Richard D. Bremer Partner

Richard D. Bremer’s practice focuses on coverage analysis and development of litigation strategy on behalf of insurers with respect to claims under many types of coverages, including general liability, pollution liability, professional liability, employment liability, commercial transportation, and other policy coverages.  For over 15 years he has represented numerous insurers in complex, multi-party coverage litigation, including claims arising out of environmental and mass tort claims.  Mr. Bremer’s extensive analytical experience in insurance coverage provides him with a unique ability to evaluate complex coverage issues, determine the probability and extent of potential exposure presented by a claim, and prepare a strategy for minimizing exposure in a cost-effective manner.  Mr. Bremer also has significant appellate experience, and has played a key role in negotiating multi-party settlements of up to $100 million on terms beneficial to his clients.  In addition, he has authored multiple chapters of Matthew Bender California Insurance Coverage and Litigation practice guide.  Mr. Bremer is admitted to practice before all California state courts, as well as before the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California.

Representative Matters

• Coordinated with national counsel in management of declaratory relief action regarding coverage for asbestos claims with potential exposure to client of over $45 million, eventually negotiating favorable settlement.
• Successfully obtained writ relief on grounds that the reasonable expectations of an additional named insured as to the meaning of the term “underlying insurance” could be different from the reasonable expectations of the policyholder, overturning trial court’s grant of summary judgment entered while case was being handled by another firm.  (Transport Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2014) 222 Cal. App. 4th 1216).  Writ relief led to settlement in the range of 7 to 14% of exposure had summary judgment ruling been upheld, saving client tens of millions of dollars.
• Represented insurer in lengthy, multi-party mediation of molestation claims pending against prominent religious organization, culminating in $100 million total group settlement.
• Represented insurer in complex priority of exhaustion dispute with multiple other parties involving several layers of coverage.
• Obtained appellate relief overturning mediator’s attempt to enter binding orders without consent of parties.  (Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Superior Court (2005) 126 Cal.4th 1131).
• Obtained summary judgment in bad faith litigation arising from jewelry theft loss and successfully defended appeal.  (Rios v. Scottsdale (2004) 119 Cal.App.4th 1020).
• Obtained summary judgment in handgun marketing case and successfully defended appeal.  (TIG v. Andrews Sporting Goods, 2002 Cal.App.Unpub. LEXIS 2105).

Education

Mr. Bremer earned his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Pepperdine University, where he graduated cum laude.  He received a Masters of Business Administration in 1995 and Bachelor of Arts in Sports Administration and Management in 1993 from the University of California, Riverside, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key International Honour Society.