Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer in Columbus
When Your Insurance Company Fails You in Ohio, We Hold Them Accountable
You paid your premiums. You did everything right. And when something went wrong, your insurance company—the one that was supposed to protect you—denied your claim, refused to defend you, or made a settlement offer too low to protect you.
That’s not just frustrating. It may be illegal.
At Cooper Elliott, our Columbus bad faith insurance attorneys represent individuals and businesses throughout Ohio whose insurers have failed to honor their obligations. These cases require a deep understanding of insurance contracts, coverage law, and the tactics insurers use to avoid paying what they owe—and after 30 years in the courtroom, we know how to fight back.
The Cases We Handle
Bad faith insurance cases arise when insurers fail to honor the obligations they owe under your policy and Ohio law. We’ve seen insurers deny valid claims outright, refuse to defend policyholders in lawsuits, and make unreasonably low settlement offers that left clients personally exposed to verdicts far beyond their policy limits.
Every case is different. But they all share one thing: an insurance company that prioritized its own bottom line over your protection.
We handle cases related to:
Failure to defend or pay
Your insurance company denied your claim outright or refused to defend you against a lawsuit—even though your policy required them to. You were left to hire attorneys and cover damages on your own, causing serious financial harm to you or your business.
Failure to make a fair settlement offer.
Your insurer made unreasonably low settlement offers throughout litigation. The case went to trial. The verdict came back far higher than the policy limit—leaving you personally exposed for the difference. That exposure exists because your insurer didn’t negotiate in good faith when they had the chance.
Why Choose Us as Your Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer in Columbus
Attorney Jeff Kenney spent 30 years as an insurance defense lawyer before joining Cooper Elliott. He has defended against the exact types of claims we now bring on behalf of clients. He knows how insurers evaluate cases, where they cut corners, and when they’re acting in bad faith. That insider knowledge changes everything about how we build and argue these cases.
Whether your insurer wrongfully denied a claim, refused to defend you, or failed to make reasonable settlement offers that exposed you to a verdict far beyond your policy limits, we know how to pursue both. Many firms handle one or the other. We handle both.
Insurance companies know which firms will push a case to verdict and which ones won’t. We will. That reputation changes how the other side approaches settlement—and it means our clients get taken seriously from day one.
You don’t pay unless we win. We cover all upfront litigation costs, and there are no surprise bills. We only get paid when you do.
Our Big Wins
$750+ Million
Recovered for Our Clients
What to Expect When You Work With Our Columbus Bad Faith Insurance Attorneys
We’ll listen to what happened with your insurer, review the key facts, and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a viable bad faith claim. There’s no obligation and no cost.
We review your insurance policy, the full history of communications between you and your insurer, and how they responded to your claim. We’re looking for clear violations of the contract and the duties your insurer owed you.
Bad faith cases are more document-driven than many other types of litigation—emails, claim files, policy language, and internal insurer communications tell the story. We know what to look for and how to use it.
When necessary, we bring in experts on insurance industry standards to testify about what a reasonable insurer should have done—and how your insurer fell short.
Many bad faith cases resolve once the insurer understands the strength of our position. If they won’t do the right thing, we’re prepared to let a jury decide.
Recognition & Results
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Recognition for excellence in trial advocacy and client representation.
U.S. News & World Report – Tier 1
Ranked in the region for personal injury litigation.
Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Fewer than 1% of lawyers are members of this elite group of attorneys.
30 Years of Experience
Serving clients since 1995 with a track record of holding powerful opponents accountable.
Contingency Fee Basis
We only get paid if you win a verdict or receive a settlement.
Verified Peer Ratings
Research our firm and attorneys on martindale.com and superlawyers.com.
Common Questions About Bad Faith Insurance Cases
If your insurer denied a claim you believe was covered, refused to defend you in a lawsuit, or made settlement offers far lower than the eventual verdict, it’s worth a conversation. Bad faith isn’t just about being unhappy with your insurer—it’s about a clear violation of the duties they owe you under your policy and Ohio law. We’ll give you an honest read on what we’re seeing.
Bad faith claims most commonly involve commercial liability policies, where a business’s insurer refuses to defend against a lawsuit or denies a significant claim. They can also arise after a trial verdict exceeds settlement offers due to an insurer’s failure to negotiate reasonably. These aren’t disputes over health insurance copays or minor car damage—they’re cases involving significant financial exposure for individuals or businesses.
Possibly, yes. When an insurer fails to make reasonable settlement offers and a verdict exceeds the policy limit, the insured may be left personally on the hook for the difference. In those situations, the insured can assign their bad faith claim to us so we can pursue the insurer directly. Please call us if you have any questions.
Beyond what the insurer should have paid in the first place, bad faith claims can include damages for the financial harm caused by the insurer’s delay or refusal—lost value, lost opportunity, interest, and the costs you incurred defending yourself without the coverage you were owed. Bad faith cases are primarily about economic damages rather than pain and suffering.
Deadlines depend on the specific circumstances of your case. Because bad faith claims often arise out of contract disputes, the statute of limitations may differ from standard personal injury timelines. Contact us as soon as possible—the sooner we can review your situation, the better we can protect your rights.
Testimonials
I was involved in a serious car accident after just having welcoming our new son into the world.
When you are at your lowest, you remember with great detail how people treat you. Sean and his team treated me and my family with nothing but compassion, grace and care.
The stress, anxiety, and fear were only mitigated by the EXTRAORDINARY passion, care, and speed this firm operates at.
A huge thank you to Sean Alto with his incredible professionalism. I never once felt that Sean and the team at Cooper Elliot had anything other than my best interest.
Thank you Cooper Elliot for being a light during a very challenging time.
Talk to An Experienced Bad Faith Attorney for Free
If your insurance company has failed to honor its obligations—whether by denying a valid claim, refusing to defend you, or exposing you to a verdict beyond your policy limits—we want to hear from you.
Call (614) 481-6000 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation with a bad faith insurance attorney in Columbus.