Nationwide Property Insurance Representation for High-Value Claims
When Property Losses Cross State Lines, Expertise Matters
Liss + Earls led by managing shareholder Jason J. Liss (licensed in Michigan and Ohio), represents property owners nationwide in significant insurance disputes. While our primary practice focuses on Michigan and Ohio, we selectively handle high-value property claims across the United States through pro hac vice admission in federal and state courts.
When a high-value property loss demands litigation, finding the right attorney matters more than finding a local one. You need counsel who has spent their entire career on first-party property insurance disputes — not a firm that occasionally takes an insurance case between personal injury files. You need attorneys who have argued coverage issues at the appellate level, who understand forensic accounting and construction valuation, and who have the resources and willingness to take a carrier to trial.
That is what we do. It is all we have done since 1986. When attorneys, public adjusters, and corporate counsel across the country need experienced property insurance litigation counsel for a large or complex claim, they retain our firm.
Catastrophic Property Losses Are Driving Demand for Experienced Insurance Litigation Nationwide
The United States has experienced an unprecedented surge in catastrophic property losses. Total insured catastrophe losses have exceeded 2.5 times the prior five-year average, driven by severe storms, wildfires, and increasingly powerful weather events affecting every region of the country.
The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires alone produced over $37 billion in insured losses, making them the costliest single wildfire event in American history. Severe convective storms across the Midwest and Southeast have generated over $50 billion in annual insured losses for three consecutive years. And homeowners insurance litigation is at its highest level since at least 2009, as carriers deny and underpay claims at record rates.
For property owners with high-value losses — large commercial buildings, luxury residences, multi-family properties, industrial facilities, data centers, warehouse and logistics operations, and institutional real estate — finding an attorney with genuine first-party property insurance litigation experience is critical. Many firms that advertise property damage services are actually personal injury firms that take the occasional insurance case. They lack the specialized knowledge required to challenge insurer valuations, navigate complex policy language, and litigate coverage disputes at the appellate level.
Liss + Earls is different. First-party property insurance litigation is all we do, and it is all we have done since 1986. Our managing shareholder, Jason J. Liss, has argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His appellate work has helped shape property insurance law in favor of policyholders. When attorneys, public adjusters, and corporate counsel across the country need experienced property insurance litigation counsel for a high-value claim, many retain our firm.
We are headquartered in Michigan and licensed in both Michigan and Ohio. For large-value property insurance claims in other states, we appear through pro hac vice admission — a process that allows an out-of-state attorney to represent a client in a specific case with approval from the local court. We are regularly admitted pro hac vice in courts across the United States for complex, high-value property insurance disputes including commercial fire losses, roof collapse claims, equipment fire shutdowns, business interruption disputes, catastrophic storm damage, and large residential fire and water losses.
If you have a significant property insurance claim anywhere in the United States and need experienced litigation counsel who has dedicated their entire career to representing policyholders against insurance companies, contact our firm to discuss your case.
What Makes a Case Suitable for Nationwide Representation?
We evaluate out-of-state property insurance claims based on:
Case Value
- Claims typically involving $1 million or more in property damage
- Complex business interruption losses
- Multi-property or catastrophic loss events
- Cases where specialized expertise justifies out-of-state representation
- Cases where a catastrophic property loss attorney can make a substantial difference
Technical Complexity
- Explosion origin and cause investigation requiring NFPA 921 expertise
- Commercial fire losses involving complex causation issues
- Industrial property damage requiring specialized knowledge
- Claims involving sophisticated policy interpretation
- Cases in need of a Business Interruption expert attorney
Insurance Company Bad Faith
- Wrongful claim denials requiring aggressive litigation
- Systematic underpayment by national carriers
- Coverage disputes requiring detailed policy analysis
- Cases where insurer conduct demands experienced trial counsel
Federal Jurisdiction
- Diversity jurisdiction cases in federal courts
- Multi-state insurance coverage disputes
- Complex commercial litigation
- Cases involving multiple parties across state lines
Credentials for Nationwide Practice
Bar Admissions:
- Michigan State Bar
- Ohio State Bar
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Pro Hac Vice admissions in many states including most recently in Illinois, Iowa, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Tennessee
Why National Clients Choose Our Firm:
- Nearly 40 years of property insurance focus (firm history)
- NFPA 921 Technical Committee involvement (Stuart Sklar)
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator expertise
- $500 million+ recovered in property insurance claims
- Trial experience in complex property matters
- Network of nation’s leading property damage experts
How Pro Hac Vice Admission Works
“Pro hac vice” (Latin for “for this occasion only”) allows attorneys licensed in one state to represent clients in another state’s courts for a specific case. When we accept an out-of-state property insurance case:
- Initial Evaluation: We review your claim to ensure it meets our case selection criteria
- Local Counsel: We associate with experienced local counsel in your state
- Court Admission: We file for pro hac vice admission in the appropriate court
- Full Representation: We lead your case while coordinating with local counsel
- Specialized Expertise: You get our 40 years of property insurance focus, regardless of location
Types of Nationwide Claims We Handle
Commercial Property Losses
- Office buildings, shopping centers, hotels
- Manufacturing facilities and industrial properties
- Multi-tenant commercial structures
- Mixed-use developments
Catastrophic Fire & Explosion
- Gas explosions requiring NFPA 921 investigation
- Industrial facility fires
- Chemical explosions and industrial accidents
- Large-loss commercial fires
Complex Business Interruption
- Extended business closure disputes
- Multi-location business interruption
- Supply chain interruption claims
- Contingent business interruption
Multi-Million Dollar Disputes
- Claims exceeding $1 million
- Total loss commercial properties
- Cases involving coverage disputes with multiple carriers
- Complex policy interpretation issues
Why Distance Doesn't Matter for the Right Case
Modern legal practice and technology make geographic distance irrelevant for high-value cases:
- Video conferencing for client meetings and depositions
- Electronic document sharing for efficient case management
- National expert networks we’ve built over 40 years
- Trial experience that translates across jurisdictions
- Federal court practice with consistent procedures nationwide
For cases requiring specialized property insurance expertise, having the right attorney matters far more than having a local attorney.
Our Nationwide Case Selection Process
We’re selective about out-of-state matters because we maintain our commitment to personalized service:
- Initial Consultation: Free evaluation of your property claim
- Case Assessment: Review of policy, damage, and claim history
- Honest Evaluation: We’ll tell you if we’re the right fit or recommend local counsel
- Fee Structure: Contingency fees for most property claims (you pay only if we recover)
- Decision: We accept cases where our expertise provides clear value
When to Contact Us About an Out-of-State Claim
You should reach out if:
- Your property claim exceeds $1 million in damages
- The case involves explosion or fire requiring NFPA 921 expertise
- Your insurance company denied a clearly valid claim
- Local attorneys lack property insurance specialization
- The claim involves complex business interruption calculations
- You need trial counsel with national reputation
- Federal court litigation is likely or necessary
We may not be the right fit if:
- The claim value is under $500,000 (unless extraordinary circumstances)
- The case is routine and local counsel can handle effectively
- Quick settlement is likely without litigation
- Technical complexity doesn’t require specialized expertise
We've handled property insurance disputes from single-family homes to losses exceeding $30 million. The size of the claim changes, but the playbook carriers use doesn't. After nearly 40 years, we've seen every tactic, every delay strategy, and every denial letter — and we know exactly how to respond to each one."
Contact Us About Your Nationwide Property Claim
If you have a significant property insurance claim outside Michigan or Ohio, contact Jason Liss for a free case evaluation. We’ll honestly assess whether our specialized expertise would benefit your situation. Pro hac vice admission is subject to court approval. Liss+Earls associates with experienced local counsel in all out-of-state matters.