Professional Biography
For more than 20 years, Lori R. Thomas has offered a wide variety of experience in the areas of first- and third-party insurance coverage, first-party bad faith litigation, and related appeals. She has advised clients on coverage issues and a carrier’s statutory and contractual duties under diverse personal and commercial lines, including professional liability, media liability, homeowners, auto, and business policies. She wrote the appellate briefs for the prevailing party in the landmark Texas Supreme Court insurance case of Traver v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (tri-partite relationship) and was asked by carriers to provide amicus curiae briefs in other landmark cases, including Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Kidd (PIP offset) and Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Boyte (continuing duty of good faith and fair dealing). Ms. Thomas has been extensively involved in coverage litigation arising out of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi and Hurricane Ike in Texas, defending carriers and participating in the Insurers’ Steering Committees to develop protocols for discovery, among other things. She is frequently called upon to present in-house training to her carrier clients on both coverage and litigation-related topics.
Ms. Thomas is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court of the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. Ms. Thomas is licensed in Texas, having graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law. She is a member of the American Bar Association (Litigation and Tort and Insurance Sections), the State Bar of Texas (Litigation, Insurance, and Appellate Sections), Tarrant County Bar Association (Appellate Section) and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Admissions & Certifications
State Bar of Texas (1988)
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Education
Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 1988, magna cum laude) Phi Delta Phi, Phi Kappa Phi
Order of the Coif
Texas Tech Law Review, Comment Editor, 1987-88
University of South Dakota (B.A., 1976)
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
American Bar Association, Litigation and Tort and Insurance Sections
State Bar of Texas, Litigation, Insurance, and Appellate Sections
Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section
Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Honors & Recognitions
Martindale-Hubbell® AV® PreeminentTM (5.0)
Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys (1989)
Who's Who of American Women (1990)
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders of America (1991)
Who's Who, International (1994)
Publications & Presentations
“Reservations of Rights,” CPCU Seminar, March 23, 2010
“Hot Topics in Third-Party Claims,” CPCU Seminar, March 2007
