Ben’s practice focuses primarily on representing policyholders in large or protracted disputes with their insurance companies. Even companies with great insurance relationships often find these relationships sour when facing a huge loss or liability. In these disputes, Ben brings to the table his broad experience as a trained courthouse lawyer, his knowledge of juries and judges, and his pragmatic understanding of business interests to get to a favorable resolution for his clients. He has been involved in disputes over all types of policies and in many disparate industries, including construction, finance, products, organizational governance, government agencies and contractors, and licensed professionals, to name a few.
Ben cut his teeth on the hardwood paneling of the Supreme Court of New York, in Bronx County, where he investigated and prosecuted a broad range of cases, including serial robberies, violent felonies, and cold case DNA prosecutions. He crossed the federal bench to clerk for J. Sandra Feuerstein of the Eastern District of New York. He began litigating complex civil matters in California shortly thereafter and is licensed to practice in both New York and California.
Now Ben uses his knowledge of juries, judicial interests, and trial practice to effectively communicate technical and complex issues of liability and damages to the decisionmakers, who can include adjusters, mediators, judges, and juries. Whether litigating mortgage insurance coverage, construction defect coverage, malpractice coverage, directors and officers misconduct claims, aviation insurance coverage, cyber-liability coverage, or other non-insurance litigation, Ben is a tenacious advocate who works with deliberative precision rather than brute force.
Ben has been involved in securing significant victories on behalf of his clients by efficiently assessing the leverage involved in each case, using strengths in clients’ cases, and effectively highlighting the weaknesses of an adversary’s case. When a case needs to be tried, Ben knows how to get it there and has done so again and again.
In addition, Ben is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Tort, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), having served as Chair of the Business Litigation Committee, as Vice-Chair of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, and as a member of TIPS Council.