Understanding Prior Authorization and Claim Denials: Two Common Types of Health Insurance Disputes
Published on August 27, 2026, by Matthew Sharp
Insurance
August 27, 2026 Health insurance disputes do not always begin the same way. Sometimes an insurance company refuses to approve treatment before it is provided. Other times, treatment has already been received, but the insurer later refuses to pay some or all of the claim. Although both situations may involve bad faith wrongful denial of health insurance coverage, they raise different issues and often occur at different stages of the claims process. Understanding the distinction between prior authorization disputes and claim denials can help policyholders better understand why [...]
Matt Sharp Quoted in The Nevada Independent on Wildfire Insurance Claims
Published on August 25, 2026, by Matthew Sharp
News
August 25, 2026 Attorney Matthew L. Sharp was quoted in The Nevada Independent this week in coverage of the Bug and Stallion fires burning across Northern Nevada and what homeowners should know when navigating the insurance claims process after a wildfire. As residents begin assessing damage and filing claims, one of the key issues is whether insurance payments will reflect the actual cost of rebuilding. Insurers often rely on national pricing models that may not account for higher construction costs in Nevada, potentially creating a gap between what [...]
Matt Sharp Speaks with KOLO 8 News Now About Nevada Wildfire Insurance Law
Published on August 20, 2026, by Matthew Sharp
News
August 20, 2026 Attorney Matthew L. Sharp spoke with KOLO 8 News Now about Nevada’s new wildfire insurance law, A.B. 376, as residents begin the recovery process from the Bug, Stallion and Freds Mountain fires in Northern Nevada. A.B. 376, which took effect in January, allows insurance companies to seek approval from the Nevada Division of Insurance to exclude wildfire coverage from certain policies. While insurers have not yet sought these exclusions publicly, he cautioned home and property owners about the risks they may face in the coming [...]
Matthew L. Sharp Selected for The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 Insurance Litigation List
Published on August 20, 2026, by Matthew Sharp
News
August 20, 2026 The Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp is pleased to announce that Matthew L. Sharp has been recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Litigation in Nevada. For more than four decades, The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized attorneys based on a rigorous peer review process. Honorees are selected through confidential evaluations by fellow attorneys, making the recognition a reflection of the respect earned within the legal profession. This recognition highlights Matt’s decades of experience representing policyholders in [...]
What To Expect When You Bring a Bad Faith Claim
August 6, 2026 If your insurance company has denied, delayed, or lowballed a claim you believe was valid, you may have more than a coverage dispute. You may have a bad faith claim. Here's a plain-language walk-through of what to expect. What is "Bad Faith"? Insurance bad faith occurs when your insurer fails to deal with your claim fairly and in good faith. This involves denying a claim without a reasonable basis, unreasonably delaying a claim like dragging out an investigation without justification, ignoring evidence that supports your [...]
What counts as insurance bad faith in Nevada? Five behaviors that turn a denied claim into a legal case
July 29, 2026 You purchase insurance with the expectation that if something goes wrong, your insurer will fairly evaluate your claim and provide the coverage you paid for. But when insurers put profits ahead of policyholders, what begins as a denied claim can become something much more. Not every denied insurance claim is an example of bad faith. Insurance companies have the right to investigate claims, and they can deny a claim when the facts and the policy limit establish there is no coverage. The line between a [...]
Matt Sharp Quoted in POLITICO on NV Energy Wildfire Insurance Proposal
Published on June 11, 2026, by Matthew Sharp
News
June 9, 2026 Attorney Matthew L. Sharp was quoted in POLITICO's E&E News this week in coverage of NV Energy's request to fund a $500 million wildfire insurance policy through its ratepayers. The proposal comes as Nevada's largest utility, and the broader West, faces the dual pressure of rising wildfire risk and growing electricity costs. Sharp, who works with wildfire victims, pointed to the central tension in the utility's plan. "NV Energy is saying we want to self insure for the liability risk that our conduct might create [...]
How to Document a Truck Accident for the Insurance Company
When a commercial truck is involved in a crash, the aftermath can feel chaotic. Between medical concerns, vehicle damage, and pressure from insurance adjusters, you might overlook one of the most powerful tools you have in your claim: documentation. In truck accident cases, what you can prove matters just as much as what actually happened. A strong paper trail can protect you from delayed payments, undervalued settlements, or denied claims. Along with that, it can make it harder for an insurance company to justify unfair handling of your [...]
Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp Earns Band 1 Chambers Ranking for Plaintiffs Litigation in Nevada
Published on June 5, 2026, by Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp
News
The Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp has earned a Band 1 ranking from Chambers in the "Mainly Plaintiffs" category for litigation in Nevada, recognizing the firm among the top tier of plaintiff-side practitioners in the state. Chambers rankings are the result of one of the most rigorous review processes in the legal industry. Researchers independently assess each attorney's cases, results, and standing in their practice area, supported by direct interviews with clients and peers. A Band 1 ranking is the highest tier Chambers awards, reserved for recognized [...]
The Largest Wildfires in U.S. History
The largest wildfires in U.S. history burned millions of acres. These infernos destroyed entire communities and left survivors fighting insurance companies for years. Those survivors learned that making it through the actual fire is only half the battle. Trying to rebuild afterward can be extremely difficult, especially when insurers delay, underpay, or even deny legitimate claims. Here’s a glance at the fires that shaped modern wildfire risk, what they mean for homeowners insurance bad faith claims, and what to do if your claim starts going up in smoke. [...]
