Source: https://californiainsurancelawblog.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/insurance-law-and-the-%E2%80%9Cgeorge-court%E2%80%9D-from-1996-2010/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 00:58:31+00:00

Document:
Chief Justice Ronald George was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to succeed Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas in mid-1996.
At a time before Chief Justice George’s appointment, Associate Justice Stanley Mosk wrote in a dissenting opinion in 1989: “In this court, the insurer wins and the insured loses.” [Garvey v. State Farm (1989) 48 Cal.3d 395, 416, 417] Over time, the George Court changed this perspective. The change was assisted by Justice Janice Brown leaving the court in 2005 as well as the appointments of Justice Moreno and Justice Corrigan, coupled with the presence of Justice Kennard.
The above is not meant to state that the insured was not being heard prior to 2004-2006. See Vandenberg v. Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 815, overruled seven Court of Appeal opinions which applied the ex contractu / ex delicto distinctions in determining whether coverage would be available where an insured acted in breach of contract; Kransco v. American Empire (2000) 23 Cal.4th 390, 394 (comparative fault held not to be a defense to insurer bad faith).
Commencing 2004 a most important doctrine, under attack in the Court of Appeal, was preserved and expanded. The doctrine related to the acts of ‘bad faith’ performed by the insurer in not paying benefits when due. Assisted by the change in Court personnel, as described, the George Court has ruled favorably and consistently for the insured where the insurer has performed “wrongful” conduct in adjusting claims. In Cassim v. Allstate (2004) 33 Cal.4th 780, first party bad faith, adjusting a fire loss under a homeowners policy was affirmed. Importantly, “Brandt” fees were preserved. In Essex Ins. v. Five Star Dye (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1252, an assignee of an insured was held entitled to claim Brandt fees. Pilimai v. Farmers Ins. (2006) 39 Cal.4th 133 held that an offer made pursuant to CCP § 998 applied to UM arbitrations. Wilson v. 21st Century Ins. (2007) 42 Cal.4th 713 described in great detail the performance of bad faith adjusting in auto claims. In State of California v. Allstate Ins. (2009) 45 Cal.4th 1008, the Supreme Court preserved and expanded the holding in State Farm v. Pritchard from first party property insurance to third party liability policies; see § C62.02 CONCURRENT CAUSE. Recently in Minkler v. Safeco Ins. (2010) 49 Cal.4th 315, the Court applied a severability clause contained in homeowners and CGL policies to protect coverage for innocent or negligent co-insureds who are sued due to the intentional sexual acts of a co-insured. See § S28 SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. Ameron International Corp. v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania (2011) 50 Cal.4th 1370, holding that a proceeding commenced and heard before a ‘quasi-judicial proceeding’ before the United States Interior Civilian Board of Contracts was a “suit” and a “court proceeding”. Ameron International distinguished Foster-Gardner Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. (1998) 18 Cal.4th 857 and Certain Underwriters v. Lloyds (2001) 24 Cal.4th 945, 960. See § S116 SUIT. In her concurring opinion in Ameron International, Justice Kennard stated her belief that the holding in Ameron overruled Foster-Gardner and Certain Underwriters.
The George Court, over time, embedded in insurance law even handedness, fair mindedness, replacing political philosophy as a factor in interpreting liability and property policies.
Chief Justice George, thank you for serving.
Bold references are to sections in Volumes 1 and 2 of CALIFORNIA INSURANCE LAW DICTIONARY AND DESK REFERENCE, 2010. The above article is from the INTRODUCTION to CALIFORNIA INSURANCE LAW DICTIONARY AND DESK REFERENCE, 2011 Edition, to be published in June 2011.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 § 998
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.