Practice Areas
Business Law and Estates
General Civil Trial and Appellate Practice in State and Federal Courts Insurance Defense
Insurance Coverage
Claims involving acts that may not be covered under insurance policies continue to place insurers in difficult positions, and the claims professional's decision could require the company to defend a "bad faith" claim from its insured. Insurers are also faced with an ever-increasing number of fraudulent claims that require special background and experience to handle correctly. Many insurers have sought my advice for coverage opinions and I have worked for insurers' fraud units in successfully opposing fraudulent claims.
Probate and Estate Planning
Products Liability
In today's economic climate, most clients involved specifically in the manufacturing process, or generally in the stream of commerce resulting in sales to retail customers, understand that their products are always under scrutiny as a potential cause of someone's injury. Defending claims involving allegations of defective and dangerous products requires counsel to coordinate closely with the insured's supervisory, managerial, and technical in-house experts, probably at least one outside consulting expert in the relevant field of specialization, and the claims' professional to put together a defense that, when projected into a courtroom, will have the best chance of convincing the jury. Having taken such cases to a jury verdict, I have a proven ability to perform in this environment for my clients.
Proessional Malpractice
I also have jury trial experience in defending claims of professional negligence (malpractice). My professional clients have included hospitals, physicians, dentists, architects, engineers, and attorneys. Understanding the sensitive nature of these claims, I keep the professional/insured as well as the insurer's claims representative well-informed and closely involved in all phases of litigation and pre-trial strategy, requesting the professional's input relative to substantive issues unique to the client's field of expertise.
Premisis Liability
My experience in handling the defense of cases dealing with alleged negligence on the part of landowners and operators of various retail stores and other facilities open to the public is substantial. My clients' cases have involved unnatural accumulation of ice and snow, alleged surface defects, irregularities with rugs and mats at entrances, claims against convenience store/gasoline self-service stations, and a variety of other alleged acts of negligence directed against my clients.
Construction Litigation
Defending personal injury claims arising out of statutory violations and common law negligence cases filed as a result of construction accidents is becoming a common outcome of construction projects. Such lawsuits often involve tangled issues of negligence, contribution, indemnification agreements, and multiple-party insurance claims. A simple complaint for personal injuries can often become complex litigation involving cross-actions, derivative actions, and affirmative defenses dealing with specialized statutory and common-law provisions limiting liability.
Special Event Liability
I have successfully handled the defense of a number of claims against amusement parks, city festivals, parades, county fairs, and other "special events." Each of these claims is a unique occurrence and is often accompanied by a wide array of special circumstances that require the expertise of an experienced defense counsel. I can provide this defense for you and your insureds that have these types of risks.
Workers' Compensation
I defend workers' compensation and other claims against employers resulting from workplace accidents, providing insurers and third party administrators the advice they need to resolve their claims effectively and efficiently.