Biography

Mr. Celebrezze serves as the firm wide chair of the firm’s Insurance Division, and has been practicing in the field of insurance law for virtually his entire legal career. As one of the country’s leading insurance industry litigators, he has represented a wide variety of international, national, and regional companies. In addition, Mr. Celebrezze frequently lectures and is widely published as a legal expert in the field.  He is recognized by the leading legal directories as a leader in insurance, including being ranked in Chambers USA (2010-2012) where he is noted for his “dedication” and “practical and common-sense approach.” Commentators in Chambers USA describe him as being "incredibly smart, down to earth and one of the most hard-working people I have ever seen."

Litigation Matters

• The Travelers Property Casualty Company of America v. Computer Sciences Corporation, 2012 WL 639159 (Cal.App. February 27, 2012)
• Stonebreaker v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, et al., 2012 WL 621503 (S.D.Cal. February 23, 2012)
• Stonebreaker v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, et al., 2012 WL 601422 (S.D.Cal. February 23, 2012)
• Rupracht v. Union Security Insurance Co., 2011 WL 6109574 (D.Nev. December 7, 2011)
• Bender v. Hartford Life Insurance Company, 2011 WL 3566483 (N.D.Cal. August 12, 2011)
• Sleeping Well, LLC v. The Travelers Indemnity Co., 2011 WL 996202 (N.D.Cal. March 21, 2011)
• Carten v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, 2011 WL 768683 (N.D.Cal. February 28, 2011)
• Carten v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, 2010 WL 4236805 (N.D.Cal. October 21, 2010)
• Finley v. Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 2010 WL 4116636 (9th Cir. Oct. 19, 2010)
• Zurich American Ins. v. Grand Ave. Transport, 2010 WL 682530 (N.D.Cal., February 23, 2010)
• Infor Global Solutions (Michigan), Inc. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 686 F.Supp.2d 1005 (N.D.Cal., February 19, 2010) 
• Riverport Ins. Co. v. Oakland Community Housing, Inc., 668 F.Supp.2d 1235 (N.D.Cal., November 06, 2009) 
• Infor Global Solutions (Michigan), Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 2009 WL 2390174 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2009) 
• Hood v. Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2009 WL 453115 (E.D.Cal. Feb 23, 2009)
• Hood v. Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2008 WL 5101584 (E.D.Cal. Dec 2, 2008) 
• Hood v. Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 567 F.Supp.2d 1221 (E.D.Cal. Jul 28, 2008)  
• Caprio v. Hartford Life Ins. Co., 2008 WL 1766747 (N.D.Cal. Apr 15, 2008) 
• Giottonini v. Therma-Wave, Ltd. Employee Benefits Plan, Slip Copy, 2007 WL 3478034 (N.D.Cal. Nov 15, 2007) 
• Caplan v. CNA Short Term Disability Plan, 479 F. Supp.2d 1108 (N.D.Cal. Mar 01, 2007) 
• ABM Industries, Inc. v. Zurich American Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 1464917 (N.D.Cal. May 25, 2006) 
• Frei v. Hartford Life Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 1409360 (N.D.Cal. May 23, 2006)
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 430 F.Supp.2d 989, (N.D.Cal. Apr 18, 2006)
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 430 F.Supp.2d 984, (N.D.Cal. Mar 27, 2006) 
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 421 F.Supp.2d 1265 (N.D.Cal. Mar 21, 2006)
• Frei v. Hartford Life Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 563051 (N.D.Cal. Mar 07, 2006) 
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 163009 (N.D.Cal. Jan 09, 2006) 
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 416 F.Supp.2d 802 (N.D.Cal. Feb 21, 2006)
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine, 426 F.Supp.2d 1039 (N.D.Cal. Oct 11, 2005) 
• Atmel Corp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 409 F.Supp.2d 1180 (N.D.Cal. Aug 31, 2005)
• Mizzell v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 155 Fed.Appx. 254, 2005 WL 2043896 (9th Cir.(Cal.)) (9th Cir.(Cal.) Aug 25, 2005)
• Federal Ins. Co. v. Homestore, Inc., 144 Fed.Appx. 641, 2005 WL 1926483 (9th Cir.(Cal.)) (9th Cir.(Cal.) Aug 12, 2005) 
• Davison v. Hartford Life and Accident Ins. Co., 2005 WL 807045 (N.D.Cal. Apr 07, 2005) 
• MV Transp., Inc. v. Omne Staff Leasing, Inc., 378 F.Supp.2d 1200 (E.D.Cal. Mar 22, 2005) 
• Hartog Rahal Partnership v. American Motorists Ins. Co., 359 F.Supp.2d 331 (S.D.N.Y. Mar 08, 2005) 
• Truck Ins. Exchange v. Unigard Ins. Co., 89 Fed.Appx. 43, 2004 WL 326390 (9th Cir.(Cal.)) (9th Cir.(Cal.) Feb 18, 2004) 
• Mizzell v. Paul Revere Ins. Co., 278 F.Supp.2d 1146 (C.D.Cal. Aug 25, 2003) 
• Schar v. Hartford Life Ins. Co., 242 F.Supp.2d 708 (N.D.Cal. Jan 23, 2003) 

