Patrick McGovern

After a more than 5-year battle in California Superior Court against client’s excess liability and builder’s risk carriers, settled the case one month before trial. The insurance carriers paid 100% of the insureds’ losses resulting from a storm in September 2015, with the excess carrier paying its entire $10,000,000 policy limit.

In a dispute with a Directors & Officers insurer about its obligation to reimburse “reasonable and necessary” legal fees incurred by the insured, obtained an arbitration award requiring the insurer to pay 100% of the legal fees claimed.

Recovered $3,000,000 from homeowner’s insurer for smoke damage and other losses resulting from a brush fire in Malibu, California in November 2018.

Recovered $9.75 million from commercial property insurers for damage to client’s hotel in Southern Florida caused by Hurricane Irma in September 2018.

Settled a claim against Midland Insurance Company before the New York State Liquidation Bureau with a recovery of almost $10,000,000 for long tail environmental losses.

Obtained summary adjudication that bodily injury and property damage claims at a mixed-use condominium project in San Diego, California constituted a single occurrence.

Prevailed on appeal in California that an insurance company defending a construction defects lawsuit lacked standing to seek the disqualification of plaintiff's counsel.

Obtained partial summary judgment that Chinese drywall losses in over 200 homes in Florida constituted a single occurrence. As a result, the insured developer had to pay only one self insured retention to access coverage, and the insurance company quickly settled the action.

Achieved a substantial settlement for Chinese drywall losses in a declaratory relief action on file in Florida where the Supreme Court has held that the Total Pollution Exclusion applies to claims resulting from indoor exposure to noxious fumes.

Prevailed on a motion for summary adjudication on behalf of an outdoor advertising business and obtained order that an insurance carrier was obligated to defend an action by the City of Los Angeles seeking the removal of "supergraphic" billboard signs.

Represented real estate developers in action against insurers seeking coverage for construction defect liabilities.

Represented a risk retention group in defense of action by rail carrier seeking coverage for wrongful death and bodily injury claims.

Represented an asbestos insulation company in coverage action for asbestos injury claims.

Represented a beneficiary against life insurance company claiming misrepresentation and non-disclosure in the application by the insured.

Represented defense, telecommunications, and automobile manufacturers in environmental insurance coverage actions involving environmental liabilities at multiple manufacturing and Superfund sites.

Represented a domestic insurance company in arbitration against London market carriers seeking reinsurance coverage for environmental claims.

Represented an insurance carrier in actions by real estate developers and subcontractors seeking coverage for construction defect liabilities.

Represented an insurance carrier in arbitration and action for provisional relief (writ of attachment) against former insurance agent seeking payment of misappropriated policy premiums.

Represented an insurance company against claim brought by insured for breach of contract.

Represented oil and chemical companies in environmental insurance coverage actions involving liabilities at oil refineries, chemical plants, storage facilities, pipelines, and service stations in multiple states.

Represented policyholders and insurance carriers in first party property coverage claims.

Represented a real estate developer in action against professional liability carrier and architect over defective roof at mixed-use development.

Represented wood treating companies in environmental insurance coverage actions.

Obtained summary judgment in favor of an insured on the application of an exclusion for damage caused by electrical disturbance contained in the building owner's fire insurance policy.

Successfully litigated numerous rescission claims based on the insureds' alleged failure to disclose material information in the application process.

Without filing litigation, persuaded several reluctant CGL carriers to agree to defend actions involving: (i) construction defect claims; (ii) nuisance and trespass claims resulting from construction activities; (iii) fraud and conspiracy claims resulting from alleged violations of City Building Codes and Setback Ordinances; and (iv) violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and related state legislation. Insurance carriers who are slow to accept their defense obligation may be required to reimburse defense costs at full hourly rates from the date of tender to the date of acceptance of the defense.