Douglas K. Wood. Member. Office. Education. State Bar Licenses. Court Admissions. 1 / Clark Hill PLC

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Douglas K. Wood. Member. Office. Education. State Bar Licenses. Court Admissions. 1 / Clark Hill PLC"

Jemimah Hancock
5 years ago
Views:

1 Douglas K. Wood Member Doug Wood is a Member in Clark Hill s San Francisco office. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent rated trial attorney who has been repeatedly named by his peers and Judges as a Top Rated Insurance Lawyer, one of the Bay Area s Best Insurance Lawyers, and selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers list (a Thomson Reuters distinction honoring the top 5% of lawyers in the region as selected by other lawyers and Judges). Doug s practice encompasses the full spectrum of complex property and casualty insurance coverage issues, disputes, and litigation, including difficult cases arising out of arson fires and suspected fraudulent claims. During his 32+ years of practice, Doug has successfully defended clients in many such cases through trial and appeal. Doug also has litigated premises liability cases (including cases for the San Francisco International Airport), insurance subrogation cases, real estate actions, products liability cases, construction defect cases, and general business disputes. Doug is an avid instrument rated private pilot who delights in saving his clients money by flying himself in Black Beauty his turbo-normalized 1979 Beechcraft Bonanza A36 to depositions, loss scenes, client meetings, and court appearances all over the western states. In addition to flying Black Beauty for business, Doug has also been involved as a lawyer in claims and litigation arising out of aircraft incidents and accidents, as well as aircraft purchase/sale transactions, and airport premises liability cases. As a pilot and aircraft owner for roughly 2/3 of his 32+ years as a lawyer, Doug brings a rare blend of aviation attorney, well familiar with the maze of specialized documentation, regulations, and laws that govern all things aviation, as well as the insurance aspects that often are involved. Doug gained early trial experience serving the People of California as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Alameda. He tried his first Insurance Bad Faith case decades ago, and has been litigating and trying cases involving insurance coverage and Bad Faith, commercial business disputes, various torts, and liability defense ever since. During law school, Doug served as an Editor and Member of the Hastings Law Journal, and worked as an extern law clerk for the Honorable Eugene F. Lynch, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. Later, while practicing law full time, Doug also served for several years as an Adjunct Professor of Law for the University of California's Hastings College of the Law, teaching Trial Evidence and Advocacy. Prior to joining Clark Hill, Doug was a Partner at Morris Polich & Purdy LLP and managed the insurance-related practice areas as the Firm s Insurance Practice Group Leader. Before joining MPP, Doug was a Founding Partner of Rudloff Wood & Barrows LLP, a property and casualty insurance and bad faith boutique. From 1992 to 1998, Doug was an Equity Partner in Gordon & Rees. Doug started his career at Cooley Godward in /Presentations Bad Faith/Coverage Litigation: California Property Insurance: Law and Litigation Treatise (California Continuing Education of the Bar) "Insurable Interest", Chapter 3 (Original Chapter co-author, and author of the 2017 Ed. updates) "Insuring Secured Lenders and Lienholders", Chapter 4 (Original Chapter co-author, and author of the 2017 Ed. updates) "Business Interruption and Other Business Coverages", Chapter 7 (Original Chapter co-author, and author of the 2017 Ed. updates) "Causation and Common Exclusions", Chapter 8 (Author, 2016 & 2017 updates) "Calculating Liability: Measure of Indemnity", Chapter 12 (Author, 2016 & 2017 updates) Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony (California Continuing Education of the Bar treatise, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) Chapter 6, "Origin & Cause of Fire," co-authored with principals from Fire Cause Analysis Author, "Ability of Insurance Carriers in California to Obtain Insureds Income Tax Returns Despite the Income Tax Privilege," MPP Alert, May 24, 2016 Office San Francisco One Embarcadero Center Suite 400 San Francisco, CA (phone) (cell) dkwood@clarkhill.com Education J.D., magna cum laude, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California, 1985 B.A., cum laude, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, 1980, History and Pre-Law, two years Conservatory of Music State Bar Licenses California Court Admissions U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit U.S. District Ct., C.D. of California U.S. District Ct., E.D. of California U.S. District Ct., N.D. of California 1 / Clark Hill PLC

