Source: https://www.cozen.com/people/bios/jones-thomas
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 23:17:52+00:00

Document:
Cozen O’Connor: Jones, Thomas M.
Thomas M. Jones has a national practice representing insurers in complex litigation, and is frequently retained as national coordinating counsel in high-profile insurance coverage disputes. He is vice chair of the firm’s Global Insurance Department and serves as co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Electronic Discovery Practice Group.
Tom’s experience in insurance coverage disputes is widely recognized. He has acted as lead counsel in many high-profile insurance coverage suits across the country. He is an active author in the insurance bar, publishing and lecturing frequently on issues of import to the insurance industry. In May 2017 and October 2018, Tom moderated the Property & Casualty Insurance Claims Think Tank Conference. Tom also co-authored the latest edition of the Washington State Bar Association's chapter publication "Insurance Issues for the Insurer," which comprehensively addresses the "state of the law" in environmental insurance coverage disputes, and its 2018 Supplement.
Tom has been selected for inclusion in the 2016 through 2019 editions of The Best Lawyers in America. He was recently selected by his peers as one of the leading practitioners in the U.S. in the International Who's Who of Insurance and Reinsurance. Tom has also been selected as a “Super Lawyer” in Washington State from 2000-2018 and has been awarded the AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
Michael D. Handler and Thomas M. Jones discuss three recent rulings that are consistent with the trend of courts around the country concluding carbon monoxide is a pollutant under a liability insurance policy.
On November 12, 2013, in Quellos Group LLC v. Federal Insurance Company, the Washington Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment in favor of two excess professional liability insurers because the excess policies “require[d] exhaustion of the underlying liability limits by actual payment by the insurer before excess coverage is triggered ...” even though the insured “filled the gap” by paying the difference between the value of the settlement with the primary carrier and the primary policy's limits. This holding represents the latest in a growing line of cases finding that an insured cannot settle with an underlying insurer for less than policy limits, absorb the difference between the settlement value and the limits, and then trigger excess coverage.
Proposed changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure may impact the management, scope and sanctions related to e-discovery in federal courts. The changes are aimed at encouraging early and active case management, ensuring e-discovery remains proportional to the action, and advancing cooperation among parties. If approved, these amendments to the civil rules will become effective on December 1, 2015.
In Washington State Department of Transportation v. James River Insurance Company, Wash. No. 876444 (January 17, 2013), the Washington Supreme Court declared binding arbitration agreements in insurance contracts void and unenforceable. The court explained that binding arbitration frustrates legislative intent to protect Washington policyholders' rights to sue insurers in Washington courts for coverage disputes over subjects located, resident or to be performed in Washington.
Drama stirred in the burgeoning e-discovery world on March 15, 2012, when Magistrate Judge Andrew Peck denied Plaintiffs’ request that he recuse himself from Da Silva Moore v. Publicis Groupe, No. 11-CV-1279 (ALC) (AJP) (S.D. N.Y. June 15, 2012).
The Supreme Court in New York County recently dismissed a $20 million suit in a sanctioning order in response to the Plaintiff’s destruction of electronically stored information (“ESI”). In 915 Broadway Associates LLC v. Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, 34 Misc. 3d 1229A (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2012), the court made clear that it would not tolerate spoliation of evidence and that it was willing to impose even the severest of sanctions.
Two Important Climate Change Cases Were Argued Before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Virginia Supreme Court on April 19, 2011 - Insurance Coverage Alert! - At issue in the Supreme Court case, American Electric Power Co. (AEP), et al. v. Connecticut, is whether states can use public nuisance laws to force coal-burning power plants to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.
U.S. Supreme Court Accepts Certiorari in an Important Climate Change Case - Insurance Coverage Alert! - On December 6, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted certiorari in American Electric Power v. Connecticut, a public nuisance case which may have broad implications on climate change litigation in the federal courts.
In House Counsel Sanctioned for Failure to Issue Litigation Hold - Insurance Coverage Alert! - In Swofford v. Eslinger, ___ F. Supp. 2d ___, 2009 WL 3818593 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 28, 2009), the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida imposed severe sanctions for failure to preserve electronically stored information.
Formulating a Records Retention Policy - For The Defense - The cost of defending a lawsuit often increases due to the existence of old records--that is, records that need not exist if they had been properly destroyed under a formal records retention policy.
of a municipal sewer system.
2007 E-Discovery Seminar - Philadelphia (Rittenhouse Hotel) - E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure - Are You Prepared to Comply with the New Rules - Accompanying seminar program book from the E-Discovery Seminar of 1/25/2007 at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia presented to The Insurance Society of Philadelphia CLE Seminar.
2006 E-Discovery Seminar - New York (Marriott Financial Center) - E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure - Are You Prepared? - Accompanying seminar program book from the E-Discovery Seminar of 1/25/2007 at the New York Marriott Financial Center, Manhattan.
chemical fumes, and welding rod fumes.
November 07, 2007 - Washington, D.C.

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