA (December 2012)
• Lecture, "Discovery Issues in Pennsylvania Bad Faith Litigation," Pennsylvania Bar Institute 16th Annual Insurance Institute (May 2012)
• Lecture, "Auto Law Update: Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, Philadelphia, PA (October 2011)
• Lecture, "Update on Pennsylvania Insurance Bad Faith," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Tort Law Update, Atlantic City, NJ (August 2011)
• Panelist, "Post-Koken UM/UIM Bad Faith Issues," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Bad Faith Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (July 2009)
• Lecture, "Damages in the Bad Faith Case," BVR Legal/Mealey's Bad Faith Litigation Conference, New York, NY (November 2008)
• Lecture, “Current Bad Faith Insurance Law Issues," featuring Gunn v. Hartford case; Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel Philadelphia, PA (September 2008)
• Lecture, "Statute of Limitations Issues, and Ethical Issues In Dealing With Arbitrators" for the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Bad Faith Practice Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (December 14, 2007)
• Lecture, "Bad Faith Damages In Light of Phillip Morris v. Williams," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Online Seminar (May 2007)
• Panelist, "Bad Faith Update," Dispute Resolution Institute Personal Injury Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (April 2007)
• Panelist, "Insurance Bad Faith: Update on Case Law and Trial Strategies," Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (December 2006)
• Course Planner/Lecturer, “Litigating Insurance Bad Faith Claims,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA and Pittsburgh, PA (November 2005)
• Lecture, “Bad Faith Update,” PaTLA Insurance Bad Faith Litigation Seminar (October 2005)
• Lecture, "Actions to Recover Under Disability Policies," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Tort Law Update, Atlantic City, NJ (August 2005)
• Lecture, “Current Issues in Bad Faith,” Mealey’s Motor Vehicle Liability Conference (March 2005)
• Lecture, “Recent Developments in the Law of Insurance Bad Faith,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Annual Insurance Institute (April 2004)
• Lecture, “Avoiding Bad Faith While Preventing Fraud,” IASIU Annual Seminar, Lake Buena Vista, FL (September 2003)
• Lecture, 10th Annual Personal Injury Institute, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, "Bad Faith" (July 30, 2003)
• Lecture, "Disability Fraud for Law Enforcement:  Private and Public Sector Cooperation," Disability Fraud Issues Forum, NHCAA Institute, Charleston, SC (July 8, 2003)
• Lecture: “Good Faith Claims Handling in Pennsylvania,” Pa. Assn. Of Mutual Insurance Cos. Claims Seminar (April 2003)
• Lecture, “Recent Developments in Disability Law,” Eastern Claims Conference, New York City (March 2003)
• Co-Chair, Advanced Forum on Bad Faith and Punitive Damages; Lecture: “The Law of Insurance Bad Faith in Pennsylvania,” American Conference Institute, San Francisco, CA (April 2002)
• Lecture, “Disability Fraud, Public and Private Sector Cooperation,” NHCAA National Training Conference, Washington D.C. (November 2002)
• Lecture, "Procedural Issues Under the Bad Faith Statute," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA (August 2001)
• Lecture, "The Insurer's Perspective on Factual v. Legal and Risk of Relapse Disability Cases," National Disability Law Seminar, American Conference Institute, Boston, MA (June 2001)
• Co-Chair, Advanced Forum on Bad Faith and Punitive Damages, American Conference Institute, San Francisco, CA (March 2001)
• Lecture, "Considerations in Defending Bad Faith Cases," Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association (March 2001)
• Lecture, "History and Overview of ERISA," Eastern Claims Conference, New York, NY (March 2001)
• Lecture, "Recent Developments in Bad Faith Litigation," Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (September 2000)
• Lecture, "Bad Faith Update" Auto Law Seminar, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (September 2000)
• Lecture, "First Party Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (August 2000)
• Lecture, "Procedural Issues Under the Bad Faith Statute," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (August 2000)
• Lecture, "First Party Bad Faith in Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Bar Institute (July 1999)
• Lecture, "Extrinsic Limitations On the Disability Claimant's Ability to Work: The Insurer's Perspective," American Conference Institute, Boston, MA (June 1999)
• Lecture, "Selected Issues in Insurance Litigation," Philadelphia Bar Education Center (August 1995)