Sandra Jones

Sandra K. Jones represents insurance companies in general and complex litigation, bad faith, fraud, policy lapses and disputes, interpleader matters, compliance matters, claims issues, coverage matters, and claims administration.

She is one of the leaders of the firm’s Long Term Care Insurance Team, representing long-term care insurers and industry professionals in resolving issues relating to bad faith litigation, premium rate increases, fraud litigation and developing antifraud programs, claims-related issues and product development.

Sandra also regularly advises long-term care insurance carriers on complex and unique issues pre-litigation, and routinely speaks at conferences and events regarding the long-term care insurance industry, claims-related litigation, and rate-increase issues.

Sandra is also the co-leader of Drinker Biddle’s Structured Settlement and Annuity Team. She has experience assisting the owners and issuers of structured settlement annuities in a wide variety of ways, including litigation avoidance, attempted assignments of annuity payment rights, third-party garnishments, Medicaid-related issues, tax and estate issues, workers’ compensation matters, child support issues, overpayment recovery, litigation, and general business and strategic advice.

In addition, Sandra has in-depth experience and first-hand knowledge regarding issues arising out of the transfer of structured settlement payment rights in jurisdictions throughout the United States, with a specific concentration on client-focused commutation programs.

Sandra has developed and managed several successful commutation programs, and has filed and completed thousands of transfer-related matters throughout nearly all 50 states. Along with other members of the team, Sandra has developed an overpayment recovery program for several clients.

She also 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 resolves disputes and litigates matters around the country arising out of the transfer of structured settlement payments rights.

Sandra advises life insurance and disability carriers and is a member of the firm’s Life and Disability Insurance Team. She represents insurance companies in individual and class actions at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts nationwide.

Sandra also focuses a significant portion of her practice on complex interpleader matters, compliance-related issues, including the administration of policies, policy lapses, rescissions, and other coverage matters.

As co-chair of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Women in Insurance Affinity Group, Sandra remains at the forefront of all issues – litigation and otherwise – facing insurers and industry professionals.

Sandra is passionate about animal welfare and has experience assisting clients in a variety of animal-related litigation and issues, including dangerous dog accusations, property disputes and dog bite claims. Sandra also has experience in the preparation of pet trust documents that allow clients to plan for the care for their companion animals after their deaths.

While in law school, Sandra was a research and teaching assistant to Professor Sheila Rodriguez. After law school, Sandra served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert P. Becker, Jr., J.S.C. of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Gloucester County.

Prior to joining Drinker Biddle, Sandra’s practice was focused on representing clients in banking, transactional, animal and family-related matters. Sandra sits on the board of Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) where she has been a long-time shelter volunteer. Sandra enjoys spending time with her husband, young daughter, and their dogs.

Experience :

• Insurance Litigation and Coverage : Sandra has extensive experience with insurance litigation. These are highlights of some of her representative matters :
  • Complete victory at trial regarding a beneficiary dispute. Negron v. Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Case No. 14-25855 CA 01 (Miami-Dade County, Florida).
  • Summary judgment in favor of insurer regarding lapse of insurance policy. Moll v. Pruco Life Insurance Company, No. 1:14-CV-1040 (E.D. Pa.), aff’d on appeal.
  • Summary judgment in favor of insurer regarding lapse of long-term care insurance policy. Hettleman v. SHIP, No. MIA-2015-09-005 (Before the Maryland Insurance Administration).

Education :

• Rutgers University School of Law – Camden, J.D., 2010, Rutgers Journal of Law and Public Policy
• University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 2004

Bar Admissions : New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Court Admissions :

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania