Commercial
Don experience in handling major, complex litigation
includes serving as trial counsel in one of the largest criminal anti-trust
cases to go to trial; lead counsel in a $300,000,000 False Claims Act trial in
the Bicoastal bankruptcy; civil fraud litigation that resulted in millions of
dollars in recoveries for investors and the first criminal convictions in
Florida of S&L officers during the savings and loan crisis; other anti-trust,
securities and commercial disputes. Don has the background to effectively
handle major matters and deal with major law firms. He is also experience in
handling a wide range of basic commercial litigation, including breach of
contract, debtor-creditor matters, employment disputes and other business
related litigation. He is also involved in representing a company in a series
of asbestos bodily injury claims.
Insurance Coverage
Don has extensive experience in policy coverage work since
the early 1980s. He has litigated over 75 environmental and toxic tort coverage
matters on a national basis. Other coverage issues handled include automobile
policies, construction liability, advertising liability, life insurance claims
and homeowner policies. As a partner in large firms, Don represented the
insurance carriers in coverage matters. His extensive work for insurance
companies now makes him an effective advocate for policyholders. Recent
representation of policyholders includes obtaining coverage for a homeowner for
damage caused by mold, obtaining an agreement under a renter’s insurance policy
that the insurer would continue to provide defense coverage even after policy
limits were exhausted in connection with an apartment fire, obtaining summary
judgment for a client in Massachusetts against an insurer which had wrongfully
denied defense, with a result that the client was made whole even after all
legal fees and expenses of litigation.
Don has also served as an expert on insurance coverage on
both the policyholder and insurer sides. He has authored over twenty articles
on insurance coverage and related dispute resolution.
Litigation
Management
Don obtained significant claims management experience while
serving as outside general counsel to a major insurance industry pool. He had
management responsibility for a portfolio of environmental claims initially
reserved at $300,000,000. In his first year in the general counsel role he
reduced outstanding litigation by over 50% and reduced legal expenses by
$1,200,000. He retained and supervised outside counsel on a national basis,
using his own litigation and law firm experience to provide effective
oversight.
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