MARY P. DERNER (OF COUNSEL)
Mary Derner has practiced insurance coverage law for 35 years. Ms. Derner represents policyholders in complex property and liability insurance coverage matters. She advises clients on insurance disputes concerning property losses, construction defects, environmental contamination, business losses, bodily injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury, crime and employee dishonesty coverage, employment-related claims, consumer fraud, intellectual property, directors’ and officers’ coverage and professional liability insurance.
Ms. Derner provides advice and opinions to clients and other attorneys concerning insurance coverage issues, pursues insurers to defend and indemnify clients against claims and lawsuits, negotiates resolution of insurance claims and obtains settlements funded by insurers of claims and lawsuits against clients. She also advises clients in connection with the placement of coverage and negotiation and drafting of policy terms. She assists clients and attorneys in drafting and negotiating provisions relating to insurance in various types of agreements including construction contracts and leases.
Ms. Derner graduated, cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of Law (now known as University of California College of the Law, San Franciso). She graduated from the University of Santa Barbara, Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors. Mary began her legal career in 1989 in the insurance coverage group of a large San Francisco law firm and throughout her career has continuously practiced insurance law.
Ms. Derner is admitted to practice law in all state courts in California, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and all U.S. District Courts in California.
Mary and her husband Doug have three married sons. She is a proud grandmother of six grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, reading, and having family get-togethers.
Significant Matters:
Advise client regarding insurance coverage under property and cyber policies for ransomware attack to recover business income losses.
Represent owner of apartment complex in recovering builder’s risk insurance proceeds for water damage to buildings during construction.
Represent owner of grocery stores in connection with business interruption claims arising from the Paradise Fire.
Consult with public entities regarding insurance coverage for defense and indemnity of lawsuits including additional insured coverage.
Obtain insurance defense of suits brought against businesses by former employees for harassment.
Advise client on commercial crime coverage for theft of funds due to computer hacking and email spoofing.
Provide insurance coverage advice to wineries regarding fire related property and business interruption losses.
Represent resort owners in resolving multi-million-dollar insurance claims with property and liability insurers arising from defective construction.
Negotiate terms of Contractor Controlled Insurance Program for repairs of Hawaiian resort damaged by water intrusion and construction defects.
On behalf of the property owner, drafted insurance requirements of construction contracts for $10 million renovation of a townhouse in New York and negotiated terms of owner’s property insurance policy.
Analyze and provide coverage advice to fuel companies regarding property and liability insurance for tank leak causing contamination.
Represent owner/builder in coverage dispute with liability insurer concerning neighbor’s action for damage caused by a landslide resulting in insurer reimbursing owner for defense fees and contributing to settlement of action.
Provide coverage opinion to dairy regarding liability coverage for action alleging its milk products contained allergens contaminating a customer’s pediatric formula.
Obtain policy limit settlement contribution from liability insurer on behalf of insured auto dealership resolving action.
Represent medical device company in coverage disputes with multiple carriers regarding defense and indemnity of underlying patent infringement claim.
On behalf of real estate brokerage, prepared Supplemental Brief requested by Federal Court Judge regarding nationwide case law interpreting policy exclusion for deceptive business practices resulting in Court ruling exclusion was inapplicable.
Advise Plaintiff’s counsel in construction defect action regarding insurance coverage for defendant general contractor resulting in settlement.
Provide coverage opinion and advice to security company with respect to personal injury action brought by its employee against security company’s retail client.
*By identifying past results, Welty, Weaver & Currie in no way implies or guarantees that any prospective client will receive a similar result, or for that matter, will prevail in any particular matter handled by Welty, Weaver & Currie.