Severson and Werson

Eric Crowe joined Severson & Werson’s Insurance Law group in 2000 as Special Counsel.  He has more than two decades of experience in litigation defending insurers and insureds at the trial court and appellate level.  This has included actions involving matters that pertain to policy coverage and duty to indemnify in first-party and bad faith matters as well as third party defense of insureds in professional liability, premises liability and personal injury actions.  His experience with coverage matters includes property/casualty, life, health and disability, CGL and E&O insurance lines. He also practices in the firm’s marine and energy group and has participated in the defense of maritime and admiralty-related matters. Mr. Crowe also serves as monitoring counsel for professional liability E&O insurance programs.

Mr. Crowe maintains a civil litigation practice with an emphasis in defense of insurance coverage, bad faith, professional liability and maritime law matters. He also offers expertise in coverage and monitoring for primary and excess insurers in U.S. and London markets.

Mr. Crowe's specific experience includes:

Insurance Defense: Defense of actions at both trial court and appellate level involving duty to indemnify and defend for a variety of policy coverage. Monitoring and defense of matters involving A&E, property/casualty, life, health and disability, CGL, CHL and E&O coverage. Maritime litigation involving defense of insurers and professional organizations. Prosecution and defense of Ins. Code 11580 actions.

Civil Litigation: Significant exposure and involvement with defense of coverage-related litigation, professional liability, medical malpractice, premises liability/ personal injury and maritime law matters.

Biographical Information:

Employment History:
Joined Severson & Werson as Special Counsel, 2000
Senior Associate Attorney, Barger & Wolen, LLP, 1994-2000
Senior Attorney, King & Associates, 1993-1994
Senior Attorney, Ghidella & Carmody, 1991-1993
Attorney, Lynch, Loofbourrow, Helmenstine, Ghilardi & Grummer, 1988-1991
Law Clerk, Lynch, Loofbourrow, Helmenstine, Ghilardi & Grummer, 1985-1988
Law Clerk/Paralegal Supervisor, Badal, Bernstein & Wetteroth, 1984-1985
Law Clerk, The Law Offices of Peter W. Borak, Esq., 1982-1984

Education: B.A., Political Science, George Washington University, 1974. J.D., Lincoln University School of Law, 1986.

Admitted to Practice: California, 1987. Admitted in various federal districts.

Professional Affiliations: California State Bar Association, San Francisco Bar Association.

• Defended maritime organization against claims of right to indemnity and damages related to environmental impact to San Francisco bay. 

• Defended two European insurers to a defense judgment in a coverage action of global significance involving the Alien Tort Claim Act, War Exclusions and a Third World Energy Project.

• Represented major telecommunication entities and design professionals in large, multi-party litigation involving premises liability and personal injury claims.

• Represented domestic professional liablity insurers in litigation of bad faith and failure to defend claims and obtained summary judgment.

• Defended railroad in one of the largest natural resource damages claims in the history of the State of California—claim brought by the United States of America.

• Represented public entities, entertainment and sports venues in litigation involving premises liability/personal injury claims.

• Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a dive club and dive coach following a diving accident at a public pool. The plaintiff, who was rendered a high level quadriplegic, was subsequently awarded more than 20 million against the remaining public entity defendant at trial.