Geoffrey Hutchinson Partner

Geoffrey Hutchinson represents insurers in a broad array of coverage matters pursuant to commercial general liability and E&O policies.  Mr. Hutchinson has litigated matters concerning the application of Coverage A to construction defect actions or construction workplace injury actions, including complex multiparty disputes over inter-carrier contribution. Mr. Hutchinson has represented clients in disputes over the application of Coverage B to underlying data breach actions, and habitability cases.  Mr. Hutchinson has represented professional liability carriers with respect to rescission of policies due to misrepresentations in the application process. Mr. Hutchinson also has experience with motor carrier policies and the federally mandated MCS-90 endorsement.

Mr. Hutchinson is admitted to practice before all California State courts, and the United States District Court for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California.

Representative Matters

• Represented an insurer in a bad faith action arising from disputed defense and indemnity coverage for a develop/builder, successfully resolved at bench trial.
• Represented an insurer in numerous complex multi-party contribution actions involving large scale construction projects.
• Represented an insurer in disputes related to the alleged liability of national retailers for credit card skimming and the application of Coverage B for the publication of information violating a right to privacy.
• Represented insurers in disputes with property owners concerning coverage for habitability lawsuits under Coverage B for wrongful eviction or wrongful entry.
• Represented insurers in rescission actions concerning misrepresentations in the application process.
• Steadfast Ins. Co. v. Gemini Ins. Co., No. No. B228871, 2011 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 7721 (Cal. App. 2d Dist. Oct. 11, 2011)
• Pennsylvania General Ins. Co. v. American Safety Indemnity Co., 185 Cal. App. 4th 1515, 1518 (2010)

Education

• Mr. Hutchinson earned his Juris Doctor in 2000 from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings), where he served as Executive Editor, Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, and won at oral arguments at the 1999 Hastings Appellate Advocacy competition.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Diego State University where he was on the Dean’s List.