In his over 45 years of experience in the insurance industry, Mr. Lathrop has worked as a lawyer, educator, writer, editor, legal association officer, expert witness and consultant in the areas of insurance, reinsurance and lawyers’ professional responsibility. He is Martindale-Hubbell “A” rated, listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2006-present), listed in Super Lawyers for both New York and San Diego and received Best Lawyers’ 2012 San Diego Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year.

When building a case, Mr. Lathrop is often engaged initially as a consultant where he shares his knowledge and experience with his clients to help them build a solid foundation for their cases. Throughout the preparation for and during trial, Mr. Lathrop can be an invaluable resource to any firm. During his long career, he has given opinions on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. With his professional approach and unbiased analysis, Mr. Lathrop conducts himself convincingly in depositions and on the witness stand.

Mr. Lathrop places special emphasis on:

• Insurance Practice and Standards of Care
• Reasonable Care and Diligence
• Special Relationships
• Agency/Company Disputes
• Professional Responsibility Issues

Sample Engagements

• Previews, Inc. v. California Union Insurance Co., U.S.D.C., Central District of California – Testified as to the reasonableness of a law firm’s fees in handling a matter involving insurance coverage litigation
• Zurich Insurance Co. v. Transamerica Insurance Co., Calif. Superior Court, San Diego County – Retained as an expert on insurance policy interpretation and insurance coverage
• Interstate Consultants, Inc. v. American National Fire Ins. Co., Calif. Superior Court, Los Angeles County – Retained as an expert to render an opinion on whether a particular insurance policy provided coverage and, if so, whether the insurer had a duty to defend and/or indemnify
• Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. v. Younesi, Calif. Superior Court, Los Angeles County – Retained as an expert on the standard of care and the standard of conduct for insurance-appointed defense counsel, the standard of care for claim handling, and billing practices of counsel
• Williams v. Williams, Calif. Superior Court, Los Angeles County – Testified as an expert on environmental insurance coverage and run-off insurance companies
• Avery Dennison Corp. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., Calif. Superior Court, Los Angeles County – Served as an expert witness on environmental insurance coverage and bad faith under California law on behalf of an insurer
• Blue Cross of California v. Boiler Engineers Co., Inc., Calif. Superior Court, Los Angeles County – Testified as an expert witness on the custom and practice of claim handling in an environmental pollution case
• Washington Schools Risk Management Pool v. American Protection Insurance Co., U.S.D.C., Western District of Washington – Served as an expert witness on the rights and obligations of a cedent, a reinsurer and a retrocessionaire with respect to an underlying liability case settlement
• Clarendon America Ins. Co. v. Century Surety Co., Calif. Superior Court, Los Angeles County- Served as an expert witness regarding custom and practice in the insurance industry, policy construction, and “other insurance” clauses
• Alta Healthcare v. Comrisk Insurance, U.S.D.C., Central District of California – Served as an expert witness on the underwriting and placing of insurance and reinsurance for healthcare organization employees
• Taisei Construction Corporation v. Clarendon America Insurance Company, Calif. Superior Court, San Mateo County – Served as an expert witness on insurance policy interpretation and insurance industry custom and practice
• Brea Hospital Properties v. Snell & Wilmer, Calif. Superior Court, Orange County – Served as an expert witness on insurance policy interpretation, insurance industry custom and practice, and the standard of care required of lawyers in California
• Continental West Insurance Company v. Lexington Insurance Company, U.S.D.C., Western District of Washington – Served as an expert witness on claim handling and coverage dispute between two liability insurers
• Rachal v. Colony Insurance Company, Calif. Superior Court, San Diego County – Served as an expert witness on the standard of care and the standard of conduct for insurance brokers
• WG Development LLC v. Probuilders Specialty Insurance Company RRG, Calif. Superior Court, San Diego County – Served as an expert witness on insurance policy interpretation, insurance industry custom and practice, and the standard of care for claim handlers in commercial insurance matters
• Centrix Financial Liquidating Trust v. National Union Fire Insurance Company, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado – Serving as an expert witness on coverage under fidelity bonds and the standard of care for claim handlers in commercial insurance matters
• Cottage Health System et al. v. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Calif. Superior Court, Santa Barbara County – Served as an expert witness on the standard of care and the standard of conduct required of D&O and liability insurers in California
• Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc. v. BancInsure, Inc., U.S.D.C., D. Utah – Serving as an expert witness on coverage under financial institution bonds and the standard of care for claim handlers in bank insurance matters
• MidMountain Contractors v. American Safety Indemnity Co., U.S.D.C., Western District of Washington – Served as an expert on the duties and obligations of insurers in construction disputes where issues of additional insureds and indemnity are involved

Links

• Insurance Expert Network
• Expert Pages
• Seak Experts
• Experts.com
• HG Experts
• Thomson Reuters Expert Witness Services