""The defense wants actionable strategies, not just theory," trial attorney Bob Tyson said in a press release about his firm's latest book about nuclear verdicts. Tyson will join personal injury attorney Brian Panish on state at the 2026 Complex Claims & Litigation Forum. (Image credit: Infinite Flow/Adobe Stock)
"Insurance affordability" has entered the mainstream dialogue about rising prices and eroding consumer confidence.
Meanwhile, insurance-industry thought leaders continue to shine light on the way today's 'sue first, ask questions later' behavior — aka legal system abuse — contributes to financial strain across the broader economy.
"Legal system abuse, manifested through excessive verdicts and litigation behaviors, has fueled a structural rise in claim costs that continues to increase costs for insurers and policyholders alike," Triple-I CEO Sean Kevelighan said in an October 2025 statement. His organization's messaging around legal system abuse includes such topics as as:
- "Get rich quick" lawsuit-marketing schemes;
- Increasing attorney contingency fees; and
- "Shadowed" Third-Party Litigation Financing.
Kevelighan will expound on how rising insurance costs buoy widespread economic stress, and the work being undertaken by the insurance industry and political leaders to undercut the trend, during his opening keynote at PropertyCasualty360's 2026 Complex Claims & Litigation Forum happening March 9-11 at the Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. This exclusive annual event is where leaders from insurance, claims and the law diverge to network, share strategies and dissect urgent industry trends.
Day's Two's keynote will look at insurance litigation trends from another perspective: The Plaintiffs. In this era of ballooning verdicts and harsh public criticism of insurers, particularly in the aftermath of a widespread disasters, leading personal injury trial attorney Brian Panish will share candid insights into how insurers and defense counsel conduct themselves in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Panish will be joined by event veteran and fellow trail attorney Bob Tyson, and together the pair will discuss how insurers can be better prepared for the legal battles to come.
Too often, Tyson said in a recent conversation with PropertyCasualty360, "when people are trying to solve the problem of nuclear verdicts, they're focused on things we can't control, like litigation funding, attorney advertising, and tort reform. But the reality is that social inflation and nuclear verdicts are happening in a courtroom, so that's where our focus has been."
His national civil defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP recently published its second book on this topic titled, "Nuclear Verdicts®: The Apex – Break the Pattern," co-authored by Tyson and the firm's and National Managing Partner Cayce E. Lynch.
"Now we've got a clear pathway to what insurance defense lawyers can be doing in trial and how insurance companies should be advising their outside counsel at trial, to stop nuclear verdicts… There are things that are far within our control."
Other highlights of the forthcoming 2026 Complex Claims & Litigation Forum include sessions on such topics as carrier reputation management, reptile tactics designed to trigger juror fear, and how tech tools and AI are changing the game both before and during trial. And for the first time, the event will devote a special reception to honoring Future Claims Leaders.
Tyson added that the event is an "opportunity to meet people who are on the front lines, and hear from thought leaders about what's happening in the industry today, and tomorrow."
Don't miss your chance to part of the conversation. Register today and make plans to attend the 2026 Complex Claims & Litigation Forum!
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