J.D. practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance and works out of the firm's South Florida offices. J.D. represents insurers and reinsurers in complex coverage, claims handling and bad faith litigation and also provides coverage and excess exposure opinions. He has counseled insurers in complex claims relating to various types of insurance coverage including windstorm, environmental, construction defect, and professional liability.
J.D. also handles complex commercial litigation matters and has represented local and national developers in real property related litigation.
Notable Experience
· Serves on the Coordinating Counsel team for a national insurer.
· Represents insurers with respect to potential extra-contractual exposure.
· Represents property insurers concerning complex windstorm claims.
· Represents insurers regarding environmental liability coverage matters and Florida storage tank rules and regulations.
· Represents insurers concerning coverage matters involving construction defect coverage and CGL policies.
· Represents insurers concerning coverage matters involving professional liability policies.
· Obtained summary judgment in relation to bad faith claims asserted against a property and casualty insurer.
· Obtained a dismissal and favorable settlement of a dispute involving environmental liability insurance coverage for underground storage tanks.
· Obtained a dismissal of a Nine-Count Federal Court complaint alleging violations of Section 720.401 Florida Statutes, the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, among other claims.
· Working with team of attorneys, obtained a reversal from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal of a U.S. District Court's award of summary judgment against a developer involving alleged violations of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.
Other Distinctions
· 2009, 2010, 2011 Florida Super Lawyer "Rising Star" Selection
· 2007 Leadership West Palm Beach Selection
· 2002 E. Harris Drew Memorial Award for excellence in oral and written advocacy (Stetson Law)
· 2002 National Order of Barristers Selection
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
· JD is a regular contributor to the Insurance & Reinsurance Blog, InsureReinsure.com
· "The Great State Treasure Hunt: Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, September 2011.
· "Florida Supreme Court Preserves Attorney-Client Privilege in First-Party Insurance Bad Faith Actions," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, June 2011.
· "California Announces Investigation of Life Insurers' Use of Social Security Death Master List and Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws," author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Client Advisory, May 24, 2011.
· "State Insurance Regulators Coordinate Investigation of Life Insurers' Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws," author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Client Advisory, May 20, 2011.
· "Up Against a Chinese Drywall - Developments in the Ongoing Investigation and Coverage Litigation," author, Insurance Coverage Law Bulletin, May 2011.
· "Up Against a Chinese Drywall - Recent Developments in the Ongoing Products Liability and Coverage Litigation," speaker, Edwards Wildman Palmer Webinar, October 27, 2009.
· "Insurer Can Sue Retained Defense Counsel for Failure to Accept Settlement Demand Says U.S. District Court in Florida," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, September 2009.
· "Florida Environmental Spotlight: Rising Storage Tank Claims in the Sunshine State," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, December 2008.
· "Florida Focus - Bad Faith Claims in the Sunshine State," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, September 2008.
· "Supplemental Florida Property Tax Reform Update," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Client Advisory, January 16, 2008.
· "Recent rulings turn tide; insurers regain some attorney-client privilege," co-author, Daily Business Review, August 7, 2007.
· "Florida Property Tax Reform Update," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Client Advisory, August 1, 2007.
· "Bad Faith Discovery: a Practical Approach," speaker, Florida Law for Insurance Professionals Seminar, Tampa, Florida 2006.
· "Debate continues over national catastrophe fund," co-author, Florida Real Estate Journal, June 1, 2007.
· "Bad Faith Claims and Discovery in the Sunshine State," co-author, Global Broker Magazine, June, 2007.
News & Publications
May 2012, Client Advisory - New York Emergency Regulation 200 Creates Search Requirements For Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits
February 2012, Client Advisory - Shareholder Brings Derivative Action Against Life Carrier's Officers and Directors Targeting Unclaimed Property Practices
January 2012, Client Advisory - Whistleblower Claims $1.6 Billion in Unclaimed Property Lawsuit Against Two Leading US Life Carriers
December 2011, Up Against a Chinese Drywall - Developments in the Ongoing Investigation and Coverage Litigation
October 6, 2011, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2011
September 2011, The Great State Treasure Hunt: Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits
July 2011, Client Advisory - New York Insurance Department Requires Life Insurers to Use Social Security Death Master File to Identify Deceased Policy Holders
June 2011, Client Advisory - New York Attorney General Issues Subpoenas to Investigate Life Insurers' Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws
June 2011, Florida Supreme Court Preserves Attorney-Client Privilege in First-Party Insurance Bad Faith Actions
May 2011, Client Advisory - California Announces Investigation of Life Insurers' Use of Social Security Death Master List and Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws
May 2011, Client Advisory - State Insurance Regulators Coordinate Investigation of Life Insurers' Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws
May 12, 2011, J.D. Dickenson Provides Update on Chinese Drywall Litigation in ALM's Insurance Law Bulletin
October 7, 2010, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2010
November 6, 2009, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2009
September 2009, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - September 2009
December 2008, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - December 2008
January 16, 2008, Client Advisory - Supplemental Florida Property Tax Reform Update
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
August 7, 2007, Recent rulings turn tide; insurers regain some attorney-client privilege
Daily Business Review
August 1, 2007, Client Advisory - Florida Property Tax Reform Update
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge
June 14, 2007, Client Advisory - Florida Appellate Court Holds That Injured Party Suing Tortfeaser's Insurer for Bad Faith is Not Entitled to Privileged Communications Between Insured, Insurer, and their Joint or Separate Counsel
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
June 1, 2007, Bad Faith Claims and Discovery in the Sunshine State
GlobalBroker
May 31, 2007, Debate continues over national catastrophe fund
Florida Real Estate Journal
May 22, 2007, Client Advisory - Florida Appellate Court Recognizes New Statutory Bad Faith Cause of Action in Medical Malpractice Claims
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
May 21, 2007, Client Advisory - Courts May Consider Whether Cost of Repair Exceeds Value to Determine Whether Building is "Total Loss" Under Florida's Valued Policy Law
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
Events
October 27, 2009, Up Against a Chinese Drywall
Recent Developments in the Ongoing Products Liability and Coverage Litigation
Before Edwards Wildman
J.D. worked for a full service Florida firm where he focused on first party insurance defense work including coverage and bad faith litigation for numerous major property and casualty and liability insurers.
Besides Edwards Wildman
When he is not working, J.D. spends time with his wife Maggie and their two children. J.D. also enjoys coaching high school and youth lacrosse.
J.D. is an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. He is a member of the State Board of Directors and State Government Relations Committee for the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), the leading national fisheries conservation organization.
J.D. also serves on the Education and Outreach Committee of the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative, a public-private partnership under the supervision of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission created to provide global leadership in marine fisheries enhancement via production, habitat restoration, and adaptive management.
Memberships
· Palm Beach County Bar Association
· Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA)
· Order of Barristers
· Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce