Litigation & Insurance
Our Firm’s litigation and insurance practice addresses business disputes, regulatory, employment, aviation, commercial, insurance coverage, product liability, and general negligence matters before state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies, including 14 CFR Part 13 and 14 CFR Part 16 claims and aviation whistleblower Wendall H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) claims. Examples include:
- defending certificate and non-certificate holders in FAA and DOT enforcement proceedings worldwide, including the defense of manufacturers and distributors from alleged HAZMAT shipping violations;
- defending complex multi-jurisdictional litigation arising from aviation accidents, including representing air carriers, operators and manufacturers in multiple high-profile midair collisions and other accidents nationwide;
- litigating FBO lease disputes nationwide, utilizing FAA airport grant assurances and 14 CFR Part 16 actions as part of the overall litigation strategy to address economic discrimination;
- obtaining the equivalent of an injunction preventing the U.S. Army from abruptly shutting down an FBO’s fire suppression and sewer facilities in a multi-party, multi-jurisdictional dispute;
- defending aviation employers in employment litigation matters, including Wendall H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) whistleblower litigation;
- litigating cross collateralization provisions of aircraft fleet loans;
- defending a manufacturer from a post-verdict declaratory judgment action brought by its primary insurer following the primary insurer’s refusal to pay a greater than $2M products liability jury award;
- Recovered over $6M for insurers in subrogation actions against an aircraft manufacturer and its component part suppliers when design and manufacturing defects caused multiple accidents worldwide;
- defending an air charter company from claims that it breached a charter management agreement relating to property damage sustained in a ramp collision between two jets;
- defending property owners, general contractors and subcontractors in construction accident litigation arising under New York’s Labor Laws;
regional defense of a manufacturer from luxury fifth wheel travel trailers warranty claims; - defending a foreign manufacturer of bi-metallic products from claims of breaching an investment banking services contract;
- successfully litigating an airport municipal tax dispute through appeal to a state Supreme Court resulting in a decision of first impression; and
- defending trucking companies in over the road and premises-based accident litigation as well as cargo losses.