In mid-2021, Cornell Grace, P.C. was retained by a New Jersey-based developer (“Developer”) that had just received a coverage disclaimer from its insurer, a large, well-known general liability carrier. The carrier had been defending Developer for more than two years in a high-value personal injury action arising out of a worksite injury to a subcontractor’s employee, but had unilaterally decided that a policy exclusion applied and abruptly withdrew its defense, leaving its named insured with no coverage.
Attorneys in Cornell Grace’s insurance coverage group brought a declaratory judgment action in the Eastern District of New York on Developer’s behalf, alleging that the carrier had wrongfully disclaimed based on a misinterpretation of its own endorsement and had improperly withdrawn its defense without leave of Court.
After forcing the carrier to disclose key information from its claims and underwriting files, Cornell Grace brought a strong summary judgment motion that prompted the carrier to immediately request a global mediation, at which the underlying personal injury claim was settled by the primary and excess carriers without any contribution from the insured Developer.
Cornell Grace, P.C. aggressively pursues coverage for its clients in a wide variety of construction-related and other insurance disputes, including first party claims as well as third-party claims for additional insured status and “insured contracts” coverage.
Cornell Grace is pleased to report a summary judgment and appellate win for its longtime client, the City of New York, in a high-value personal injury lawsuit. The case involved a plaintiff who, while training for a marathon, disregarded a “Don’t Walk” sign and was struck by a vehicle in the intersection of 9th Avenue […]
Learn moreA worker sued Cornell Grace’s client, a construction manager, claiming he was injured in an unwitnessed accident in which he says he slipped on a patch of ice on the project site. Discovery revealed no other evidence of the alleged ice. The worker alleged violations under the New York Labor Law and moved for partial […]
Learn moreSince 2017, Cornell Grace has been defending a subcontractor that was involved in a 40-car accident on the LIE as it was working to assist in cleanup after Hurricane Sandy. Multiple plaintiffs included the subcontractor as a defendant in their actions, even though it did not cause the accident and did not have any direct […]
Learn moreIn 2016, Cornell Grace was retained to defend two of its construction clients, an owner and construction manager/general contractor, in a personal injury action brought by the employee of a subcontractor who claimed to have been seriously injured. The worker claimed to have tripped on a piece of electrical wire that appeared to have been […]
Learn moreIn a case filed in 2011, Plaintiff, a union elevator installation mechanic, claimed he was severely injured when he slipped on oil while unloading a thousand-pound jack from a delivery truck. Among other defendants, Plaintiff sued the elevator company that had loaded the heavy components onto the truck. After fighting for its client for ten […]
Learn moreIn mid-2021, Cornell Grace, P.C. was retained by a New Jersey-based developer (“Developer”) that had just received a coverage disclaimer from its insurer, a large, well-known general liability carrier. The carrier had been defending Developer for more than two years in a high-value personal injury action arising out of a worksite injury to a subcontractor’s […]
Learn moreThe law firm of Cornell Grace, P.C. often represents owners, developers and prime/general contractors.
Learn moreThis decision has major implications in limiting Labor Law claims in street defect cases.
Learn morePlaintiff claimed injury from an alleged trip over construction materials.
Learn moreOne of Cornell Grace’s specialties is insurance coverage litigation.
Learn moreThe law firm of Cornell Grace, P.C. won summary judgment on behalf of its client.
Learn moreFirm founder Janet O’Connor Cornell served as lead counsel throughout the five-year litigation.
Learn moreCornell Grace, P.C. is committed to providing clients with the highest quality legal representation while maintaining the hands-on personal service of a boutique law firm. We handle cases vigorously, with painstaking attention to detail at every phase, always working in pursuit of the best resolution for our clients.