Michael A. Kotula, a partner in Rivkin Radler’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group, has been selected as one of the leading practitioners for Insurance & Reinsurance in the Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: USA 2023. The report “brings together the insight, expertise and wisdom of some of the region’s foremost lawyers and experts in a single

Rivkin Radler LLP is pleased to announce that 36 attorneys were named to the 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers List and 17 attorneys were named 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars. Following is a list of attorneys and the practice areas for which they were recognized.

Being named a Super Lawyer is an honor

The prestigious Legal 500 has recommended Rivkin Radler LLP’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group in its U.S. rankings for the fifth consecutive year. The practice is recommended in the “industry focus: insurance – advice to insurers” category in Band 4. In addition, The Legal 500 recognizes the following Insurance Coverage attorneys: Alan S. Rutkin and Michael

Rivkin Radler is proud to announce that Michael A. Kotula, Evan H. Krinick and Alan S. Rutkin have been named to the Who’s Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance 2023 directory.

Michael is a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage practice. He has spent more than 30 years handling complex litigation involving asbestos, environmental pollution, health

In an issue of first impression in the state, on December 16, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court decided Radiator Specialty Co. v. Arrowood Indemnity Co., holding that pro rata, or time-on-the-risk, allocation applies to defense and indemnity costs in long-tail claim cases. The decision reverses a lower court decision allowing the insured to take

Rivkin Radler LLP is pleased to announce that 32 attorneys were named to the 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers List and 14 attorneys were named 2022 New York Metro Rising Stars. Following is a list of attorneys and the practice areas for which they were recognized.

Being named a Super Lawyer is an honor

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized Rivkin Radler LLP’s attorneys in its 2023 edition.

Two Rivkin attorneys, both of whom are based on Long Island, have been named Lawyer of the Year: William Cornachio for his work in Real Estate Law and William Savino for his work in both Insurance Law and Litigation-Insurance.

In

On June 16, 2022, in First State Insurance Company v. Columbia Casualty Company, et al.,  the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit handed down a decision in favor of Fireman’s Fund, an excess insurer, affirming that it was not required to pay asbestos claims under an excess policy issued to an asbestos

The prestigious Legal 500 has recommended Rivkin Radler LLP’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group in its U.S. rankings for the fourth consecutive year. The practice is recommended in the “industry focus: insurance – advice to insurers” category in Band 4. In addition, The Legal 500 recognizes the following Insurance Coverage attorneys: Alan S. Rutkin and Michael

Rivkin Radler is pleased to announce that Michael A. Kotula and Alan S. Rutkin have been named to the Who’s Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance 2022 directory. They are among the only 769 attorneys from around the world to be recognized in this prestigious publication.

Kotula is a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage practice.

The prestigious Best Lawyers in America has again included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2022. For the first time, the firm was recognized in the areas of tax and technology.

One Rivkin attorney, based in Albany, has been named Lawyer of the Year: Richard A. Frankel, for Trusts and Estates.

In addition,

Rivkin Radler LLP is pleased to announce that 30 attorneys were named to the 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers List and 13 attorneys were named 2021 New York Metro Rising Stars. Following is a list of attorneys and the practice areas for which they were recognized.

Being named a Super Lawyer is a tremendous

The prestigious Best Lawyers in America has again included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2022. For the first time, the firm was recognized in the areas of tax and technology.

One Rivkin attorney, based in Albany, has been named Lawyer of the Year: Richard A. Frankel, for Trusts and Estates.

In addition,

On July 13, 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed an award of summary judgment in favor of our client, Interstate Fire & Casualty.  The judgment dismissed claims for defense and indemnity in the American Properties construction defect coverage action.

The action involved underlying claims concerning 192 residential units in six buildings and common areas, on the

The prestigious Legal 500 has recommended Rivkin Radler LLP’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group in its U.S. rankings for the third consecutive year. The practice is recommended in the “industry focus: insurance – advice to insurers” category in Band 4. In addition, The Legal 500 recommends the following four Insurance Coverage attorneys: Alan S. Rutkin, Michael

Rivkin Radler LLP is pleased to announce that 23 attorneys were named to the 2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers List and 13 attorneys were named 2020 New York Metro Rising Stars. Following is a list of attorneys, the practice areas for which they were recognized, and the years they were included in Super Lawyers.

The prestigious Best Lawyers in America has included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2021. For the first time, four Rivkin attorneys, all based in the firm’s Long Island office, have been named Lawyer of the Year:

Attorney                                Practice Area

Barry I. Levy                           Litigation-Health Care

Brian S. Conneely                  Employment Law-Management

Wendy H.

The prestigious Legal 500 has for the second time recommended Rivkin Radler LLP’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group in its U.S. rankings.   The practice is recommended in the “industry focus: insurance – advice to insurers” category. In addition, The Legal 500 recommends the following four Rivkin attorneys: Alan S. Rutkin, Michael A. Kotula, William M. Savino

Michael Kotula, Larry Levy, and Siobhain Minarovich recently obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. The Court ruled that our client, an excess insurer, did not have to “drop down” and provide coverage in place of an underlying insolvent insurer.

