Kurt Dzugay

Significant litigation and trial experience. Defends coverage litigation, UM/UIM litigation, first party and third party bad faith litigation and PIP coverage litigation for national insurance carriers. Defends Workers Compensation matters for a national hospitality client. Specialties: Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation Litigation and Trial Law Workers Compensation Defense Insurance Defense UM/UIM - both coverage and litigation PIP coverage Significant matters handled : Successfully defended insurer at trial and won a no-cause verdict in matter involving a claim for reformation of the PIP portion of an automobile policy based on Plaintiff's alleged language barrier. Successfully defended insurer at trial and won a no-cause verdict in matter involving coverage under a homeowners policy and claims of equitable estoppel due to insurance agent’s alleged negligent advice in procuring policy. Successfully defended client at trial and won a no-cause verdict in a Spill Act contribution matter where damages exceeded $18 million. Successfully defended client in a UCC commercial trial where counterclaim for delivery of alleged non-conforming goods exceeded $500,000. Successful summary judgment on issue of first impression that insurer was not collaterally estopped from arguing comparative negligence in subsequent UM claim after insurer was successful in prior PIP recovery claim. Successfully defended client at trial and won a no-cause verdict in a roll over crash where the plaintiff alleged a fractured cervical vertebra. Successfully defended client at trial and won a no-cause verdict in a motorcycle crash where plaintiff suffered a broken knee. Successfully defended client at trial and won a no-cause verdict in an uncontested liability matter where the plaintiff alleged multiple herniations to his cervical and lumbar spine. Successfully defended and significantly reduced over $175,000 out of pocket expenses claimed by plaintiff after exhaustion of PIP policy. This led to a favorable settlement on the eve of trial. Successful summary judgment ruling on PIP coverage matter where discovery revealed that plaintiff, as pedestrian, was not entitled to coverage under the tortfeasor auto policy. Successful summary judgment ruling on phantom UM claim where plaintiff and tortfeasor alleged that the alleged phantom vehicle stopped short to turn off of highway. Multiple successful summary judgment rulings on UM/UIM claims where plaintiff was not a named insured on or a family member of the relevant policy.