Vincent J. Proto

Vincent Proto is a member of the firm's insurance and reinsurance practice group. 

Vinnie has over 25 years of experience in litigating insurance and reinsurance coverage disputes in federal and state courts, as well as in private, contractual arbitration, for major insurance and reinsurance companies. He has handled, among other things, matters involving commercial general liability and latent injury claims (including asbestos, hazardous waste, and sexual misconduct), surety, marine, financial guaranties, and whole account reinsurance. He also has extensive experience with commercial litigation matters and appeals in federal and state courts.

Vinnie also has experience in general commercial litigation matters at trial and on appeal.

Vinnie is admitted to practice law in the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, federal District Courts in those states, and several federal Courts of Appeal.

Member: New York State Bar Association. Tort, Insurance and Compensation Law Section

Member: American Bar Association

Tort + Insurance Practice Section; Excess, Surplus Lines + Reinsurance Committee

Member: New Jersey State Bar Association. Insurance Law Section

Member of ARIAS U.S.: AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society.

Vinnie has tried over 30 cases at final hearing in court and arbitration.  Vinnie also has litigated some of the leading court decisions in reinsurance and insurance, including: 

  • Travelers Casualty & Surety Company v. Insurance Co. of North America(3d Cir. 2010) (affirming trial decision in favor of cedant and rejecting reinsurance gerrymandering arguments);

  • Karen L. Suter, The Commissioner of Banking and Ins. Of the State of New Jersey, In Her Capacity as Liquidator of Integrity Ins. Co. v. General Accident Ins. Co.(D. N.J. 2006) (rescinding reinsurance coverage in favor of reinsurer and rejecting cedant’s bad faith presentation of Pfizer heart valve claims);

  • American Bankers Ins. Co. v. Northwestern National Ins. Co.(11th Cir. 1999) (early case applying follow the settlements to a retrocessional recovery in favor of retrocedant in context of breast implant claims);

  • Travelers Casualty & Surety Company v. Ace American Reinsurance Company(2d Cir. 2006) (affirming trial court summary judgment decision in favor of cedant applying annual limits to three-year reinsurance contract);

  • Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. United Insurance Company(N.J. 1994) (leading case determining allocation method for asbestos claims).

  • Sentry Ins. v. Sky Management (D.N.J. 1999) (insurer permitted to attach NJ policyholder’s cause of action in NY state court).

Practices

Education

  • B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1987
  • J.D., Pennsylvania State University, The Dickinson School of Law, 1987

Bar and Court Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

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