Robert E. Hess

Robert focuses his practice on a wide range of disability, life, and health insurance litigation. He has litigated hundreds of cases, primarily defending insurers in cases involving insurance breach of contract and bad faith claims, as well as ERISA-governed cases involving employee welfare benefit plans. In addition to numerous bench trials, Robert has also defended his clients in several jury trials, including a trial resulting in defense verdict in June 2022 in the Northern District of California.  Robert also advises his insurer clients on ways to minimize their exposure to bad faith litigation. He practices at both the trial and appellate levels.

In addition to handling cases throughout California, Robert has litigated several cases in the United States District Court in Nevada.

Prior to Maynard, Robert worked with a national law firm in Los Angeles.

Community & Professional

• The State Bar of California
• American Bar Association
• Orange County Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)

• McIver v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 2024 WL 4144075 (9th Cir. Sep. 11, 2024) – Ninth Circuit affirmed judgment in favor of MetLife after district court granted MetLife’s motion to dismiss in ERISA-governed life insurance case

• Gray v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, Case No. 2:21-cv-04198 (C.D. Cal Jul. 18, 2022) – Plaintiff sought damages in excess of $2M; Court granted Unum’s motion for judgment 

• Wiley v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, Case No. 3:19-cv-02756 (N.D. Cal June 30, 2022) – Jury trial defense verdict

• Zelhofer v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 2022 WL 525562 (E.D. Cal. 2022) – Judgment for MetLife following bench trial

• Dioquino v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., 2021 WL 5178664 (UCSD, S.D. Cal. Nov. 2021) – Judgment for United of Omaha following bench trial 

• Vitug v. AXA Equitable Life Ins. Co., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 208783 (C.D. Cal. 2020) – Motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s bad faith claim granted

• Western v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 8362 (9th Cir. Cal., Mar. 17, 2020) – Ninth Circuit affirmed judgment in favor of Unum following district court bench trial

• Demko v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, 780 Fed. Appx. 537, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 31102 (9th Cir. Cal., Oct. 18, 2019) – Ninth Circuit affirmed judgment in favor of Unum following district court bench trial

• Pegues v. Raytheon Co., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118416 (C.D. Cal. 2019) - Judgment in favor of Raytheon following bench trial

• Kouladjian v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20326 (C.D. Cal. 2019) - Judgment in favor of Unum following bench trial

• Pavel v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 209019 (S.D. Cal. 2018) – Motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s bad faith claim granted

• Dorsey v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139010 (E.D. Cal. 2017) - Judgment in favor of Unum following bench trial

• Hecht v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 168 Cal. App. 4th 30, 85 Cal. Rptr. 3d 18 (2008)

• Nieto v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., Not Reported in Cal. Rptr. 3d, 2006 WL 2106972 (2006)

• Rabinowitz v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 91 Fed. Appx. 563 (9th Cir. 2004)

• Helus v. Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, 309 Supp. 2d 1170, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4360 (N. D. Cal. 2004)

• Scott v. Paul Revere Ins. Group, 23 Fed. Appx. 785 23 Fed.Appx. 785, 2001 WL 1580186 (9th Cir. 2001)

• Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. John L. Henry, 106 F.Supp.2d 1002 (C.D. Cal. 2000)

Recognition

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2020 – Present)
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell