Linda M. Dedman is a commercial litigator and insurance coverage specialist. She represents policyholders in coverage disputes, including pursuing extra-contractual claims against carriers and agents.  Linda handles first and third party commercial claims for clients in a variety of industries. Linda started her legal career as a litigator with the international law firm Baker & McKenzie and quickly gravitated toward it’s insurance coverage group. In that capacity, she represented insurance carriers in complex commercial cases including a mix of trial and appellate work. Linda also served as an Assistant United States Attorney (A.U.S.A.) for the Northern District of Texas. As an appellate expert, Linda enjoys a 15-0 record in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, but she is equally proud of the behind-the-scenes results she helps her clients secure without a trial or appeal. Linda is regularly called upon to provide expert coverage advice to many well-known plaintiff attorneys to maximize the amount of recovery for their clients.  She is also called upon to provide consulting expert witness services and advice, to assist with legal theories of recovery in insurance litigation matters and also serves as a specially retained and testifying expert in insurance cases concerning the standard of care, Best Practices, claims handling, bad faith, and in all matters addressing insurance matters.

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Admissions:

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• Texas

• United States District Court, Northern District of Texas

• United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas

• United States District Court, Western District of Texas

• United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas

• United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas

• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Supreme Court of the United States

• State Bar of Texas, Insurance Law Section

• Dallas Bar Association

• American Bar Association, Insurance Law Section

• Board Certified in Insurance Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

 

Education:

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Southern Methodist University, J.D. 1998, cum laude

• SMU Law Review, Board of Editors, Comment Editor, 1997-98

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Southern Methodist University, B.A. 1991, magna cum laude​

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Certifications:

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• Board Certified, Insurance Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

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Awards:

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• D Magazine Dallas Best Lawyers 2014 and 2017-present;

• Dallas Bar Association's 2016 Cathy Maher Outstanding Section Chair Award; 

• Dallas Bar Association 2007 Outstanding Chair Award, Torts and Insurance Practice Section; 

• Co-Editor, Texas Insurance Code Annotated 2007-2014; and

• Committee on Texas Pattern Jury Charges, General Negligence, Intentional Personal Torts & Workers' Compensation, 2020-present.

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Selected Professional Activities:

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• Outstanding Chair 2007 Dallas Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section

• Dallas Bar Association, Business Litigation Section Chair (2015-2016)

• State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Charge, Insurance Law Subsection (2008 to present)

• American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow (2016-present)

• State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Council, Member (2015-2020), Co-chair Case Note Committee

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Published Articles and Presentations:

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• “Zen and the Art of Mediation – Cutting Edge Settlement Strategies”, State Bar of Texas Advanced Insurance Law Course, 2016

• “The Right and Duty to Settle Third-Part Liability Claims: A 50-State Survey”, American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, March 4-7, 2015

• “A Look Back: The Civil Rights Act in Dallas after 50 Years”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, June 25, 2015 (State Bar Award for Best News Article)

• “Unpaid Insurance Proceeds and Bad Faith Damages Continues to be Hotly Disputed”, Texas Lawyer, July 28, 2014

• “Tripartite Triangle: Ethical Dilemmas for Defense Counsel”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, July 1, 2015

• “Intentional Conduct – Getting Coverage for Intentional Acts”, State Bar of Texas Advanced Insurance Law Course, April 11, 2013

• “A Policyholder’s Perspective: In Search of the Elusive Independent Injury”, State Bar of Texas 8th Annual Advanced Insurance Law Course, April 14, 2011 

• “Commercial Crime Coverage,” National Premium Finance Association Autumn Meeting, November 2010

• “Statute of Limitations Issues in Insurance Agent Liability Cases”, Journal of Texas Insurance Law, 2010

• “Third Party Coverage Cases; Drafting the Jury Charge”, State Bar of Texas 6th  Annual Advanced Insurance Law Course, April 3, 2009

• “Anatomy of an Insurance Policy,” State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Insurance Law Section CLE, June 26, 2008

•  “Making the Most of Your Insurance”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, 2008

• “Texas Supreme Court Rejects Insurance Carrier’s Reimbursement Request”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes 2008

• “Agent Liability in Texas”, South Texas College of Law 12th Annual Texas Insurance Law Symposium, January 24, 2008

• “The Anatomy of an Insurance Policy”, University of Texas School of Law and the State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section 12th Annual Insurance Law Institute, October 10-12, 2007

• “Insurance Issues Arising from Alternative Employment Arrangements,” University of Texas School of Law and the State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section 11th Annual Insurance Law Institute, December 7, 2006

• “Outing the Agent - Agents, Double Agents, Counter-Agents and Secret Agents,” State Bar of Texas 3rd Annual Advanced Insurance Law Course, March 30, 2006

• “Evidence Issues in Contract Cases; Privilege; Attorney as Fact Witness,” University of Texas 10th Annual Insurance Law Institute, Austin, December 8, 2005

• “Use of Extrinsic Evidence to Negate the Duty to Defend,” Dallas Bar Association Tort and Insurance Law Section, July 22, 2004

• “Discovery in Bad Faith Litigation”, 2002

• “Nursing Home Litigation and Insurance Bad Faith, Managing the Unmanageable Risk,” New York, New York, September 2001

• “Ethics and Money:  Difficulties for Insurers and Difficult Insureds,” University of Texas School of Law and the State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section 6th Annual Insurance Law Institute

• Guide to Doing Business in Texas, "Alternate Dispute Resolution in Texas," Texas State Bar Association 2000

• "Anatomy of An Insurance Policy," State Bar of Texas, Insurance Law Section, February 24, 2021

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Personal:

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Linda enjoys a full life with her four daughters, grandchildren, and her extended family.  She loves the outdoors, gardening, swimming, cooking, horseback riding, and theater.