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JEFFREY B. ELLIS Partner Phone: (310) 407-4551 Fax: (310) 277-2133 E-mail: jellis@gwwe.com |
Jeff has been a partner of the firm since 1990. He has handled complex business litigation since 1978, with a special concentration in the area of insurance coverage analysis and disputes. Jeff is married with three children.
Education/Professional Designations:
University of Pennsylvania (B.A., cum laude, 1975)
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D., 1978).
Publications:
Author: “Allot” of Claims, (Allocation Between Covered and Non-Covered Defense Costs), Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 13, 1996
Author: Triple Play, (Insurance for sexual harassment claims), Los Angeles Lawyer, November 1994
Author: Deciphering Liability Insurance For Claims Against Business, Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 12, 1993
Author: The Cumis Battle Continues, Insurance Journal, January 20, 1992
Author: Revisiting the Cumis Rule, California Lawyer, May 1991
Author: Practical Approaches to Punitive Damages, California Lawyer, December 1984
Speaker: Orange County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association; and National Association of Insurance Women
Professional Affiliations:
Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association; State Bar of California.
Admitted to Practice:
State of California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California.
Representative Areas of Practice:
Insurance Coverage Disputes
Since 1980, Jeff has represented both insurers and policyholders in disputes involving the interpretation and performance of a wide variety of insurance policies, including: disability (private and ERISA); commercial general liability; homeowners; homeowners association; legal malpractice; directors and officers; accountants malpractice; medical malpractice; real estate broker malpractice; personal liability; health; life; workers compensation; and title. Jeff has substantial experience litigating and trying insurance bad faith cases. He is particularly skilled in obtaining for policyholders reversals of coverage denials without the necessity of costly coverage litigation. In one recent homeowners association insurance dispute, he persuaded the insurer to reverse its coverage denial, resulting in the insurer’s payment of over $1 million to settle an underlying suit. In a recent legal malpractice insurance dispute, he obtained the reversal of a coverage denial that made available over $1.5 million for the defense of a very serious underlying claim. Jeff has appeared as an expert witness regarding insurance claims handling practices on numerous occasions in Superior Court cases and at arbitrations on behalf of both insurers and policyholders.
Commercial/Business:
Jeff has represented clients, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of business disputes, including real estate transaction disputes.
Employment:
Jeff has substantial experience litigating employment disputes, both for employers and employees, including claims for wrongful termination, discrimination and sexual harassment.
Music:
Jeff has represented several music writers and publishers regarding the enforcement and protection of music royalty rights.
Construction:
Jeff has represented contractors, developers and owners regarding disputes arising in connection with residential and commercial construction contracts and construction defect claims.
For a more detailed description of Jeff’s litigation cases, see Representative Cases elsewhere on this website.