Year in Review: Key Issues & Trends from 2020

Representing business, commercial and real estate clients, as well as insurers and

their policyholders

YEAR IN REVIEW

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	Gary Gray

Expressing our gratitude for the relationships we hold with clients and colleagues has always been important to us. The importance of this has been magnified in the past year – a year which created countless obstacles for all of us. Under the unusual and unprecedented circumstances which we’ve been operating, we want to say thank you for your flexibility, patience and continued business. Our firm has maintained stability and security despite these challenges, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

We’d like to recognize our longstanding clients, many who have been with Gray·Duffy for decades and have graciously provided testimonials on the firm’s behalf throughout the years :

California Guarantee Association: 30 years
Claims Resource Management: 22 years
Tyler Development Inc.: 20 years
Masonry Concepts, Inc.: 20 years

Bragg Investment Company: 17 years
CentiMark: 14 years
Benchmark: 10 years
Engle Martin Claims: 10 years
Goldrich & Kest: 10 years

Automotive Group Represented by Erin Tenner

Dan Sheridan (former owner of Sheridan Toyota): 30+ years
Ken Ross (former owner of Team Automotive): 25 + years
Tim Paulus (The Ford Store Morgan Hill): 20+ years

A key part of our relationship with clients includes educating and keeping them informed on critical matters pertaining to their businesses. Our attorneys regularly author articles and present on topics of importance to clients and colleagues. Below is a sampling from last year:

ARTICLES

	Recent Developments in Insurance Coverage
	Subcontractors Beware: Understand Your Liability and Defense Obligations in Contracts
	Intervention Denied to Seek Special Verdicts or Jury Interrogatories
	California Supreme Court Adopts a Vertical Exhaustion Approach

Although 2020 presented challenges, our team was committed to staying the course and pressing forward. Through our unwavering efforts and dedication to providing the exceptional service our clients have come to expect, we were able to obtain many successful results. The following are just a few we achieved on behalf of clients last year:

REPRESENTATIVE RESULTS FOR CLIENTS

	Obtained favorable verdict in construction defect arbitration for a small fraction of the amount sought by the homeowner claimants.
	Obtained full dismissal in construction defect arbitration claim.
	Won appeal affirming declaratory judgment in favor of insurer client.
	Obtained full dismissal of crane company from serious personal injury lawsuit.
	Negotiated settlement for the recovery of 94% of client’s self-insured retention in subrogation case.
	Obtained full dismissal in complex construction defect litigation.

The above results could not have been achieved without our dedicated attorneys and support staff. We would like to highlight those who have worked alongside of us for many years. Their longevity, loyalty and sustained performance are the threads that create the cultural fabric of our firm. Thank you to the following for your service:

Yolanda Saltsman, HR Director/Administrator : 35+ years
Nancy Bremner, Legal Assistant : 32+ years
Ted McCrary, IT/Word Processing Coordinator : 31+ years
Ruie Tomlin, Legal Assistant : 22 years
Michelle MacDonald, Associate: 20+ years
Marina Reyder, Senior File Clerk : 20+ years
Patrick Roberts, Associate: 18 years

Rosemary Everett, Receptionist: 17+ years
Joanne Ora, Accounting Manager: 15 years
Sharon Haselbach, Senior File Clerk : 14+ years
Alice Kaveciyan, Legal Assistant : 14 years
Art Angus, Office Services : 13+ years
Diana Aponte, Accounts Receivable: 11 years
Rick Williams, Partner: 10 years

With our continued joint efforts , we will soon travel to the end of this bumpy road and the path to our future will hopefully be smoother and safer . The words “ thank you ” mean as much this year as they ever have – and they are as heartfelt as ever.

We hope 2021 brings you peace, prosperity, safety and most importantly , good health to each of you.

Sincerely,

Gary Gray

Managing Partner

FIRM NEWS

Gray·Duffy Named to U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® Best Law Firms 2021

For the sixth consecutive year, Gray·Duffy has been recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News Best Lawyers for the firm’s work in Insurance Law . “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that involves the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by firms.

Gary Gray and Tim Thornton Selected as

20 21 Southern California Super Lawyers

Managing Partner Gary Gray and Partner Tim Thornton have been se lected for inclusion on the 20 21 Southern California Super Lawyers list for their work in the area of Insurance Coverage. This is Gary’s first year being named to the list and Tim’s tenth year. Super Lawyers is a rating service of the top five percent of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Webinar: Who’s at Fault? Additional Insured Endorsements Can Shift Risk to Innocent Parties

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	Tim Thornton

Partner Tim Thornton discusses insurance policy language developments and how insurers have rewritten endorsements for more precise underwriting. He also covers

The most frequently litigated additional insured provisions.
What “causal link” is sufficient to demonstrate fault.
The effect of different additional insured endorsement language.
How umbrella and excess policies may come into play.

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Please Note:

These articles are necessarily general in nature and do not substitute for legal advice with respect to any particular case. Readers should consult with an attorney before taking any action affecting their interests.