2 Scientific Evidence in California Criminal Cases (California Continuing Education of the Bar treatise) Chapter 12, "Origin & Cause of Fire" (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), co-authored with principals from Fire Cause Analysis Quoted / Video Feature, "Tips on Handling the Latest Bad Faith Trends," Claims Journal, April 20, 2017 "Bad Faith Nightmares: Recent Trends & Themes," Combined Claims Conference, March 7, 2017 Bad Faith Nightmares Current Trends and Avoiding the Seven Deadly Sins of Testimony, 2016 Pacific Claims Executives Association Conference, October 13, 3016 Instructor, IAAI Expert Witness and Courtroom Testimony, June 2016 The Deposition Part 1: Format, Content, and Preparation (Co-author and on-camera Subject Matter Expert, CFITrainer.Net on-line IAAI training course) The Deposition Part 2: Questioning Tactics and Effective Responses (Co-author and on-camera Subject Matter Expert, CFITrainer.Net on-line IAAI training course) Legal Systems and Environment IAAI training course (Co-author) "Seven Deadly Sins of Adjuster Deposition Testimony" National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters Conference, June 12, 2018 Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB) Claims Conference, April 16-17, 2018 Quoted / Video Feature, "The 7 Deadly Sins of Adjuster Testimony," Claims Journal, March 22, 2018 Presentation hosted by ServPro of Vista and Fire Cause Analysis, May 17, 2017 Property & Liability Resource Bureau Claims Conference, March 27-28, 2017 Southern California Fraud Investigators' Association's (SCFIA) 2016 Training Conference, October 25, 2016 Combined Claim Conference, co-presented with FCA principal Ulises Castellon and State Farm SIU Team Manager Jim Smith, March 8, 2016 Northern California Fraud Investigators Association (NCFIA), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, April 2, 2015 Sacramento Claim Association (SCA), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, January 8, 2015 Claims Conference of Northern California (CCNC), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, August 19, 2014 "Preparing the Company Witness to Testify," Wawanesa Insurance Company, September 2006 "To Tell the Truth Effectively (Preparing the Company Witness to Testify)," Encompass Insurance, May 2001 "Preparing a Company Witness for Deposition," Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Conference, March 2001 "Your Claim File On Trial" Wawanesa Insurance Company, September 2006 East Bay Claim Adjusters Association, May 2006 Civil Service Employees Insurance Group, April 2006 Central Coast Claims Association, May 2000 Farmer s Insurance, July 1998 Nevada Claims Association, May 1998 Mount Diablo Claims Association, March 1998 East Bay Adjusters Association, October 1997 Blue Goose, August 1997 "Your Claim File On Trial (Mock Cross-Exam of a Claim Rep)," Sacramento Property Claims Association, March 1997 Punitive Damages "Legal Updates, Including Punitive Damages," Claim Conference of Northern California (CCNC), September 2006 "Bad Faith & Punitive Damages," Claim Conference of Northern California (CCNC), September 2005 "Rescission v. Void," State Farm General Insurance Company, February 2005 "Trial of an Arson Case Including: Lawyer Tricks and Witness Tools " Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Educational Conference, March 2004 California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Annual Educational Conference, January 2004 "Advance Skills: Trial of a Fire Case" Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Educational Conference, March 2003, April 2002 Sonoma County Arson Task Force, June 2001 "It s All in How You See It," State Farm California SIU Training Program (selected by SIU Management and Corporate Law Department as one of six attorneys in the state to develop and present this daylong training 2 / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood

