- ArsonA large single family home under construction in Florida was completely destroyed by fire which resulted in payments by DBMP’s client of $500,000. The responding police officer noted in his report that he observed an unknown person running from the scene of the fire through the rear of the property. Successful recovery depended on not only proving the likelihood of spontaneous combustion, but also the ability to rule out arson as the cause of the fire. DBMP used extensive discovery including depositions of several local authorities, to essentially rule out any potentially viable arson defense. Discovery also revealed that the staining contractor utilized a “dip trough” within the garage for wood stain products, and failed to properly discard the staining rags and other materials. Without a viable defense, the staining contractor paid a large percentage of the total damage sustained by the property insurer.
- Premises LiabilityDugan, Brinkmann, Maginnis and Pace attorneys teach and lecture on various topics of trial practice, subrogation, products liability, premises liability, legal malpractice and fire investigation at several local law schools and before various professional groups and organizations...
- Construction LitigationSince joining DBMP, he has handled large loss property subrogation matters in various states including Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan, as well as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. His work resulted in a seven figure settlement in a products liability action in Florida, as well as six figure settlements in several products liability, construction defect and general negligence cases.
- Property DamageA gentlemen’s club in Seattle, Washington was undergoing major renovations when, on one of the final days of construction, a fire occurred and caused substantial property damage. The property insurer’s insured was overseeing the construction project. When the fire started, all construction workers and employees of the insured had left for the day, with the insured’s management team the last to leave prior to the fire. DBMP built a strong case that staining materials were improperly discarded by a painting/staining subcontractor, and that the spontaneous combustion of these materials was the cause of the fire. A timeline for the work performed that day, substantiated by stain material purchase receipts obtained in discovery, was an important part in convincing the defendant to resolve the matter. At mediation, DBMP presented the mediator and defendant’s insurer with a short but clear presentation regarding the the process of spontaneous combustion and how it occurred in this case.
- Personal Injury
- Medical MalpracticeDBMP represents all of the major health insurance providers in the Delaware Valley in wide array of litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Our work on behalf of these insurers includes a broad spectrum of coverage issues, medical malpractice and medical device litigation, credentialing issues and fraud investigations.