Selected Presentations

Mr. Celebrezze has written papers for, and participated as a lecturer, in various continuing legal education courses in the area of insurance coverage for insurance industry and legal organizations such as the FDCC, DRI, PLRB, Excess Surplus Lines Claims Association, and client- and Sedgwick-sponsored seminars domestically and in London. The presentations include:

• Client Presentation, “Dispute Resolution In a World Of Unpredictable Courts: The Art Of Settling a Claim,” (April 15, 2013);
• DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, “Insurer Challenges In Dealing With Covered and Non-Covered Claims,” Chicago, IL (April 12, 2013);
• Lecturer – Litigation Management College Graduate Program, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (2010-2012);
• FDCC, Program Chair, Mid-Winter Meeting, Indian Wells, CA (March 2011);
• Sedgwick’s London Seminar, "The View From the U.S. Trial Room:  Update on Bad Faith and Other Issues," given in London, England (March 2011);
• Sedgwick’s Insurance Regulation and Litigation Seminar, "Update on Ojo v. Farmers – Is McCarran-Ferguson Being Eroded?," given in Sacramento, CA (February 15, 2011);
• PLRB/LIRB 2010 Claims Conference, "Litigation Management College," given in San Antonio, TX (March 23-24, 2010);
• Sedgwick’s Insurance Regulation and Litigation Seminar, “Federal Regulation: Is it Time?,” given in Sacramento, CA (January 2010);
• Dean – Litigation Management College Graduate Program, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (2008 and 2009); Assistant Dean – Litigation Management College Graduate Program, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (June 2006);
• Excess Surplus Lines Claims Association, "Claims/Legal Issues in 2009 and Beyond," given in New York, NY (June 2009); 
• PLRB/FDCC Critical Issues for Senior Insurance Executives and In-House Counsel seminar, "Litigation Holds," given in Rosemont, IL (September 2008);
• PLRB/FDCC Critical Issues for Senior Insurance Executives and In-House Counsel seminar, “Litigation Holds,” given in Rosemont, IL (September 2008);
• PLRB Conference, "Litigation Holds," given in Boston, MA (April 2008);
• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, "Use of Experts in Resolving Indemnity Agreement/Additional Insured Scenarios in Construction Defect Litigation," given in Sun Valley, ID (July 2007);
• Lexis Nexis Mealey's, Global Warming Insurance Litigation Conference, "Risk Management Inquiries," given in San Francisco, CA (June 2007); 
• PLRB Conference, “Class Action Coverage Issues,” given in Orlando, FL (April 2007); also presented at PLRB Conference in Nashville, TN (April, 2006).
• PLRB/FDCC Critical Issues for Senior Insurance Executives and In-House Counsel seminar, "Update on Rescission Issues," given in Rosemont, IL (October 2006);

Selected Publications

Mr. Celebrezze has authored or co-authored numerous published articles in legal trades including The Recorder and GC California Magazine. Recent articles include:  

• "A Matter of Opinions," GC California (March 2008);
• "Understanding Insurers' Relationship With Outside Counsel," GC California Magazine (Autumn 2007);
• "New Year, New Laws," GC California Magazine (Spring 2007);
• "Update on Rescission Issues," given at the PLRB/FDCC Critical Issues for Senior Insurance Executives and In-House Counsel seminar (October 2006);
• "Risky Business," GC California Magazine (Autumn 2006);
• "A Look at New Insurance Laws," GC California Magazine (Spring 2006); 
• "The Year in Legislation," The Recorder's annual supplement, Insurance 2006 (January 2006);

Memberships & Honors

Mr. Celebrezze is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and the Defense Research Institute.  He is a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel.  He also participates in the functions of other insurance industry organizations, including the PLRB and LIRB.

Mr. Celebrezze is a Senior Director of the FDCC. Previously he has held several key positions with the FDCC, including serving as a vice president and as Dean of the Litigation Management College Graduate Program. He is also the former Chair of the FDCC’s Insurance Coverage Section and a recipient of the John Alan Appleman Award, which honors the Chair of an FDCC Substantive Law Section who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the FDCC’s education goals through the work of his or her Section. 

Mr. Celebrezze served for one year as a member of the civil grand jury for the City and County of San Francisco. He is a member of the Board of Trustees and the former President of the Board of the Mechanics’ Institute, a 6,000 member, 165,000 volume non-profit library in San Francisco. He also serves as a member of the President’s Visiting Committee of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio.