priming the oil filter

When doing a routine oil change do you need to prime the oil filter? I had my engine replaced by a engine swapping company. The bearings went out on Xmas day! To stay in warranty conditions, I changed the oil on the 26th. I got the car to the shop the swapped the engine and they said I did not prime the oil filter when I changed the oil and thats why the bearings went out. They said it was oil starvation. Well the engine has been full of oil plenty. To me it sounds like they are trying to get out of doing a warranty. I did call a dealership because they are factory direct as we all know. The service department said that not priming the oil filter would not cause the bearings to go out. From the way I learned about changing oil, you drain the oil, replace the filter (not pouring any oil in it), plug the drain, fill the oil, let it sit for a few seconds, turn the engine over for a few seconds, let it rest for a min or two, and drive away, taken it easy for a few miles. Does all of this sound like NOT priming the oil filter would cause oil starvation, especially since what I know of engines is that the oil pump is the part the sends the oil to the engine.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

OH by the way, its a 420A engine (2.0L Non turbo) and the oil filter screws straight up.

Not priming the oil filter should have no effect on your rod bearings going out but, if your motor was completely brand new or just rebuilt then it could have happened because lack of oil change on break in or not warming up your car properly!

I always prime my filter just for the extra security knowing that there is not a place that big in the oil route without oil! Priming the filter wouldnt cause the bearings to go out but it might have helped it if they were already going out.

Thank you, like i said the engine started knocking the day before i changed the oil anyway. I did break the engine properly, oil change at 300-500 miles, 1000, and 3000 after that. i also did not go over 70 mph before the inital 1000 miles. the engine installed was remanufactured from Roadmaster in Houston, TX

I always let the engine sit during warm up too.

Another question would be, how can you tell if the oil filter has primed or not? Especially if the engine has been run after a oil change.