Gregory T. Dennison

Member

Florham Park

T 973-645-4808
E gdennison@saiber.com

Greg Dennison concentrates his practice on insurance coverage law and litigation involving claims in New Jersey and New York. He regularly counsels insurance clients on general and excess liability, pollution liability, professional liability, errors and omissions, employers liability, directors and officers liability and commercial auto insurance products. He also represents third party claims administrators against allegations of claims-handling malpractice.

Greg was recently selected by one of his clients to serve on a task force to provide coverage advice regarding COVID-19 claims for business interruption under the Company’s line of pollution products and in the formulation of the Company’s position on COVID-19 coverage issues on a nation-wide basis.

Some of Greg’s more recent experience includes representing an insurer in complex Federal court litigation over a $10 million business interruption claim premised on the faulty design of an energy plant that discharged gas without regulatory approval; defending a TPA against a $2 million claim for alleged errors and omissions in connection with a self-insured workers compensation trust; and successfully trying to a jury verdict the apportionment of liability for an elevator accident that resulted in numerous bodily injury claims where the general contractor qualified as an additional insured only to the extent of elevator subcontractor’s negligence.

Successfully argued appeal before New Jersey Appellate Division seeking affirmance trial court’s dismissal of long-tail environmental contamination suit alleging groundwater contamination for failure to state a claim; matter remanded for further proceedings on other grounds.  Marolda Farms, Inc. v. Maryland Cas. Ins. Co., 2015 WL 10384118 (March 3, 2016)

Tried “phantom vehicle” claim for UM benefits under commercial auto policy to jury verdict; matter settled while on appeal.  Montella v. Navigators Ins. Co., N.J. Superior Court, Docket No. MON-L-3715-11

Obtained dismissal of suit seeking declaration of coverage for lead-paint injury based on insured’s prior knowledge and policy’s continuity date; dismissal subsequently affirmed by New York Appellate Division, First Department.  Bajraktari v. American Specialty Lines Ins. Co., 81 A.D.3d 432 (1st Dep’t 2011)

Obtained summary judgment defeating claim for reformation of policy on statute of limitations grounds, defeating claim that discovery rule made reformation claim timely. Commerce and Industry Ins. Co. v. Gun Hill Mgmt. Inc., N.Y. Co. Supreme Court, Index No. 101579-10

  • Represented insurer in complex Federal court litigation involving $10 million business interruption claim premised on faulty design of energy plant that caused discharge of gas without proper regulatory approval.

  • Successfully tried $1.25 million contractual indemnification claim relating to alleged negligent design and construction of passenger elevator to jury verdict in New York state court.

  • Defended $2 million indemnification claim for alleged errors and omissions in connection with a self-insured workers compensation trust.

  • Represented pollution liability insurer in wrongful death suits by estates of three individuals overcome by hydrogen sulfide at recycling plant.

  • Defended E&O insurer that denied coverage for $4 million arbitration award against insured brokerage based on prior knowledge/failure to disclose.

  • Represented insurer in dispute over applicability of sub-limit of liability for assault and battery, and enforceability of defense-within-limits provision under Pennsylvania law.