The insured argued that our client had to pay

The Third Circuit affirmed an award of summary judgment that product liability claims alleging faulty workmanship do not amount to an “occurrence” under insurance policies that define an “occurrence” as “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.”

The decision represents a victory to Great American Assurance Company and

Uniondale, New York – August 15, 2019 – The prestigious Best Lawyers in America has included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2020.  Attorneys from the firm’s Albany, Hackensack and Uniondale offices were included. The lawyers listed, their offices and the categories of law in which they are listed, are as follows:

Albany,

Today, New York’s Third Department, Appellate Division affirmed an award of summary judgment dismissing third-party claims for contribution against two Fireman’s Fund insurance companies, American Automobile Insurance Co. and National Surety Corp. The decision makes New York’s late notice “no-prejudice” rule, which requires no showing of prejudice to an insurer in a late notice situation,

The prestigious Legal 500 has for the first time recommended Rivkin Radler LLP’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group in its U.S. rankings.  The practice is recommended in the “industry focus – insurance – advice to insurers” category. In addition, The Legal 500 recommends the following four Rivkin attorneys: Alan S. Rutkin, Michael A. Kotula, William M.

Uniondale, New York – April 25, 2019 – The prestigious Chambers USA Directory has once again included Rivkin Radler LLP in its New York rankings.  The firm’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group is ranked in Band 3 in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category and its Health Services Practice Group ranked in Band 4 in the

A New Jersey state court awarded our insurer client, Interstate Fire and Casualty Co., summary judgment, dismissing with prejudice claims for defense and indemnity in a construction defect coverage action.

In First Specialty Ins. Co. v. Interstate Fire & Cas. Co., Docket No. L-996-16 (N.J. Super. Mercer Cty. Sept. 4, 2018), the insured, American Properties

The prestigious Best Lawyers® in America has included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2019. Attorneys from the firm’s Albany, Hackensack and Uniondale offices were included. The recognized lawyers and the categories of law in which they are listed, are as follows:

Brian Bank – Insurance Law

Brian S. Conneely – Employment Law

The prestigious Best Lawyers in America has included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2018.  Attorneys from the firm’s Albany, Hackensack and Uniondale offices were included. The lawyers listed, their offices and the categories of law in which they are listed, are as follows:

Albany, N.Y.

Michael J. Cunningham – Litigation-Construction

Richard A.

The prestigious Chambers USA Directory has once again included Rivkin Radler LLP in its New York rankings.  The firm’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group has moved from Band 4 to Band 3 in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category and its Health Services Practice Group ranked in Band 4 in the Healthcare category. Firm partner William

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania awarded our client, Great American Assurance Company, full summary judgment in an insurance coverage dispute concerning an underlying liability suit, finding that there was no occurrence resulting in property damage to trigger the insurance.  In Sapa Extrusions, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., Case

Michael Kotula will be a speaker at DRI’s Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute Seminar, which takes place March 21-23 in Chicago, Illinois.

What you will learn:

• Insights on when independent counsel is required and when it is not
• Strategies for using policy provisions to obtain the information to which an insurer is entitled
• Approaches

The prestigious Best Lawyers in America® has included Rivkin Radler LLP in its U.S. rankings for 2018.  Attorneys from the firm’s Albany, Hackensack and Uniondale offices were included. The lawyers listed, their offices and the categories of law in which they are listed, are as follows:

Albany, N.Y.

Brian Culnan – Commercial Litigation

Michael J.

Rivkin Radler LLP is pleased to announce that 20 attorneys were named to the 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers List and 10 attorneys were named New York Metro Rising Stars.

Todd M. Belous – Professional Liability: Defense

*Michelle Bholan – Business Litigation

Jonathan B. Bruno – Professional Liability:  Defense

In an action brought by a successive insurer for contribution against Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company to pay for pollution cleanup costs for a gasoline release from an underground storage tank at a gasoline service station, Michael Kotula, Larry Levy and Robert Maloney won summary judgment dismissing all claims against Fireman’s Fund with prejudice.

After the

The prestigious Chambers USA Directory has once again included Rivkin Radler LLP in its New York rankings.  The firm’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group is ranked in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category and its Health Services Practice Group ranked in the Healthcare category.

“It is an honor to be recognized by Chambers USA,” said Managing

On February 25, 2017, Michael Kotula and Anne Murray presented “When Good Allocation Jurisdictions Go Bad – Unsettling Developments In Allocation Law and What They Mean For Policyholders and Insurers” at the ABA’s 25th Annual Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee’s Mid-Year Program in Phoenix, Arizona.

The New York Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Viking Pump

UNIONDALE, NY – Rivkin Radler LLP is pleased to announce that twenty attorneys were named to the 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers List and five attorneys were named as New York Metro Rising Stars.

Being named a Super Lawyer is a tremendous honor reserved for only the top 5% of all lawyers in a

The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York awarded our clients, Unigard Insurance Company and QBE Americas, Inc., full summary judgment in an asbestos insurance coverage dispute, finding that Troy Belting had failed to meet its burden of proving the terms and conditions of 25 years’ worth of allegedly missing primary

Michael Kotula has been appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professionalism of the American Bar Association’s TIPS section, and an editor of the TIPS Law Journal for 2016-2017.  Michael is also the immediate past chair of the Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance general committee of ABA TIPS.

Since 1908 the Association’s

American Lawyer Media (ALM), publisher of The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, Inside Counsel, and the National Law Journal, among other legal and professional publications, has named Jonathan Bruno, Michael A. Kotula, Evan Krinick, Peter P. McNamara, John L. Rivkin, Leonard L. Rivkin, John J. Robertelli, Alan Rutkin, William M. Savino and Norman L. Tolle –

The prestigious Chambers USA Directory has included Rivkin Radler LLP.  The firm is listed in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category and its Health Services Practice Group is recognized among “Notable Firms” for Healthcare in New York.

“The Chambers USA Directory is one of the premier resources for sophisticated users of legal services,” said Managing

Michael Kotula and Michael Jones obtained summary judgment from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in an asbestos bodily injury coverage matter.  The Court held that the Asbestos Exclusion barred coverage for all claims, including claims that alleged asbestos and other non-asbestos related injuries.  Additionally, the Court held that

On January 28, 2016, a North Carolina state court decided important coverage issues, granting motions for summary judgment filed by Michael Kotula and Robert Maloney on behalf of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.  The Court decided issues of first impression under North Carolina law, including that a pro rata time-on-the-risk allocation method applies to coverage claims

The firm represents, on a pro bono basis, a couple who were residents of a home in Bay Shore for over 30 years that was damaged and rendered uninhabitable by Superstorm Sandy.  For over two years, the couple have had to reside in temporary housing while they sought to rebuild.  They asked the Town of

Michael Kotula, a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation group, was a contributor to Recent Developments in Excess Insurance and Reinsurance, which has been published in the 2014 Annual Survey of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal.  Click on title to read article.

Please click the link below  to view  Recent

Members of the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation practice group, Michael Kotula, Peter McNamara, Lawrence Levy and Robert Maloney obtained a favorable decision in Mine Safety Appliances Co. v. AIU Ins. Co., C.A. No. N10C-07-241 MMJ (Del. Super. Ct. New Castle Cty. Jan. 21, 2014).  The case involves excess insurance policies with a defense cost

On January 22, 2014, Michael Kotula and David Richman will be speaking to members of the Columbia University and Columbia University Medical Center.  The presentation is entitled, “Transferring Risk:  Maximizing Your Right to Indemnification and Additional Insurance Coverage”  and will cover legal and risk management staff about structuring their construction and similar contracts to fully protect the University and

Michael Kotula obtained a win for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the Ross Development environmental insurance coverage action.  The Fourth Circuit affirmed a District Court decision that Fireman’s Fund did not owe defense or indemnity for three underlying actions, including a CERCLA contribution action and

Michael Kotula, a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, has been appointed Chair of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Excess Surplus Lines and Reinsurance General Committee for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.  This leadership appointment is in recognition of Mr. Kotula’s commitment to TIPS and his reputation among their

Michael Kotula and Robert Maloney, members of the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, won a motion to dismiss in New Jersey Superior Court, Hudson County in a construction defect coverage case.  The named insured failed to provide written discovery to Great American.  We availed ourselves of a New Jersey court rule providing for

Michael Kotula and Karen Higgins, members of the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, won summary judgment in an insurance coverage dispute in New York Supreme Court, New York County concerning significant property damage from a water pipe rupture to telecommunications cables. The court held that an additional insured general contractor gave late notice to

Members of the Rivkin team won unanimous affirmance of trial court on choice of law ruling that the location of contracting named insured is dispositive in choice of law determination involving insurance contracts where insured risks are spread throughout country.  They also obtained a separate ruling from the Court that NY Ins. Law, Section 3420(d)(2)  is inapplicable

Michael Kotula, a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, is the Chair-Elect of ABA TIPS Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance General Committee for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

Michael Kotula, a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, is the Chair-Elect designee of ABA TIPS Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance General Committee for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Michael Kotula, a partner in the firm’s Insurance, Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, has authored a chapter on “As Damages,” in The Reference Handbook on the Comprehensive General Liability Policy, published in 2010 by the American Bar Association’s Insurance Practice Section.

UNIONDALE, NY – Rivkin Radler is please to announce that four of the firm’s attorneys have been named among the Top Rated Attorneys in Nassau and Suffolk Counties by PULSE Magazine for 2010.  The list was compiled from Lexis Nexis Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, identifying lawyers who are “AV Preeminent” – the highest Peer

Michael Kotula, a partner in the Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice Group, has been re-appointed as a Vice-Chair of the Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance General Committee of the Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the American Bar Association for 2010-2011.