Thomas F. Quinn

Professional Liability
In the representation of lawyers, Tom has defended both large law firms and solo practitioners in a variety of disputes involving real estate, civil litigation, family law, class actions, corporate issues and bankruptcy matters. He also represents lawyers in ethics proceedings and proposed class action lawsuits. Tom has achieved trial victories in his defense of a lawyer in a real estate/conflict of interest matter, a lawyer in a real estate family dispute, a lawyer who counseled a client on corporate debt issues, and a lawyer who had erroneously failed to advise a client about a filing deadline. He also has defended lawyers in ethics trials before special masters.

In the accountants’ liability area, Tom has experience defending malpractice cases involving alleged faulty audits and other attestation work, improper valuations, tax-related errors, and claims of lack of independence. He has counseled accountants on how to respond to third-party and grand jury subpoenas, and has defended and counseled accountants in ethics proceedings.

Tom also has been lead trial attorney representing insurance professionals in cases involving claims ranging from failure to obtain requisite coverage and/or insufficient limits of coverage, to allegations that captive managers failed to develop adequate coverage programs and left their clients financially exposed.

In addition, Tom has represented title agents, appraisers, home inspectors, computer consultants and many other professionals in litigated matters.

Insurance Coverage
Tom is a well-known New Jersey coverage lawyer with extensive experience representing domestic and foreign insurers in coverage disputes involving environmental, product liability, professional liability, advertising injury, commercial general liability (CGL) and first-party property damage claims.

Among his reported cases, Tom was counsel of record on the leading case in New Jersey regarding asbestos insurance coverage and allocation issues, as well as other significant cases on the duty to defend. He also successfully defended at trial an excess insurer in an Agent Orange and environmental coverage case and has been lead counsel to insurers regarding an underlying unfair competition lawsuit and underlying pharmaceutical class action cases. He has represented fidelity insurers in substantial litigation with regulatory authorities. He also has defended class action lawsuits against health insurers on issues related to payment of benefits. He also counsels and represents London-and-Bermuda based Insurers in a variety of matters, including Superstorm Sandy claims.

Tom’s insurance coverage experience also encompasses more common coverage issues as well such as automobile coverage, additional insured issues under GL and contractor policies, coverage for employment litigation, and coverage of claims made under professional liability policies. Tom was recently asked by the New Jersey State Bar Association to update the insurance coverage chapter of its Employment Law treatise. 

Tom has lectured nationwide on coverage issues and has published on the subject. He is the past chair of the Insurance Coverage Committee of the Essex County Bar Association.