3 seminar), 2001 "Courtroom Impact," Center for Continuing Education, June 2001 Educational Mock Trials State Farm California SIU Training Program, 2001 California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Annual Educational Conference, January 2001 CPCU All Industry Day, November 1996 "Photosound Trial Lessons Learned Re First Party Fraud Investigations and Trials," State Farm N. Cal SIU s Training Seminar, May 1999 "Spoliation and Trial," Mount Diablo Claims Association, October 1997 Expert Witness: Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony (California Continuing Education of the Bar treatise, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) Chapter 6, "Origin & Cause of Fire," co-authored with principals from Fire Cause Analysis Scientific Evidence in California Criminal Cases (California Continuing Education of the Bar treatise) Chapter 12, "Origin & Cause of Fire" (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), co-authored with principals from Fire Cause Analysis "Experts - Legal Guidelines and Practical Tips" and "Spoliation of Evidence," Claims Conference of Northern California (CCNC), September 2010 "Experts - Legal Guidelines and Practical Tips," Property Claims Association of the Pacific (PCAP), July 15, 2010 "The Daubert Challenge and Beyond," Southern California CPCU Society, April 2010 "Experts at Trial," International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Oregon Chapter Advanced Fire & Arson Seminar, September 2005 "Expert Evidence, Daubert and Beyond " State Farm SIUs, May 2002 "Litigation and Trial of a Fire Case Working With and Preparing the Expert Fire Investigator to Testify," interactive workshop, Sonoma County Arson Task Force, February 2002 "Selection of Experts," ABA/TIPS/ILC National Arson Institute, March 1999 Insurance Coverage & Investigation: California Property Insurance: Law and Litigation Treatise (California Continuing Education of the Bar) "Insurable Interest", Chapter 3 (Original Chapter co-author, and author of the 2017 Ed. updates) "Insuring Secured Lenders and Lienholders", Chapter 4 (Original Chapter co-author, and author of the 2017 Ed. updates) "Business Interruption and Other Business Coverages", Chapter 7 (Original Chapter co-author, and author of the 2017 Ed. updates) "Causation and Common Exclusions", Chapter 8 (Author, 2016 & 2017 updates) "Calculating Liability: Measure of Indemnity", Chapter 12 (Author, 2016 & 2017 updates) California and Nevada Insurance Coverage Newsletter, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP, Contributor, 2016 Vol. 1 "'Innocent Co-insureds' Gain Broader Insurance Protection," Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 22, 2011 "Landmark Property Insurance Decision - California Supreme Court Invalidates 'Any' Insured Policy Exclusions," February 17, 2011 "Progressive Losses: Issues, Problems & Solutions," article, Property Loss Research Bureau, 2008 "Ethics and the Claim Adjuster," 2012 Combined Claims Conference (CCC), March 14, 2012 "Forensic Cause of Loss Evaluation and Spoliation of Evidence," Claims Conference of Northern California (CCNC), September 2010 "Rescission v. Void," State Farm SIU Joint Meeting Training, June 2009 "Analytical Outlines and Investigative Plans," State Farm SIU Joint Meeting Training, June 2009 "Progressive Losses: Issues, Problems & Solutions" Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Educational Conference, March 2009 All Industry Day, May 2008 Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Educational Conference, March / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood

