Maryland Personal Injury Discovery: Insured's Statements to Insurer

I noticed that defense counsel is fond of issuing a subpoena to my client's PIP carrier to get the PIP application. As such at my office we exercise proper caution in drafting the responses contained in the PIP application. So the question arises; does the blade cut both ways. I mean if the defnedant can get my client's PIP application, why can't I get the defendant's statements to his insurance company. The answer is maybe you can get the statements. The Maryland court has considered the issue in Cutchin v State of Maryland 143 Md App 81 (2002). In this case the court determined the statements in this matter were not prividged and were subject to discovery. However, as dicta the Court articulated a two factor test to determine if the defendant's communications to his insurer are coverd as prividged communications between attorney and client. The two facts are (1) whether the communication was predominately related to the insured's defense and (2) did the defendant have a reasonable expectation that his communications were confidential. I suggest it is a reasonable discovery question to ask for any and all statements made by the defendant to any and all persons including but not limited to his insurer.

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Maryland Personal Injury Discovery: Insured's Statements to Insurer

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