State Resources

Find Invaluable Information for Your Legal Practice

Civil defense is a heavily regulated and often-changing area of law. As such, it is crucial that civil defense attorneys stay abreast of key trends, recent rulings, and changes in this area of law. At Themis Advocates Group, we strive to provide our members with everything they need—including an array of helpful resources—to remain at the top of the field. 

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington


For more information regarding any of the state resources, reach out to Themis Advocates Group at [email protected] or search for an attorney using our online membership directory.


Alabama

Browse our Alabama civil defense resources below:

In this provided PDF file, you can find a definitive overview of Alabama’s court systems, including both trial and appellate courts. There is a full explanation of court procedures, including but not limited to venues and statutes of limitations. You can also read about how liability, damages, evidentiary issues, and insurance conflicts are defined and resolved in a court system.

Zieman, Speegle, Jackson & Hoffman, LLC has provided a helpful PDF file that depicts a map of all trial venue profiles in Alabama, sorted by county. Each county is color-coded to show how judges and jurors there tend to rule: conservatively, liberally, or moderately. Preparing a defense case begins with knowing what to expect from the deciding parties in the courtroom, so this map can prove invaluable in many situations.

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Alaska

Browse these resources to find an overview of the Alaska court system, key trends in the civil industry, and more.

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Arizona

Browse the resources on this page to find helpful information on the Arizona court system, Arizona counties, and more. 

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California

Find information on the California state court system, California counties, local and regional regulations, key trend updates, and more. We invite our members to take advantage of our California insurance defense resources below:

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Colorado

Browse our Colorado insurance defense resources on this page to see an overview of the state’s court system, counties throughout Colorado, and more:

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Connecticut

Here, we’ve compiled helpful Connecticut insurance defense resources, including an overview of the state’s court system. Browse these resources below:

If you are interested in learning about the court systems of Connecticut, please refer to this helpful resource. In the PDF file, you can find a thorough explanation of trial courts and appellate courts, as well as the rules they follow and enforce. There is information about venue procedures, statute of limitations for different types of claims, and definitions of liability, negligence, and damages. You can also find helpful descriptions of settlement offers, liens, transportation law, insurance issues, bad faith claims, and more.

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District of Columbia

Browse these resources for an overview of the District of Columbia court system, key trends, recent changes, and more. 

Our in-depth overview of the court system in Washington, D.C. includes information on the district’s trial courts (District of Columbia Superior Court) and appellate courts (District of Columbia Court of Appeals), as well as various procedural information specific to the Washington, D.C. This includes an outline of venue procedures, statutes of limitations, and the processes and timelines involved in filing an answer, dismissal, and more.

Our overview of the D.C. court system also covers information on liability and negligence, including negligence defense; gross negligence, recklessness, willful and wanton conduct; negligent hiring and retention; negligent entrustment; dram shop liability; wrongful death and/or survival actions; vicarious liability; exclusivity of workers’ compensation; and a comprehensive overview of damages and evidentiary issues. In this section, you can also find information on settlement processes, Washington, D.C. transportation law, and various insurance issues.

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Florida

Here, you can find helpful Florida insurance defense resources, including an overview of the Florida court system, information on various counties throughout the state, and more. 

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Georgia

Many of our members, including those serving the state of Georgia, are widely regarded as authorities in the areas of negligence and liability defense. In order to help our members remain at the cutting-edge of their practice, we offer a full range of Georgia insurance defense resources. Browse these resources to find helpful information on Georgia’s court system, local and regional trends, Georgia counties, and more. 

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Illinois

You can browse our Illinois insurance defense resources here to learn more about Illinois counties and see an overview of the state’s court system. Check back for regular updates on local, regional, and state trends, rulings, and key updates. 

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Indiana

Here, you can find helpful Indiana insurance defense resources, including an overview of the state’s court system, information about Indiana’s various counties, and more.

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Kansas

Examine and anticipate insurance industry trends to provide more effective counsel in coverage disputes, general liability defense, construction defect defense, and all of your firm’s practice areas in Kansas below:

You can get highly detailed information about the court systems in Kansas by clicking on the provided link to a PDF file. You will find an extensive document that discusses trial courts, appellate courts, and the Kansas Supreme Court, as well as courtroom procedures and processes. There is also information about Kansas liability law, negligence definitions, vicarious liability, exclusivity of workers’ compensation, damage caps, compensatory damages for bodily injury, punitive damages, evidentiary issues, expert testimonies, settlements, liens, and so forth.

This link will reveal a map of Kansas, divided into its counties. Each county has its own local court system. Judges and jurors in each county reach conclusions that can be somewhat predictable based on the locality. It is important for a defense team to research what to expect from each county court system.

