Christopher G. Barnes is a Partner in the Connecticut office of Jorden Burt LLP. His practice focuses on complex litigation matters and trials in state and federal courts around the country, including class actions, on behalf of insurance companies and other financial institution clients. Chris also represents insurance company clients before state insurance departments in connection with market conduct examinations, and regulatory investigations and proceedings. He is currently vice-chair of the firm's Health Care Industry Group and vice-chair of the firm's National Trial Practice Team.
Following graduation from law school, Chris clerked for the Honorable Sidney S. Landau of the Connecticut Appellate Court and the Honorable Alfred V. Covello, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. After clerking and four years as an associate at two national law firms, Chris joined Jorden Burt LLP in 2002.
His practice includes all aspects of litigation and alternative dispute resolution in the areas of life, health, and disability insurance, reinsurance and ERISA. In the life and annuity area, Chris has litigated claims between insurers and contract owners involving allegations of breach of contract, fraud, inadequate disclosure, breach of fiduciary duty, state unfair trade practices and consumer protection statutes, and claims arising under stranger originated life insurance transactions (STOLI). He also has experience with abandoned and unclaimed property issues involving life, annuity, and retained asset accounts.
In the health care area, Chris has litigated the following representative disputes: life, health, and long term disability claim disputes under ERISA, a coverage and claim dispute between a reinsurer/managing general underwriter and health care provider under a reinsurance agreement, a claim dispute between an administrator of a self-insured group health plan and a plan member, a rate dispute between a health insurer and hospitals under preferred hospital agreements, and various other litigation matters involving health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, long-term care providers and third party administrators.
His practice also includes handling insurance coverage matters on behalf of insurers involving Directors & Officers, Errors & Omissions, and Employment Practices Liability policies.
Chris most recently was involved in the defense of a nationwide class action in federal court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The case involved allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the marketing and sale of certain annuity products and grew to be one of the largest class actions against an insurance company, implicating over 400,000 policies. After a three-week trial, the jury found that the insurer's conduct had not caused loss or damage to any class member and returned a defense verdict.
In other matters, Chris obtained a defense verdict on behalf of an insurance company client following a week-long jury trial in Suffolk County (Boston), Massachusetts, Superior Court. Plaintiff had claimed that the insurer and its agent made misrepresentations and engaged in negligent conduct in connection with the sale of a $12 million second-to-die life insurance policy. Plaintiff also had claimed that the insurer negligently supervised its agent and claimed breach of contract against both defendants. After deliberating for less than four hours, the jury rejected Plaintiff's claims and request for a multi-million dollar damages award and returned a verdict in favor of defendants on all counts.
Chris was also part of a trial team that received a jury verdict in excess of $70 million in damages following a six-week jury trial for a financial institution client in Tennessee state court.
Representative Matters
· Linda L. Mooney, et al. v. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Case No.: 06-cv-00545 (D. Minn. 2009)
· Ann Castello, et al. v. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Case No.: MC03-20405 (D. Minn., 4th Judicial Dist. 2006)
· Anthony J. Iorio, et al., v. Allianz Life Insurance of North America, Case No.: 05-cv-0633 JLS (CAB) (S.D.Cal. 2010)
· Paul E. Reddish v. Joseph Statuta et al., Civ. No. 03-1775-G (Mass. Cmmw. June 15, 2006)
· Caremark PCS v. Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Case No.: 04-cv-2210-PHX-NVW (D. Ariz. 2006)
· Benefit Consultants, Inc. v. Fortis Cos., Case No. 28611 (Tenn. Ch. Ct. May 26, 2005)
· Levine v. Hartford Life Insurance Co., Civil Action No.: 3:02CV81 (CFD), 2002 WL 1608330 (D. Conn. June 28, 2002)
· Englewood Hospital and Medical Center v. One Health Plan of New Jersey, Inc. et al., Case No.: L-00131103 (N.J. Super. 2003)
· Mildred Hurley Irrevocable Trust v. Minnesota Life Ins. Co., Civ. Action No.: 3:04cv497 (SRU) (D. Conn. 2004)
· Carret and Company, Inc., et al., v. Executive Risk Indemnity Inc., Houston Casualty Company, HCC Global Financial Products, LLC, Chubb & Son, Civil Action No.: 05-367 (Mass. Cmmw. 2006)
· Xanoptix, Inc. n/k/a Cubic Wafer, Inc. v. Federal Insurance Company, et al., Case No.: 06-E-0223 (N.H. Super. 2008)
· Scovin v. Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Civil Action No.: 3:02-c-v01161 (AWT) (D. Conn. 2005)
· Phones Plus, Inc. v. Hartford Life Insurance Company et al., Civil Action No.: 3:06-cv-01835 (AVC) (D. Conn. 2009)
· Catherine P. Reese v. CIGNA Life Insurance Company of New York, Civil Action No.: 3:07-cv-00087(AWT) (D. Conn. 2008)
Speeches and Publications
· Frequent Contributor: Expect Focus®
Noteworthy
· Law school honors: Editor-in-Chief, Quinnipiac Law Review, 1995-96; Academic Excellence Award; Academic Achievement Award: Lawyers' Professional Responsibility; Recipient, Academic Scholarship
Professional Affiliations
· Member, American Bar Association; Sections of Litigation, Health Care, Torts and Insurance Practice
· Member, Connecticut Bar Association
· Member, Hartford County Bar Association