Insurance Coverage Disputes: Leveraging Extrinsic Evidence
Determining Duty to Defend, Resolving Policy Ambiguities, and Clarifying Coverage Under Insurance Binders
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will offer counsel a review of the use of extrinsic evidence in insurance coverage disputes to determine the insurer's duty to defend, resolve ambiguities in policies, and clarify the scope of coverage under an insurance binder. The panel will discuss varying court interpretations regarding admissibility of extrinsic evidence and provide arguments from both the insurer and policyholder perspectives.
Outline
- Use of extrinsic evidence to determine the insurer's duty to defend
- Use of extrinsic evidence to resolve ambiguity in the insurance policy
- Use of extrinsic evidence to clarify the scope of coverage under a binder of insurance
- Arguments and perspectives from insurers and policyholders
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- How have courts applied the “four corner’s rule” and has this rule been judicially eroded?
- In jurisdictions where the “four corner’s rule” has not been applied, what are best practices for insurers to protect their interests?
- What have been recent developments in the consideration of extrinsic evidence to resolve an ambiguous insurance policy?
Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.
Faculty

Matthew L. Jacobs
Partner
Jenner & Block
Mr. Jacobs has been successfully litigating insurance coverage matters for more than 25 years. He is a member of the... | Read More
Mr. Jacobs has been successfully litigating insurance coverage matters for more than 25 years. He is a member of the firm’s Insurance Litigation and Counseling, Reinsurance, Antitrust and Competition Law, and International Arbitration Practices. Corporations seek his counsel on the availability of insurance coverage for a wide variety of claims, ranging from D&O liability to business interruption losses, product liability and regulatory investigations. He has published and lectured widely on insurance coverage topics.
Close
Jan A. Larson
Jenner & Block
Ms. Larson is a member of the firm’s Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice, and has broad experience... | Read More
Ms. Larson is a member of the firm’s Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice, and has broad experience representing corporate policyholders nationwide in complex litigation with their insurers involving a variety of insurance claims. In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Larson also counsels policyholders with respect to insurance coverage placement and renewals and has completed numerous in-depth portfolio reviews, advising as to the strengths and weakness of the current or proposed coverage.
Close
William K. McVisk
Shareholder
Johnson & Bell
Mr. McVisk concentrates his practice on complex insurance coverage litigation and hospital law and medical liability.... | Read More
Mr. McVisk concentrates his practice on complex insurance coverage litigation and hospital law and medical liability. He has handled all areas of coverage and bad faith litigation, especially third-party bad faith and coverage litigation involving commercial general liability, hospital professional liability and physician professional liability coverages. Mr. McVisk is a frequent lecturer and author on insurance coverage issues.
Close
Britton D. Weimer
Partner
Jones Satre & Weimer
Mr. Weimer co-chairs the firm’s Insurance Practice Group and the Employment Practice Group. His practice... | Read More
Mr. Weimer co-chairs the firm’s Insurance Practice Group and the Employment Practice Group. His practice encompasses a wide range of insurance coverage, insurance defense, and commercial litigation, including EPL, CGL, D&O, insurance and real estate E&O, among other practice areas. Mr. Weimer is a nationally-recognized authority in insurance law and has written and co-authored several authoritative books and treatises.
Close