Hanna & Plaut

Hanna & Plaut is a civil litigation law firm nestled in the heart of Austin, Texas. Dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation, we specialize in the complexities of insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, workers' compensation, and appeals in both state and federal courts throughout the Lone Star State. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our AV-rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a prestigious testament to our legal ability and ethical standards, as well as our recommendation by Best's Directory of Insurance Attorneys, a recognized authority in the insurance industry. Furthermore, the firm's founders, Catherine and David, have been honored with inclusion on the 2016 Texas Super Lawyers List, a testament to their outstanding legal skills and accomplishments.

At Hanna & Plaut, we strive to strike a unique balance between the extensive experience and resources of a large firm and the personalized attention and accessibility of a boutique practice. We believe this carefully cultivated balance allows us to deliver the highest caliber legal counsel while fostering genuine, meaningful relationships with our clients.

Our Expertise: Navigating Complex Legal Challenges

Our team of highly experienced attorneys excels in a range of specialized practice areas.

Appellate Law: Advocating on the Highest Stage

We handle appeals in state and federal courts across Texas, representing our clients before prestigious tribunals such as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and various courts of appeals throughout the state.

Our appellate attorneys possess extensive experience in legal research and writing, and we take immense pride in delivering powerful and persuasive arguments on behalf of our clients. Whether the appeal involves a complex mandamus action on a critical discovery matter, the meticulous planning of a comprehensive appellate strategy in the aftermath of a trial, or any other legal challenge, we are dedicated to fiercely advocating for your rights and objectives.

Insurance Bad Faith: Fighting for Policyholders and Insurers

Hanna & Plaut handles a significant number of "bad faith" litigation matters, representing both insurance carriers and policyholders in a variety of disputes relating to various insurance policies, including both personal lines and commercial lines. We also offer "in-house" seminars for insurance professionals on a wide range of insurance-related topics, sharing our expertise and insights to enhance the understanding of complex insurance issues.

Our partners have a combined experience of over 50 years representing insurance carriers in first-party bad faith cases. Our track record speaks for itself: we have consistently achieved outstanding results for our clients in all types of disputes. We thoroughly understand the intricacies of the insurance business and work collaboratively with our clients as an integral part of their litigation team, diligently defending allegations of unreasonable claims handling and statutory violations. Our approach prioritizes early case analysis, meticulous evaluation, and a collaborative litigation strategy that aims to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.

Workers' Compensation: Protecting Employer and Employee Rights

The firm plays an active role in the realm of workers' compensation, representing workers' compensation insurance carriers in disputes concerning compensability and medical treatment before the Texas Department of Insurance - Division of Workers' Compensation and the State Office of Administrative Hearings, as well as in state district court.

Our dedicated workers' compensation section is overseen by Robert Josey, a board-certified specialist in Workers' Compensation by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The Hanna & Plaut team travels throughout the state, representing our clients in Benefit Review Conferences and Contested Case Hearings, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected.

Insurance Coverage: Shedding Light on Complex Liability

Hanna & Plaut provides comprehensive insurance coverage advice and representation to insurance carriers, navigating the complexities of a wide array of insurance policies. We have a proven track record of representing carriers in coverage disputes with both insureds and other carriers. Our expertise extends to providing insightful coverage advice both before and during litigation, including post-verdict proceedings.

We have successfully represented carriers in numerous declaratory judgment actions, addressing critical questions of duty to defend and indemnity coverage. We are committed to delivering rapid and efficient coverage opinions and are also prepared to discuss flat-fee coverage opinion services tailored to meet your specific needs.

Insurance Defense: Providing Vigorous and Strategic Representation

Insurance carriers often turn to Hanna & Plaut for the capable defense of their insureds in lawsuits alleging personal injury, property damage, automobile liability, premises liability, and defective construction claims. Our team of experienced litigators brings intelligence, tenacity, and a unwavering commitment to results to the courtroom. We understand the importance of clear communication and responsiveness to our clients and their insureds, working diligently to create successful and cost-efficient litigation strategies.

Client Counseling: Sharing Expertise and Guiding Decisions

Beyond legal representation, we pride ourselves on our role as trusted advisors and counselors. Drawing on our extensive years of experience representing insurance carriers, we possess the industry knowledge and insight to provide invaluable guidance to our clients on a wide range of issues, from policy drafting and regulatory compliance to navigating the intricacies of Texas law and legal culture. We also conduct seminars on coverage and claims handling for our clients and various professional groups, sharing our expertise and promoting best practices within the industry.