Mr. Barron maintains a diverse insurance coverage practice in which he advises and represents insurers with respect to issues arising under virtually every type of coverage. He has represented insurers in coverage/bad faith litigation concerning construction defect claims, automobile accidents, first-party property losses, intellectual property disputes, toxic tort claims, real estate transactions, legal malpractice, and hazardous waste or pollution liabilities. He has also handled litigation concerning alleged errors by insurance brokers or agents, and he has represented insurers in prosecuting or defending claims for contribution, indemnity, and subrogation.
Mr. Barron's practice also includes civil appeals and writs. He has successfully briefed and argued a wide range of cases before federal and state appellate courts, many of which have resulted in important published decisions on topics including the scope of liability and uninsured motorist insurance coverage, contractual indemnity, and limitations on recovery of lost profits as an element of tort damages.
Professional Memberships and Activities
· Defense Research Institute
· Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
· State Bar Association of California
Distinctions
· 2012 Southern California Super Lawyer
· 2011 Southern California Super Lawyer
· 2010 Southern California Super Lawyer
· 2009 Southern California Super Lawyer
· 2006 Southern California Super Lawyer
Speeches and Publications
· Establishing Protocols for Contractors' Pollution Liability Claims, IRMI Construction Risk Conference, November, 2011
· Co-author: California Property Insurance: Law and Litigation, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2011
· Lead counsel in published decision, Hydro Systems, Inc. v. Continental Ins. Co.
· Lead counsel in published decision, Mullins v. Mayflower Insurance Co.
· Update 2 - Climate Change Litigation in the US: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues, December, 2008
· Update 1 - Climate Change Litigation in the US: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues, June, 2008
· Update on Insurance Issues in Nevada: Selected Issues Concerning Insurer Duties to Defend and Settle, Las Vegas, May, 2008
· Climate Change Litigation in the US: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues, Lloyd's of London, seminar and article, April, 2008
· Claim Handling Issues Under "Self-Consuming" Limits Policy from Insurer's Perspective, West Coast Casualty's Construction Defect Seminar, May, 2003
· The "Absolute" and "Total" Pollution Exclusions: Liability Coverage for Chemical Exposure Injuries, Verdict (a publication of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel), First Quarter 1999
· The Application and Interpretation of Pollution Exclusions in a Construction Litigation Context, with Beth Kahn and Don Furness, Defense Research Institute publication "Construction Litigation, Insurance and Surety Issues", September, 1999
· Numerous other seminar presentations on topics including the scope of the insurer's duty to defend, the insurer's right to recission under California Law, issues arising from the tripartite relationship, coverage and defense strategies relating to suspended corporate insureds, and compliance with California's Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations
Articles
12/23/2008, Update 2 - Climate Change Litigation in the U.S.: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues
On April 30, 2008, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP presented a paper and seminar on the subject of Climate Change Litigation in the U.S.: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues. The level of interest expressed about that subject at the time combined with ongoing developments relating to climate change litigation suggested the desirability of periodically updating that presentation. This is another in that ongoing series of updates.
6/20/2008, Update 1 - Climate Change Litigation in the U.S.: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues
On April 30, 2008, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP presented a paper and seminar at the Old Library, Lloyds Building in London on the subject of Climate Change Litigation in the U.S.: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues. The level of interest about this subject, as reflected by the attendance at the seminar, the number of inquiries following the seminar and the response of other insurers with whom we have shared our paper, combined with the rapid pace of new developments relating to climate change litigation in the short period since that seminar was presented, suggests the desirability of periodically updating that presentation. The purpose of this brief update is to do just that.
4/30/2008, Climate Change Litigation in the U.S.: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues
Article written for MPP's London seminar, Climate Change Litigation in the U.S.: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues.
Events
11/15/2011, Establishing Protocols for Contractors' Pollution Liability Claims
MPP partner Jeffrey Barron co-presented this session with Robert Burkholder, Divisional Vice President - Claims, Environmental Division, of Great American Insurance Group, at the 2011 IRMI Construction Risk Conference in San Diego.
Description: A potential pollution incident often results in a frantic search for answers: Are we responsible? How do we keep the project on track? Do we have coverage for something like this? Even the best-run companies face the risk of an environmental incident. This workshop will discuss several contractor-related environmental claim scenarios and offer suggestions for how best to navigate the claim through the insurance company's claims department. Two industry claims veterans will discuss how to avoid pitfalls in the environmental claims-handling process and provide insights into claims-related legalese and documents.
5/30/2008, Two MPP Partners Spoke at Seminar
Partners Jeffrey S. Barron and Nicholas M. Wieczorek spoke on "Selected Issues Concerning Insurer Duties to Defend and Settle" at a Las Vegas conference. Their program covered the following: The Duty to Defend
· Standards for Determining Existence of Duty Under Nevada Law
· Insured's Selection of Defense Counsel? Effect of Insurer's Reservation of Rights
· Insurer's Right to Reimbursement of Defense Costs Expended in Defense of Noncovered Claims Duty to Settle
· Standards for Assessing Insurer's Consideration of Settlement Offer
· Opportunity to Settle - Must Insurer Initiate Settlement Discussions?
· Effect of Coverage Issues
· Unilateral Settlement by Insured?
· Insurer Strategies
4/30/2008, Climate Change Litigation in the US: Theories of Liability and Insurance Issues
As scientists link evidence of climate change to human factors, a new era of risk management problems is emerging. A first wave of lawsuits seeking to assign liability and recover damages for alleged climate change losses is now proceeding through the U.S. courts. This seminar was designed to explore the factual and legal theories, the strategies being employed, and the liability insurance implications.