Sandra K. Jones

Insurance Counsel

She advises insurance industry clients on pre-litigation and litigation matters stemming from accusations of bad faith policy lapses and disputes, claims issues, coverage matters and regulatory issues. She often handles complex interpleader matters and compliance-related issues, including policy administration, rescissions and other coverage disputes. Sandy also represents insurance companies in individual and class actions at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts nationwide.

Structured Settlements and Annuities

Sandy regularly assists owners and issuers of structured settlement annuities with all issues, from stem to stern, including:

• Litigation avoidance/pre-litigation issues
• Litigation
• Product development and innovation
• Attempted assignments of annuity payment rights
• Third-party garnishments
• Medicaid-related issues
• Special needs trusts
• Tax and estate issues
• Workers’ compensation matters
• Child support issues
• Overpayment recovery
• Growth of the structured settlement industry
• General business and strategic advice

She routinely represents insurance and annuity companies as the owners or issuers of structured settlement annuities in cases where factoring companies purchase structured settlement annuity payment rights, and she resolves disputes and litigates matters around the country arising out of the transfer of structured settlement payment rights. She also advises owners and issuers on all complex aspects of the transfer of structured settlement annuities and has developed successful commutation programs and completed thousands of transfer-related matters throughout all 50 states. Sandy serves as co-chair of the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA) Legal Committee and routinely speaks on structured settlement issues nationwide.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Sandy helps long-term care insurers and industry professionals resolve issues related to claims administration, premium rate increases, regulatory investigations and market conduct issues, fraud detection and antifraud program development, new product development and innovation, technological advances in care, aging in place, and the future and longevity of the long-term care insurance industry as a whole. Sandy is an experienced litigator who routinely represents long-term care insurers in litigation matters across the United States, with a specific focus on bad faith litigation defense. She remains at the forefront of litigation issues facing insurers through her work and participation in industry organizations, including the Intercompany Long-Term Care Insurance Association Inc. (ILTCI), where she is a frequent speaker and contributor.

Life and Disability Insurance

Sandy has extensive experience litigating life and disability insurance matters, having represented insurers in multiple trials throughout the United States. Sandy counsels life and disability insurance companies in all aspects of litigation avoidance, pre-litigation, and issues stemming from lapse, material misrepresentation, fraud, beneficiary disputes, compliance issues, bad-faith allegations and claims administration issues.

Previous Experience

Prior to joining the firm, Sandy represented clients in banking, transactional, animal and family-related matters. Immediately following law school, Sandy served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert P. Becker Jr., J.S.C. in the New Jersey Superior Court. Additionally, Sandy previously taught “Animals and the Law” at Rutgers University.

Personal Interests

Sandy is passionate about animal welfare and assists clients in a variety of animal-related litigation and issues, including dangerous dog accusations, property disputes and dog bite claims. She also prepares pet trust documents that allow clients to plan for the care of their companion animals after their deaths. Sandy enjoys spending time with her husband, their young daughter and their dogs.