Representative Experience

  • Represented a joint venture on construction and insurance issues arising from the sinking and leaning Millennium Tower in San Francisco.
  • Represented a CalPERS investment property in a property damage case seeking recovery of construction defect, resulting damage, and related business loss and extra expense losses at a transit-oriented, mixed-use development in California with damages exceeding $150 million.
  • On behalf of Duke Energy, secured settlement with insurer totaling $835 million for business interruption loss following damage to the Crystal River Nuclear Plant.

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  • Represented Zenith Aviation in securing summary judgment against insurer’s move to exclude coverage for losses caused by concrete dust.
  • Represented Black & Veatch in securing a client’s rights to seek coverage from insurers for liabilities related to subcontractor’s mistakes. Victory at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Represented a national developer of commercial and residential property against National Surety Corporation and more than 20 different contractors and subcontractors in connection with its significant property and business interruption losses. We secured a substantial appraisal award for our client. The matter settled confidentially mid-trial.
  • Represented a general contractor regarding insurance claims in connection with alleged defects in the construction of a Florida hotel, including alleged defects in outdoor pool, patio, planters and glass-frittered balconies.
  • Represented a general contractor regarding insurance claims arising from the construction of a hotel in Texas. The owner alleged defects in the sheeting and shoring system, resulting in damages to the excavation and shoring piles.
  • Represented a home builder in an action to obtain a defense as an Additional Insured under policies issued to a subcontractor for more than 150 construction defect claims.
  • Represented a general contractor on construction defect claims and insurance coverage issues arising from alleged faulty construction of high-rise condominiums in South Florida.
  • Represented a general contractor regarding insurance claims arising from the construction of a hotel in Arizona. The owner alleged defects in the installation of showers that resulted in water intrusion behind tiles and mold damage.
  • Represented an EPC contractor in pursuing recovery on more than $200 million of insurance claims arising out of the construction of enhancements to five coal-fired power plants. The Tenth Circuit sided with our client, who can now pursue coverage for construction defects at the plants in question.
  • Assisted major homebuilders in their insurance recovery efforts involving thousands of homes with alleged construction defects in New Jersey, California and Florida.
  • Represented a number of construction and real estate clients in pursuit of insurance recoveries from insurance carriers for Chinese drywall claims.
  • Pursued claims against two dozen insurers in connection with construction of more than 2,000 homes in various housing developments in California’s Central Valley.
  • Represented a construction company regarding insurance and other issues related to a hanger roof collapse at Dulles Airport during a snowstorm, which damaged or destroyed more than a dozen aircraft.
  • Handled a global engineering firm’s insurance claims over design and construction issues related to a number of coal-fired power plants.
  • Represented a general contractor on recovery of a claim arising out of the default of multiple subcontractors in a billion-dollar hotel construction project.
  • Obtained defense and substantial indemnity payments from multiple primary and umbrella carriers for developer and general contractor of a large townhome project on underlying construction-defect claims.
  • Secured a $55.3 million breach of contract, bad faith and punitive damages jury verdict, including attorney’s fees and $46 million in punitive damages, for a mechanical pipe-joining manufacturer. It was among California’s 2015 largest insurance jury verdicts.
  • Obtained an arbitration award of full coverage for a contractor based on damage to property, not improvements, following settlement of an underlying lawsuit based on defective-construction claims.
  • Represented the joint venture serving as the construction manager in connection with the “Big Blue” collapse at Miller Park.

Practice Area Highlights

  • Pillsbury is recognized as among the most feared law firms for litigation by BTI Consulting Group.
  • Nationally ranked by Chambers USA (2018 – 2019), and finalist for Chambers USA’s Award for Excellence in Insurance (2018).
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. (2017 – 2021).

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  • Team lawyers are lauded by Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who Legal in the field of insurance. 
  • Pillsbury was named “2016 Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law by U.S. News and World Report – Best Lawyers, recognizing the firm’s preeminence in the field.
  • Five-time Law360 Insurance Practice Group of the Year (2022, 2020, 2016, 2015, 2010)