Cases
Experience: Representative Matters: After 4-week jury trial, won full defense verdict in favor of insurance company accused of bad faith failure to settle a $23 million liability claim against its policyholder. Policyholder had sought $23 million in economic loss, $23 million in emotional distress damages,
$180 million in punitive damages.
Represented insurer in jury trial
obtained a defense verdict in a case alleging breach of contract
bad faith.
Obtained summary judgment in failure to settle case, in which the claimant sought payment of a $30 million excess judgment (inclusive of interest) after the insurer allegedly failed to settle a catastrophic injury claim for the $15,000 policy limits. Affirmed on appeal. Dorroh v. Deerbrook, 223 F.Supp.3d 1081 (E.D. Cal. 2016), affirmed in Dorroh v. Deerbrook, 751 Fed. Appx. 980 (9th Cir. 2018).
Obtained summary judgment in failure to settle case, in which the claimant sought payment of a nearly $40 million excess judgment (inclusive of interest), arising out of the insurer's alleged failure to accept a settlement dem
for its $25,000 policy limits.
Obtained summary judgment in failure to settle case where the claimant obtained a $5 million judgment after the insurer allegedly failed to accept a settlement offer for its $100,000 policy limits.
Won motion dismissing breach of contract
bad faith claims against insurer in claim arising from purchase of $20 million in counterfeit wine. Affirmed on appeal. Doyle v. Fierman's Fund, 21 Cal. App. 5th 33 (2018).
Represented insurer in coverage litigation arising out of the concussion lawsuits filed by thous
s of former football players against the NFL
its official helmet manufacturer, Riddell.
Represented liability insurer against claims that it had improperly denied coverage for property damage that allegedly arose out of a progressive loss occurring over a period of 30 years.
Wildfire Litigation : Represented insurers in numerous cases arising out of the 2003
2007 southern California wildfires, primarily involving claims for underinsurance.
Institutional Bad Faith Litigation : Represented a national insurer in cases throughout the country alleging that the insurer had an institutionalized practice of low-balling claims.
