Blake Justin Russum

Practice Details

• Firm Information
  Position

  Partner

  Firm Name

  Ropers Majeski
• Representative Cases & Transactions
  Cases

  Representative Matters: Won a full defense judgment in favor of the defendant, a large private university benefit plan, at both the district court level,
  the subsequent Ninth Circuit appeal, in an ERISA action related to a claim for long-term disability benefits. Blake presented the oral argument at trial
  authored the appellate brief, which resulted in the Ninth Circuit affirming the district court decision.
  Secured a full defense judgment following a bench trial in a separate federal action in which the plaintiff sought to recover employee welfare benefits under ERISA.
  Obtained a dismissal with prejudice for an insurance company in a case where the plaintiff alleged breach of contract
  bad faith claims following the denial of a first-party water loss claim under the water exclusion of a homeowner's insurance policy. The plaintiff sought damages of $75,000, attorneys' fees,
  punitive damages, which the district court rejected, in entering judgment in favor of the insurer on all counts.