John C. Bonnie

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Partner

Leader of Insurance Coverage Practice Group. Nationwide practice is devoted exclusively to complex commercial disputes, arbitration and litigation, particularly matters addressing obligations arising out of insurance contracts, written agreements to indemnify and other means of shifting and allocating risk. Practice runs the gamut of insurance coverage obligations implicated by first party insurance claims and third party liability claims, including claims advice and counseling, representation of carriers in coverage arbitration and litigation and defense of claims alleging insurer bad faith and extra-contractual liability. Experience includes complex commercial and insurance arbitration matters, multi-party insurance litigation, London and Bermuda market policies, and disputes and coordinating counsel roles nationally for insurers involved in large dollar risk litigation matters.

Representative Cases/Experience

2009 trial in Indiana State Court in action between insureds of two liability insurance carriers regarding the alleged obligation to procure coverage under commercial general liability insurance policy pursuant to written contract;
Southwire Co. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, 2009 WL 1139485 (11th Cir., Apr. 29, 2009)(coverage dispute arising out of aircraft product liability exclusion under umbrella liability insurance policy);
Dueco, Inc. v. Terex-Telelect, Inc., 900 N.E.2d 832 (Ind. App. 2009)(dispute regarding applicability and enforceability of contractual indemnity provision);
2009 trial in Virginia State Court in action between liability insurance carriers regarding respective obligations of insureds to indemnify and procure insurance;
Choate Constr. Co. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA (coverage dispute arising out of construction defect liability under umbrella liability insurance policy);
USMoney Source, Inc. v. American International Specialty Lines Ins. Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2966 (N.D.Ga., Jan. 15, 2008)(coverage dispute arising out of errors and omissions policy);
Dowdell v. Volvo Commercial Finance, 286 Ga. App. 659, 649 S.E.2d 750 (2007)(coverage dispute arising out of commercial auto insurance policy);
South Hills Associates, LLC v. Nutmeg Ins. Co., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95412 (N.D.Ga., Feb. 8, 2007)(coverage dispute arising out of property insurance policy);
Herbalife Int'l, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19180 (N.D.WV., Mar. 30, 2006)(coverage dispute arising out of umbrella liability insurance policy);
Penn National Ins. Co. v. Ely Wall & Ceilings, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19180, D.SC, Mar. 6, 2006)(coverage dispute arising out of construction liability);
Hooters of Augusta, Inc. v. American Global Ins. Co., 157 Fed. Appx. 201 (11th Cir. 2005)(coverage dispute arising out of umbrella liability insurance policy);
GuideOne Life Ins. Co. v. Ward, 275 Ga. App., 619 S.E.2d 723 (2005)(coverage dispute arising out of life insurance policy);
Mariner Healthcare Inc. v. Indemnity Ins. Co. of N. Am., Inc., 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29914 (N.D. Tx. Sept. 20, 2004)(coverage dispute arising out of property insurance policy);
Sorema N. Am. Reinsurance Co. v. Johnson, 258 Ga. App. 304, 574 S.E.2d 377 (2002)(coverage dispute arising out of property insurance policy);
Stewart v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 230 Ga. App. 265, 495 S.E.2d 882 (1998)(coverage dispute arising out of general liability insurance policy);
Chicago Ins. Co. v. Central Mutual Ins. Co., 229 Ga. App. 291, 494 S.E.2d 1 (1997)(coverage dispute arising out of general liability and excess liability insurance policies);
Southern Guarantee Ins. Co. v. Central Mutual Ins. Co., 214 Ga. App. 662, 449 S.E.2d 3 (1994)(coverage dispute arising out of automobile liability insurance policy).

Professional Activities and Honors

Named Georgia “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers and Atlanta magazines for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in the category of Insurance Coverage
2009 Outstanding Counsel Award for achievements in representing Terex Corporation

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Atlanta Bar Association
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee; Subcommittee Co-Chair
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Extra-Contractual Liability Section; Insurance Coverage Section; Property Insurance Section
Defense Research Institute, Insurance Law Committee

Admissions to Practice

State Bar of Georgia
South Carolina Bar
U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Education

B.A., with honors, University of Arizona, 1985
J.D., University of South Carolina, 1991; Order of Wig and Robe

Publications

The Seminar Group, paper and presentation addressing insurance coverage for construction defect liability, 2005.
Lorman Education Services, paper and presentation addressing insurance coverage for construction defect liability, 1999.
Georgia Institute for Continuing Legal Education, paper addressing insurance coverage for construction defect liability, 1998.
Editor of 50 state survey of law addressing the interface between liability insurance policies and separate agreements to indemnify by a named or additional insured.

Speeches

"The Winding Road to 'Insured Contract' Coverage and Additional Insured Status: A Case Study of Tribulation and Trial," American Bar Association Litigation Section Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Seminar, March 4-6, 2010.
Southern Loss Association, presentation addressing insurance coverage for construction defect liability, 1998.