Stephen J. Rapp

Steve Rapp is a member of both the Construction Litigation and Insurance Coverage Practice Groups. Licensed in Florida and Georgia, Steve represents a variety of clients throughout the country in cases primarily involving insurance coverage, construction, and business disputes.  Steve has participated in a number of multi-million-dollar trials and arbitrations for more than sixteen years. Steve regularly represents insurers in bad-faith litigation and arbitration. He is the co-author of Georgia Insurance Litigation, published by LexisNexis, and a regular speaker at numerous continuous legal education seminars

University of Georgia, B.A., 2000

Florida State University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2003

• State Bar of Georgia
• The Florida Bar
• U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
• U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Obtained summary judgment for excess insurer under Georgia Law based on insureds' failure to timely notify the excess insurer of a murder and an assault at an apartment complex. Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. E. Perimeter Pointe Apartments, LP, 409 F. Supp. 3d 1319 (N.D. Ga. 2019), aff'd, 2021 WL 2170426 (11th Cir. May 27, 2021).

Successfully defended a general contractor in a water-runoff case in Cobb County receiving a defense verdict for the client after a week-long trial.

Obtained summary judgment for excess insurer based on insureds’ failure to timely notify the insurer of a murder and assault at an apartment complex.
Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. East Perimeter Pointe Apartments, LP, et al., 499 F. Supp. 3d 1319 (N.D. Ga. 2019).

Obtained judgment on the pleadings for insurer in coverage dispute concerning alleged defects in underground storage tanks at several gas stations throughout the state of Florida. First Coast Energy, LLP v. Cincinnati Insurance Company, 227 F. Supp. 3d 1282 (M.D. Fla. 2017). 

Assisted in a large trial against the City of Atlanta for wrongful termination of a construction contract, which resulted in an award of more than $10 million for the client. 

Regularly represents insurers in coverage litigation across the country, and recently helped litigate a bad-faith case against a multi-national insurance company in Tennessee federal court, negotiating a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.

Represents aggregate mining company in a proposed class action alleging environmental contamination that purportedly caused an increase in pediatric brain cancer in a certain, defined area. 

Obtained summary judgment for the Hertz Corporation in an insurance coverage case in which the plaintiff sought to recover more than $5 million from Hertz. After obtaining summary judgment, helped secure the judgment on appeal. (Hix v. Hertz Corp., 307 Ga. App. 369 (2010)  - coverage dispute arising out of self-insurance plan for rental vehicles).

Best Lawyers in America®, Insurance Law (2023-2024)

Super Lawyers® Magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers List, Insurance Coverage, (2020-2024)

"On the Rise," Fulton County Daily Report, (2017)

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Insurance, Band 1 (2021-2023)

Georgia Construction Law, The Seminar Group, Program Co-Chair