The Insurance Law, Insurance Fraud, and Bad Faith practice area is managed by Joel J. Rottner.Attorney Rottner has broad expertise in all aspects of insurance law and frequently is relied upon to render opinions with respect to insurance coverage.
Insurance fraud defense and bad faith litigation are specialties of Mr. Rottner, and Skelley Rottner P.C. has experience in all aspects of property insurance fraud including arson and suspicious theft claims.The firm defends carriers in fraudulent life, health, and disability insurance claims.Skelley Rottner P.C. regularly conducts examinations under oath to assist carriers in the investigation of claims, and it has defended several lawsuits that have resulted from claim denials.These suits have included claims for bad faith and unfair insurance practices.
Skelley Rottner P.C. has been active in toxic tort defense since the inception of that litigation in Connecticut.The firm was retained in the first asbestos litigation in this state and served as lead counsel for the distributor-defendants in the first asbestos case tried to verdict in Connecticut, LaBreque v. Johns-Manville, which resulted in a defendant’s verdict.Susan Miller is responsible for this practice area.
The firm is involved in the defense of diverse environmental claims including disputes that arise from the occupancy of land and claims that arise from the operation of businesses that use or sell substances designated as hazardous under federal or state law.The firm also provides representation, on a first-party basis, to insurance carriers when coverage issues arise as a result of environmental claims.
These environmental law claims have included matters as complex as federal superfund litigation and as comparatively routine as cases in which individual homeowners have asserted claims against their fuel oil suppliers.Additionally, the firm defends personal injury claims resulting from exposure to asbestos, lead paint, and carbon monoxide.
The firm defends a broad range of general liability claims, including a large inventory of premises liability cases.The firm has special expertise in the following areas:
* Municipal Liability
* Product Liability
* Premises Liability
* Self Insureds
Self-Insureds
The firm represents a number of companies and municipalities that are self-insured and is most sensitive to the economic needs and requirements of the self-insured entity.Firm members work closely with risk management staff to develop individual case litigation plans which are cost effective as well as designed to achieve the most economical result, whether by settlement or through trial.
The firm defends product manufacturers, distributors, and sellers in personal injury and property damage cases involving alleged defects in design and manufacture and insufficient warnings.It handles complex, multi-party litigation involving alleged harmful exposure to chemicals, asbestos, silica, and petroleum products.The firm has handled many cases involving catastrophic or fatal injuries allegedly caused by hydraulic equipment, hot water heaters, automotive equipment, firearms, tools, recreational equipment, swimming pools, and pharmaceuticals.
Skelley Rottner P.C. defends municipalities in a wide array of general liability matters including sidewalk liability claims, tort-related education issues, and contractor disputes.The defense of municipal liability claims includes the representation of police officers and other public officials in civil rights actions alleging the use of excessive force, wrongful arrest, unauthorized high-speed pursuit, and the denial of the rights to free speech and assembly.
Skelley Rottner P.C. maintains a subrogation and recovery practice dedicated to recovering sums paid by its insurer clients to insureds as a result of losses caused by third parties.The subrogation department utilizes an aggressive, proactive approach to maximize recovery for its clients.Employing investigative techniques and resources particularly suited to subrogation recovery, the firm concentrates on large property damage claims, including homeowners, commercial, and vehicle losses.
The firm also pursues non-subrogation recovery according to the specific needs of its insurer clients, for example, seeking recovery of unpaid commercial insurance policy premiums.
The firm represents a large number of restaurants, business franchises, municipalities, apartment complexes, and various landowners in the defense of tort‑related premises liability matters.Such matters range from fall-downs on property to contractor liability claims involving serious personal injuries.
Skelley Rottner P.C. is experienced in representing attorneys and judges who have had complaints filed against them.The firm works closely with those attorneys and judges in preparing early responses to complaints in order to navigate through the process.Skelley Rottner P.C. is experienced in preparing for and presenting evidence before the Statewide Grievance Committee and the Judicial Conduct Review Board.
