professionals
Gene A. Weisberg | Principal
gweisberg@gladstonemichel.com
(310) 821-9000
Gene Weisberg's practice focuses on insurance coverage and complex litigation involving insurers and other businesses. His trial and appellate background extends to many areas of these industries, including matters relating to insurance coverage, bad faith, insurance fraud, business and contract disputes, construction defect and products liability. Gene is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization of the most experienced trial attorneys in the nation. Additionally, Gene has been selected by his peers as a Southern California Super Lawyer for five consecutive years. Fewer than five percent of California attorneys receive this distinction.
Representing insurance companies in property and liability matters, Gene has written numerous coverage opinions and defended many declaratory relief and bad faith lawsuits involving a variety of issues. These include cases involving landslides, earthquake damage, building mold claims, fire and other building damage and insurance coverage issues arising out of the events of September 11, 2001. His insurance practice also includes insurance fraud investigation, including taking examinations under oath and prosecuting fraud actions. Additionally, he has handled cases involving the enforceability of policy conditions and warranties, time of occurrence questions, suit limitation defenses, advertising injury issues, interpretation of policy exclusions, allocation of defense costs among insurers and many other subjects.
Gene also has had substantial success with subrogation cases where he has helped recover money for the firm's insurance clients in product liability, construction defect and other property damage suits.
Beyond his insurance work, Gene has an active general business litigation practice. As a result of his experience in this area, he was given the opportunity to argue a case in The Hague before the United States-Iran claims tribunal. Gene's business litigation practice ranges from contract disputes and products liability matters to business torts and other property damage suits.
An accomplished speaker, Gene has designed and presented seminars on insurance coverage and bad faith issues relating to mold, fraudulent insurance claims, subrogation and other aspects of insurance. He has given these seminars throughout the country for Mealey's, the Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB), and Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), among others.
Gene volunteers his time to act as a Los Angeles Superior Court arbitrator and mediator. Outside the office, he enjoys playing ice and roller hockey, softball, skiing and golf.
Education
J.D., University of Southern California, 1979
B.A., with Honors, State University of New York at Binghamton, 1976
Presentations and Publications
Author, "First Party Property Insurance Coverage For Mold Damage: Does It Exist When The Policy Excludes Loss Caused By Mold," Mealey's Litigation Report (April 2002)
Author, "Insurance Coverage Issues In Mold Litigation Cases," TortSource, the American Bar Association's Tort and Insurance Practice Section publication
Author, "Shaky Ground, Suit Limitation Issues in Earthquake Damage Insurance Cases: When Is A Suit Barred When New Or Additional Damage Is Later Discovered?" Verdict, the magazine of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (1st Quarter 2001)
Author, "Suit Limitation Issues in Disaster Cases," California Lawyer (November 2000)
Author, "Subrogation: Insurance Company's Right to Recover What It Pays," Los Angeles Business Journal (May 12, 1997)
Memberships
Los Angeles County Bar Association
American Board of Trial Advocates
Council on Litigation Management
Admissions
California
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Courts, Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of California
U.S. District Court of Arizona