Dawn Williams specializes in complex civil litigation and class actions, representing primarily insurance companies and financial service providers. She has broad experience in a variety of substantive areas, including sales practice actions, RICO, regulatory and state statutory violations, including unfair competition and deceptive trade practices claims, individual common law claims, and claims arising as a result of stranger originated life insurance and annuity transactions. Ms. Williams practices in federal and state courts across the country.
Representative Matters
· Abell v. Cissel, No. 09-0900 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2010) (judgment in favor of pro bono clients who were victims of mortgage "foreclosure rescue" fraud following three week trial affirmed)
· In re Am. Investors Life Ins. Co. Annuity Mktg. & Sales Practices Litig., 2008 WL 2246989 (E.D. Pa. 2008) (dismissal of nationwide beneficiary class in sales practices class action)
· Marlow v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., No. 09CV7756 (D. Colo. 2011) (dismissal on eve of trial of agent's breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims against insurer)
· Mooney v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 2010 WL 419962 (D. Minn. 2010) (defense jury verdict following three week trial in 350,000-member sales practices class action)
· Ostrow v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., No. 2009 CA 007621 B (D.C. Superior Ct. 2011) (dismissal of representative action alleging consumer protection claims against insurer)
· Wahl v. Am. Sec. Ins. Co., 2010 WL 1881126 (N.D. Cal. 2010) and 2009 WL 1766620 (N.D. Cal. 2009) (dismissal of all but one claim in class case concerning lender-placed insurance)
Speeches And Publications
· "The Supreme Court Grapples with Weighty Class Action Issues This Term," DRI Today, June 14, 2011
· "Misrepresentation in the Life, Health, and Disability Insurance Application Process: A National Survey," American Bar Association Publishing, 2009 (co-author)
· Contributor to annual updates for Handbook on ERISA Litigation (3d ed.)
· Frequent Contributor, Expect Focus
· Author: International Control of Iraqi Oil: How the Oil-For-Food Program Fits In, and Implications for the Future, 4 Rich. J. Global L. & Bus. 129 (2004)
Noteworthy
· Law Clerk to the Honorable Johanna L. Fitzpatrick, Chief Judge at the Court of Appeals of Virginia, 2005-2006
· Executive Editor, Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business (2004)
Professional Affiliations
· Vice-Chair, Life, Health, Disability Committee's Young Lawyer's Subcommittee of the Defense Research Institute
· Member, American Bar Association
· Member, District of Columbia Insurance Federation