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Louisiana

Researching substantive law is an essential part of delivering effective insurance defense counsel. With so many factors in play, you will need a firm grasp not only of the facts of your client’s case but also what laws govern the issue. Monitor ever-changing insurance industry trends and keep current on legislative activity, and you can establish your practice as a trusted authority on insurance defense. Carrying out our goal of providing skilled and cost-effective legal services to our clients, Themis Advocacy Group built this online resource center to help you complete your research. 

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Maine

This portion of our website was built to provide online resources to our member attorneys related to Maine insurance law. Research decisions by local courts, review legislation, and get the information you need to successfully monitor industry trends that affect your clients’ workers’ compensationcyber liabilityconstruction defect, or other related matters. 

Gathering information about Maine’s court system can assist with the starting point of any case. In this provided PDF file, you can get a thorough overview of Maine’s court system, with a focus on trial courts. There is specific information about statutes of limitations, liability, negligence definitions, defenses to negligence using established case laws, damages and damage caps, evidentiary issues that can change liability and damages, settlements and offers of judgment, and insurance issues.

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Maryland

Here you will find links related to Maryland insurance law. 

In this outline, we describe the characteristics of each of Maryland’s state trial courts, state appellate courts, federal trial courts, and federal appellate courts. For the courts, we offer information on judges, the court’s typical jury verdicts, standard time to trial, and other details. By referring to this guide, you can learn about how your case may proceed in the state’s different courts.

We also explain state-specific legal considerations and definitions, such as the civil statute of limitations, liability, negligence, damages, evidentiary issues, settlements, and insurance issues. These descriptions offer an in-depth view into Maryland law with information about the established acts and precedents that may apply to your case.

This synopsis will serve as your go-to guide to the legal system in the state of Maryland:

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Massachusetts

Knowledge is power, and completing ongoing research related to insurance industry trends, legislative changes, and local court rulings will only support your practice as an insurance defense professional. That is why Themis Advocacy Group created this online resource center, to provide a source of information that can help our member attorneys maintain their statuses as trusted authorities in insurance defense counsel in Massachusetts and across the United States. Visit the links found below:

In this provided resource, you can find a comprehensive outline of the court systems in Massachusetts, including trial courts, appellate courts, and more. We take an in-depth look at the laws, rules, and regulations that govern how these courts function and how parties can bring cases to these courts. Within you can find explanations of statutes of limitations, comparative negligence, viable negligence defenses, statutory caps on damages, evidentiary issues, offers of judgment, and much more.

The synopsis provided above is meant to get you started with any questions about your case. 

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Minnesota

What impact will local court decisions have on your client’s professional liability case? How will industry trends affect construction defect and product liability defense? As an insurance defense professional in Minnesota, your practice will be dependent upon your ability to provide real results.

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Mississippi

This section was created to provide helpful resources applicable to Mississippi insurance law and court systems, to help you deliver more effective counsel and keep your practice ahead of your competitors by completing ongoing research that applies to your client’s legal issues.

In this outline, we explain the court systems of Mississippi on both a basic ground level and in refined detail as defined by the state’s own laws and legalese. You can learn about the various courts, ranging from trial courts and appellate courts to justice courts that manage low-value cases. Reviewing this outline will also provide you with the opportunity to learn about procedural issues, liability definitions, damages, issues of evidence and procedure, insurance issues, and more.

By clicking this provided PDF file, you can load a comprehensive map of all the counties in Mississippi. Perrier & Lacoste has adapted the Mississippi county map to explain how often juries in criminal cases rule in favor of or against the defense, which may prove to be crucial information in a developing case.

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Missouri

This online resource center is meant to provide helpful links to insurance defense professionals in Missouri, supporting your ability to monitor industry trends and substantive law that governs the issues you are currently addressing. 

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Nebraska

This Nebraska insurance defense resource center can help you research local court systems, and more – an essential task in the constantly changing field of insurance law.

If you need detailed information about the State of Nebraska Court System, use the provided PDF link here. You can get information about trial courts, appellate courts, and the Nebraska Supreme Court. The document discusses procedural expectations within the court system, such as using the correct venue, adhering to statute of limitations, filing a response, and dismissing a refiling. You can learn about liability laws, negligence definitions and defenses, different types of damages, evidentiary issues and how each issue can change approved damages, settlements, liens, transportation law, and much more.

This PDF file provides a map of Nebraska. Each county is outlined, and the county seat for each county is noted, too. Use this information to become familiar with the judges and likely jurors who will decide the outcome of your case.

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Nevada

Take advantage of these resources to better sustain your practice, your clients, and your results. We will strive to update the links included here, so be sure to check back often. 

This document is a thorough guide to the legal system in the state of Nevada. Please refer to this page to answer any questions you may have about Nevada’s unique court procedures and law. If you have any more questions, contact us. We can find a law firm that will best handle your case.