4 "Analytical Outlines & Investigative Plans," State Farm General Insurance Company, February 2005 "Rescission v. Void," State Farm General Insurance Company, February 2005 "Significant Developments in the Law The Northridge Earthquake: Earth-Shaking Legal Aftershocks?" California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Annual Educational Conference, January 2002 "The Role of the Public Adjuster," ABA/TIPS Property Insurance Law Committee: "Cutting Edge Issues in Property Insurance Claims Following a Natural or Man-Made Disaster," April 2001 "Denial of Claims: Issues and Problems," MCLE, January 2001 "Hot" Property Law Developments, Claim Conference of Northern California (CCNC), September 2001 (Lead panel discussion) "Current Case Law Developments ACV Cheeks v. Cal. Fair Plan," Claims Conference of Northern California (CCNC), September 1999 "Current Legal Issues and Problems," State Farm All California Training Conference, October 1998 "Working with Public Adjusters," March 1997 Arson / Fraud Investigation: Kirk's Fire Investigation, by Dr. John DeHaan (5th, 6th and 7th Editions), responsible for updating and rewriting chapters 16 (Arson as a Crime) and 17 (Other Investigative Topics), and for peer reviewing other chapters in this well-known treatise Origin & Cause of Fire, Chapter 6 in Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony (California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2014, 2015, 2016), co-authored with principals from Fire Cause Analysis Origin & Cause of Fire, Chapter 12 in Scientific Evidence in California Criminal Cases (California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), co-authored with principals from Fire Cause Analysis Author, "Ability of Insurance Carriers in California to Obtain Insureds Income Tax Returns Despite the Income Tax Privilege," MPP Alert, May 24, 2016 "Fire and Explosion Investigations that Sizzle", co-presented with Juliet Schade of Capitol Insurance Group, and Ulises Castellon of Fire Cause Analysis, Property & Liability Resources Bureau s 2017 Regional Adjusters Conference, June 14-15, 2017 "Beware! Arson & Fraud Reporting and Immunity Statutes are Not All the Same," Anti-Fraud Alliance/Northern California Fraud Investigator's Association (AFA/NCFIA) Annual Anti-Fraud Conference, April 11, 2018 "Fire and Explosion Investigations that Sizzle!" Combined Claims Conference, March 6, 2018 "When a Business Burns - Successful Investigation of a Commercial Arson", presented in-house to a major insurer's Commercial SIU Team, August 22, 2017 "Anatomy of an Arson Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll" Combined Claims Conference, March 7, 2017 Southern California Fraud Investigators Association's Lunch & Learn co-presented with FCA principal Ulises Castellon, August 4, 2016 "Earth, Wind and Fire an Overview of Wildland Fires", Northern California Fraud Investigators Association 2016 Educational Conference, co-presented with FCA principal Ulises Castellon, March 24, 2016 "Fire Claim Investigation: Subro, Arson and Other Exposures" Claim Conference of Northern California (CCNC) presented with re Cause Analysis principal Don Perkins, August 10, 2015 Property & Liability Research Bureau (PLRB) National Conference, co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon and Cunningham Lindsey National General Adjuster Amy O Rorke (Major & Complex Loss), March 31 & April 1, 2015 Arson Case Studies True Lies: Arson Case Studies, Southern California Fraud Investigators Association (SCFIA) Conference, co-presented with Ulises Castellon, Vice President of Operations of Fire Cause Analysis, November 6, 2015 "From Everest to Arsonist A Case Study" Anti-Fraud Alliance/Northern California Fraud Investigator's Association (AFA/NCFIA) Annual Anti-Fraud Conference, April 12, 2018 Southern California Fraud Investigators Association (SCFIA), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, October 30, 2013 Claims Conference of Northern California (NCFIA), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, September 16, / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood

5 Northern California Fraud Investigators Association (NCFIA), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, March 28, 2013 Combined Claim Conference (CCC), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, March 12, 2013 Fire Loss Investigation Strategies 2015 National ConnectForce Claims Difference Makers Conference, New Orleans, February 11, 2015 Webinar (available to PLRB Members on-line) Property & Liability Research Bureau (PLRB), copresented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, April 10, 2014 San Diego Independent Adjusters Association (SDIAA), co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, May 6, 2014 Wawanesa Insurance Company, co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, May 19, 2014 NFPA 921 / 1033 Updates, Wawanesa Insurance Company, co-presented with Fire Cause Analysis principal Ulises Castellon, May 19, 2014 "Your Arson Investigation on Trial" International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), North Carolina & South Carolina Chapters Educational Conference California Conference of Arson Investigator (CCAI) Sacramento Roundtable, February 5, 2013 California Conference of Arson Investigator (CCAI) Training Seminar, October 2012 "Investigation and Trial of an Arson Case," All California SIU State Farm, September 1999 "Trial of an Arson Case," All Industry Day, May 2008 "Your Investigation Report Under the Microscope" International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), North Carolina & South Carolina Chapters Educational Conference California Conference of Arson Investigator (CCAI) Training Seminar, October 2012 "Arson Claims: Investigation, Evaluation & Resolution" California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Training Seminar, October 2012 NCFIA 22nd Annual Anti-Fraud Training Conference, April 20, 2011 Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Educational Conference, March 2010 "DNA of An Arson Investigation," Southern California Fraud Investigators Association (SCFIA) 34th Training Conference, November 2, 2011 "Anatomy of an Arson Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll," Southern California Combined Claim Conference (CCC), April 2010 "DNA of Fire Investigation," and "Working With Your C&O" and "Spoliation of Evidence Issues on the Fire Scene," State Farm California SIU Units, March 1997 "Arson Claims Investigation," State Farm SIU Training Course, May 2007 "Fire Scene Investigation, Litigation and Trial," State Farm All California Training Conference, October 1998 "Advanced Fire Investigation and Fire Litigation," Training Operations Management, September 1998 "SIU Claims: Successfully Navigating the Minefield" Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP) Western Chapter 2018 Education Day, May 3, 2018 Presented in-house to a major insurer's Commercial SIU Team, August 22, 2017 Anti-Fraud Alliance/Northern California Fraud Investigator's Association (NCFIA) 28th Annual Anti-Fraud Conference, April 13, 2017 PLRB/LIRB Claims Conference, April 16 and 17, 2012 Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Conference, April 4 & 5, 2011 Combined Claims Conference (CCC), March 30, 2011 Interactions with Law Enforcement "Why Can't We Be Friends? The Interplay Between Insurance Carriers and Public Agencies," Insurance Committee for Arson Control (ICAC) 23rd Annual Arson & Fire Investigation Seminar, February 27, 2012 The DA & EUOs, Fraud & Arson Reporting, and Information to Other Agencies, State Farm Difficult Claim Issues Conference, August 2000 "DOI Fraud Reports, RofR Letters, and Other Issues," State Farm Staff Meeting SIU, September 2000 "Working With Informants and Dealing With the Authorities," Defense Research Institute (DRI), May 1999 Selection of Fire O&C Experts "Selection and Management of Fire Origin & Cause Experts," Mercury Casualty Company, April 12, 2011 Selection of Experts, and Laboratory Services, State Farm Difficult Claim Issues Conference, August / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood

