John D. North, Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, will be on the faculty for the live webcast “Construction Defect Litigation and Insurance Coverage: What You Must Know and Do.”  The program will be presented on Thursday, May 20, 2020 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm (ET) by the Knowledge Group.

The construction industry has been hounded by unprecedented threats and other legal pitfalls. Various claims for damage to property or persons arising from construction projects, often expose companies and individuals to the risk of costly litigation. In order to prevent or limit risks arising from such claims, general contractors, subcontractors, and owners must adopt an insurance program that will effectively mitigate the risks of claims and potentially provide a source for coverage and recovery.

This program will provide an in-depth analysis of the fundamentals as well as recent developments in the fields of construction litigation and insurance. It will also cover the best practices and effective tools in understanding insurance policies and procedures to maximize the potentials of an insurance coverage and provide more control on risk management.

Mr. North will address the following topics in his presentation:

• A discussion of the operative provisions of a standard GL policy regarding the availability of coverage for alleged construction defects;
• Provisions and endorsements which may exclude coverage or result in unexpected coverage outcomes;
• The obligation of the carrier to defend claims that fall within the coverage provisions of the policy, regardless of the underlying merit of the claim;
• “Occurrences” or events that trigger coverage for alleged construction defects;
• Allocation of expense and indemnification obligations among carriers when there are multiple policies and carriers involved.

Mr. North focuses his practice in litigation, with an emphasis on trial practice. He has tried jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts, including over 75 jury cases to verdict. He is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney.  His practice encompasses the representation of commercial and residential real estate developers in connection with design and construction defect litigation, as well as the defense of claims brought under New Jersey's Planned Real Estate Full Disclosure Act and Consumer Fraud Act. He contributed the chapter on statutory disclosure requirements in “Winning Legal Strategies for Construction Law” (Aspatore Books 2006).

Additional program information and registration details at: Construction Defect Litigation and Insurance Coverage