The first section of the outline provides details on Nevada’s trial courts and appellate courts, with comprehensive descriptions of each. There is information about which courts handle cases in each county, along with general explanations of trial processes in the state. From the type of jurisdictions to the courts’ procedures, this section illustrates a total picture of the Nevada court system.

Following the court descriptions, this document includes a complete guide to civil law in the state of Nevada. There is exhaustive information about liability, statutes of limitations, negligence, damages, and evidentiary issues in the state, and the laws that apply to each of these principles.

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New Hampshire

Here, you can find an overview of the New Hampshire court system, as well as other helpful resources and information for your practice. Check back regularly, as this page will be continuously updated with new educational materials for our members.

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New Jersey

Here, Themis Advocacy Group has included online resources to support your New Jersey insurance defense practice. With the right information and insight, you can develop actionable strategies and solutions that yield better results for your clients across your firm’s areas of practice.

In this detailed PDF document, you can learn about the courts and court systems of New Jersey. Across the 43 pages, there is information regarding Superior Court locations and legal definitions and explanations, such as statutes of limitations, venues, liability and negligence, damages, damage caps, loss of consortium, evidence inadmissibility, expert testimonies, offers of judgment, medical liens, unfair claims practices and bad faith claims, and much more.

This PDF document loads a county map of New Jersey and a portion of Pennsylvania that Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy P.C. Attorneys at Law services. The map has been adjusted to show how juries in each county tend to rule: conservatively, liberally, or moderately. Knowing the typical approach of a jury can influence how to work a case and reach a more favorable outcome.

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New York 

This online resource center is meant to help you research local rulings and legislative activity, so you can keep your finger on the pulse of the insurance industry in New York. Monitor and anticipate trends, study favorable and unfavorable decisions that may affect your clients’ cases, and position yourself as a trusted authority for insureds, insurance carriers, and self-insured corporations. 

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North Carolina

When it comes to insurance defense, one of the ways you can remain a step ahead of the competition is by being a trusted authority for your clients. You are the expert in the field, and you will need to continually research legislative activity and decisions to establish and maintain a strong foothold. We have provided this North Carolina insurance defense resource center to help you.

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North Dakota

As a North Dakota insurance defense professional, you cannot afford to fall behind on current industry trends or legislative activity. You must continually research these matters, applying them to specific cases so you can develop more effective strategies and solutions for your clients. As a part of our mission to assist member attorneys, Themis Advocacy Group has compiled state-specific resources applicable to insurance defense. Here you can find links related to insurance law in North Dakota, to support your research and your legal practice.

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Ohio

Ever mindful of the challenges facing insurance defense professionals in Ohio, Themis Advocacy Group has compiled helpful resources to support your research. Monitor industry trends and legislative activity, research local court systems and their rulings, and keep well-informed of the myriad legal issues that may affect your clients’ cases. Factual investigation is crucial, of course, but once you have investigated the facts of your client’s case, you must work toward the desired result based on the substantive law governing the specific issue or issues at hand. 

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Oklahoma

The resources provided here by your partners at Themis Advocacy Group are meant to give you the competitive edge you need in the ever-changing and aggressive field of insurance defense in Oklahoma. We will work to update and add to these links whenever possible, so be sure to visit again.

Here you can find a comprehensive overview of Oklahoma’s court system, including state-specific information on trial and appellate courts. You can also find an outline of procedural processes regarding venue, statutes of limitations, time for filing an answer, and dismissal re-filing of suit.

In this section, we also discuss various liability issues as they apply to Oklahoma statutes, including common law negligence, negligence defenses, gross negligence, and more. Our overview of the Oklahoma court system also includes information on damages, including statutory caps on damages, compensatory damages for bodily injury, damages for emotional distress, wrongful death and/or survival damages, and other statutes that may affect your case. You can also find information on evidentiary issues, settlements, insurance issues, and additional acts and precedents related to your case.

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Oregon

The following Oregon insurance defense resources were gathered to provide insight into local rulings, court systems, and state-specific trends that may impact your clients’ cases. We will strive to update this page as frequently as we can, with new links and information, so check back often. From researching the primary law that supports a specific issue, to in-depth research on precedents set by case law, we hope to provide the resources you need. 

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Pennsylvania

These resources are meant to help you remain abreast of the constantly changing insurance industry in Pennsylvania, including local rulings and court systems.

We have taken the time to examine the Pennsylvania Court System in great detail, so you can get a stronger understanding of it before your case moves to litigation. Within the catalog, you can find explanations of trial courts, appellate courts, procedural issues and expectations, statutes of limitations, damages, emotional damages, punitive damages, evidentiary issues, settlements, transportation law, insurance issues, and much more that could apply to your case.

Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy P.C. Attorneys at Law have provided a map of Eastern Pennsylvania counties and all counties of New Jersey. The map has been organized in a way that displays how juries in each county tend to rule, sorted into the three categories of liberal, moderate, or conservative. As your case is just beginning, it is important to know what a jury in the relevant county will likely see your arguments and want to rule.

The more information you can get regarding your case upfront, the better. You should continue to educate yourself by browsing these helpful documents further. 

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Rhode Island

In-depth, ongoing research will act as the cornerstone for any successful insurance defense practice. The insurance industry in Rhode Island is continually changing, impacted by legislative changes and court rulings. At times, trends will seem to favor defendants, and at other times, plaintiffs. As a part of our commitment to delivering real results to our clients, Themis Advocates Group provides state-specific insurance defense resources to our member attorneys

In this detailed PDF document, you can find a full overview of the Rhode Island court systems. Everything from trial and appellate courts is examined and explained. There is ample information regarding courtroom-related processes, such as selecting a venue, statutes of limitations on case filings, negligence definitions, liability applications, defense to negligence claims, wrongful death and survival actions, exclusivity of workers’ compensation, evidentiary issues, settlement procedures, and more.

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South Carolina

Few legal areas are as complex and prone to transformation as insurance defense. You must maintain current knowledge of local rulings and industry trends to properly address your clients’ changing needs, goals, and concerns. Here we have included helpful resources – links to websites that can help you effectively deal with the twists and bends in your clients’ insurance policies, expand your knowledge of insurance rulings in South Carolina, and improve the efficacy of your insurance defense practice. Themis Advocacy Group is committed to your success. Be sure to visit often, as we will strive to update this page with new links and resources.

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South Dakota

Review the following links to review local court rulings in South Dakota, familiarize yourself with recent verdicts, and position yourself to deliver more effective counsel. We will work on updating this page as new resources arise, so be sure to visit again. 

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Tennessee

Insurance defense is not a field of law for the meek. The laws are constantly changing, and courts, juries, and plaintiff attorneys are only getting more aggressive against insurance companies. To handle workers’ compensation defenseprofessional liability defense, and construction defect defense cases correctly, you need as much knowledge as you can get. Themis Advocates Group has gathered and compiled some Tennessee-specific resources that could be crucial to your developing case.

In this docket, we provide an overview of the Tennessee court system, which is divided into three levels and three Court of Appeal divisions. There are 95 counties in the Tennessee court system that are divided into 31 unique judicial districts. We have tried to be as comprehensive as possible to provide information regarding trial court processes, rules, laws, and so forth. By clicking the provided link, you can learn about procedural overviews, Tennessee liability laws, damage laws and assessments, evidentiary complications and contests, settlement rules and offers

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Texas

Keep informed of emerging trends and issues that affect your clients and therefore your Texas insurance defense practice. Remain abreast of local court rulings and ever-changing insurance laws. Participate in the Themis annual mock trial or mock mediation to fine-tune your ability to advocate for clients inside and outside of the courtroom. Review the following links for helpful information related to insurance defense in Texas. Feel free to check back regularly, as we will routinely update this page with new resources.

In this section, we provide an in-depth outline of the Texas court system, including information on the three court levels—trial court, appellate court, and the supreme court. We also provide a procedural overview, information on responsive pleading, various statutes of limitations, and dismissal re-filings of suit.

This section of our website also covers Texas liability law, as well as information on negligence and damages as outlined by Texas state law. This overview is intended to serve as your guide to the legal/court system in Texas.

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Virginia

The insurance industry is heavily regulated and frequently changing. As an insurance defense attorney, it is your responsibility to keep fully informed of rulings that may affect your cases. State resources are a valuable part of legal research and will only benefit your firm and your clients. With a firm grasp on the facts of your client’s case and by thoroughly researching the substantive law that governs the issues at hand, you can provide more effective counsel. Themis Advocacy Group is here to work as your partner.

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Washington

The landscape of insurance legislation and case law is constantly in flux. Staying abreast of these changes and keeping informed of local court systems and their history of insurance-related rulings will benefit your clients and your firm. Here, we have included links to valuable resources related to insurance defense in Washington. This is just one of the ways we fulfill our commitment to maintaining relationships with our skilled member attorneys, in turn benefiting our clients and the outcomes of their cases. 

Washington State’s court system is as complicated as it is varied. To get a better idea of what to expect if your case must go to court, you can view this PDF file. The resource goes into great detail regarding the court system’s many sections and functions. You can peruse the document to learn about trial courts, appellate courts, venue procedures, statutes of limitations, liability definitions, damage calculations, evidentiary issues, and much more

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