6 Fire Investigation Technical Issues "NFPA 921 Update Fire Investigation and Litigation," CCAI, July 2009 " Negative Corpus (Process of Elimination)," International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Oregon Chapter Advanced Fire & Arson Seminar, September 2005 "Origin & Cause Report Writing How Will Yours Hold Up?" California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Annual Educational Conference, January 2003 " Negative Corpus (Process of Elimination)" (March, May, August, September) "Trial of an Arson Case Including: Lawyer Tricks and Witness Tools " California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Roundtable, (May, September 2005) "Advance Fire Investigation and Litigation," Sonoma County Emergency Services & State Farm, May 2000 "Fire Investigation, Claims, Litigation and Trial The Lawyer s View " Advanced Fire Investigation Seminar, Ventura Fire Department, February 2000 "Motive," California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) Annual Educational Conference, January 2001 "Third Party Exposures Intentional Acts," State Farm N. Cal. SIU s Training Seminar, April 1999 Practices, Industries & Services Insurance Insurance & Reinsurance Areas of Emphasis Insurance Defense Insurance Litigation & Arbitration Memberships Property & Liability Research Bureau (PLRB) National Conference Planning Committee (2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) American Bar Association (Trial Practice, Litigation, and Tort & Insurance Practice Sections) ABA/TIPS Property Insurance Law Committee International Association of Arson Investigators California Conference of Arson Investigators National Fire Protection Association Several other trial, insurance and litigation practice organizations Honors For fourteen consecutive years ( ) Doug Wood has been selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers list in a survey distributed by Thomson Reuters, a distinction honoring the top 5% of lawyers in the region AV Preeminent Judicial Ranking - Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubbell Bay Area's Best Insurance Lawyers Top 5%, AV Preeminent rated Legal Leaders: Litigation Law 2016, The American Lawyer, National Law Journal and Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Attorneys of San Francisco, 2016 Top 1% - America's Most Honored Professionals Award, American Registry, Top Attorney in Northern California, San Francisco Magazine, 2015 San Francisco's Top Rated Lawyers, Legal Leaders Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law 2014, American Lawyer Magazine, National Law Journal and Martindale- Hubbell America's Most Honored Professionals 2014, Top 5%, The American Registry Outstanding Presentations Award - PLRB/LIRB 2012 National Claims Conference California Conference of Arson Investigators: "Distinguished Service - Outgoing Board Member" Award, 2008 Order of the Coif Thurston Honor Society Presentations 6 / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood

7 "Beware! Arson & Fraud Reporting and Immunity Statutes are NOT all the Same," 29th Annual Anti-Fraud Conference, AFA/NCFIA, April 11-13, / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood

Douglas K. Wood. Member. Office. Education. State Bar Licenses. Court Admissions. 1 / Clark Hill PLC

Douglas K. Wood. Member. Office. Education. State Bar Licenses. Court Admissions. 1 / Clark Hill PLC Douglas K. Wood Member Doug is a Member in Clark Hill s San Francisco office. Doug s practice encompasses the full spectrum of complex property and casualty insurance coverage issues, disputes, and litigation,