Timothy G. Ventura

Vice Chair, Philadelphia Professional Liability Practice Group
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    Tim is a member of the Professional Liability Department and focuses his practice on the defense of errors and omissions claims brought against insurance agents and brokers of all sizes. Tim also represents attorneys, corporate directors and officers, and a variety of real estate professionals, including title agents, appraisers, brokers, home inspectors and lenders.  He has successfully tried multiple cases as first chair counsel resulting in jury trial defense verdicts and tried dozens of arbitrations in Pennsylvania.  Tim also has experience defending product liability matters.

    In 2003, Tim graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.  During the fall semester of his junior year at BC, he clerked for Senator John Kerry (D-MA).  Tim then attended Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, PA, where he earned his juris doctor in 2006.  He achieved various honors while at Temple Law School, including: Temple University Law Faculty Scholarship recipient; Outstanding Oral Advocacy in Trial Advocacy; and Distinguished Classroom Performance – Civil Procedure.  He was also a staff member of the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review.

    While attending Temple Law, Tim also worked part-time as a law clerk with Liberty Mutual Insurance Group in the Philadelphia Legal Department.

     

     

     

    Significant Representative Matters

    Obtained dismissal in Federal Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, for insurance broker client in a case involving liability/commercial insurance coverage claims related to lost business income as a result of government mandated closures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Obtained summary judgment in Philadelphia County for our attorney/law firm client, dismissing a complex legal malpractice case involving claims of professional negligence and fraud that arose from an underlying personal injury litigation that concluded with a $700,000 settlement.  In the malpractice action, which involved various coverage and standard of care issues, Plaintiff sought approximately $2 million in damages.  Following discovery, the court granted our motion dismissing both the individual attorneys and firm clients with prejudice. For further details click here.

    Obtained dismissal with prejudice of large automobile manufacturer client following motion oral argument. This case involved product liability claims regarding airbag deployment and alleged personal injuries caused by product defect.  No settlement offers made before suit was dismissed against client manufacturer. 

    Defended insurance agency in Philadelphia Commerce Court action involving claims of professional negligence arising from the agency’s procurement of commercial insurance coverage for a hotel franchise owner.  Following a fire loss resulting in a completely rebuilt hotel property in Philadelphia, plaintiffs alleged their long-time insurance agency failed to obtain more comprehensive coverage available, including insufficient business interruption and ordinance or law coverage.  Plaintiffs also asserted breach of contract/bad faith claims against the insurer co-defendant.  With case exposure exceeding $8.5 million, following discovery and before trial, settled suit at mediation on behalf of insurance agency client with payment in the range of defense costs, a fraction of the total exposure and settlement demand.

    Obtained jury trial defense verdict on behalf of large automobile manufacturer/distributor in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania following four-day trial involving multiple party, fact witness and experts’ testimony.

    Obtained jury trial defense verdict on behalf of product manufacturer in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania following three-day trial involving party, witness and multiple experts' testimony.

    Obtained non-suit judgment for insurance broker at arbitration in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

    Obtained defense verdict for large automobile manufacturer at arbitration in Philadelphia County in a product liability suit involving fire cause and origin issues, with live expert testimony for both parties.

    Obtained Non-Pros judgment in favor of wholesale insurance broker client in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  After serving plaintiff's counsel with letters threatening sanctions and fees under Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1, and the prospect of a retaliatory suit against plaintiff's counsel for wrongful use of civil proceedings, because plaintiff's claims against the wholesale insurance broker lacked probable cause, plaintiff's counsel promptly withdrew representation and the suit languished resulting in a Non Pros judgment with no indemnity paid.

    Obtained favorable outcome for large construction company client at private binding arbitration in a personal injury suit with a settlement demand of $600,000.  Following successful defense at arbitration, with multiple party and witness testimony and experts, the award resulted in client paying less than cost of trial defense.

    Assisted first chair counsel in successful jury trial in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.  Breach of contract/indemnity action representing construction manager against a sub-contractor, resulting in jury verdict recovery in excess of $750,000 on behalf of client.  Drafted successful pre-trial and post-trial motions, fact and expert witness coordination, with trial conference participation.

    Obtained voluntary suit dismissal of plaintiff in legal malpractice suit with $2 million initial settlement demand after drafting successful Motion for Summary Judgment and procuring multiple defense expert reports on behalf of law firm and individual attorney clients.  Dispositive Motion established plaintiff's failure to prove her underlying case within the case and causation in professional negligence action, including the use of digital metadata analysis and litigation attorney expert opinion.

    Defending for over ten years the manufacturer, designer and distributor of automobiles, motorcycles and varied power equipment in catastrophic injury, product liability and warranty actions.

    Defending for over 8 years multiple wholesale and retail auto finance companies in commercial litigation and lender liability suits involving claims of fraud, breach of contract, professional negligence and unfair trade practices.

    Classes/Seminars Taught

    The Seven-Ten Split Mock Trial: Navigating Agent Errors & Omissions, The Annual Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 2, 2024

    Pandemic Coverage Litigation Update / Insurance Broker Best Practices, Client Webinar, September 2022

    The Aftermath of the Pandemic For Carriers and Agents, Client Webinar, July 2021

    Pandemic Coverage Litigation Update - Agent E&O Wars to Come, Client Seminar, March 2021 

    COVID 19 and Insurance Agent E&O, Best Practices, IA&B webinar, May 2020

    Insurance Agent / Broker E&O Litigation Trends & Best Practices during COVID Crisis, Client Webinar, April 2020 

    Insurance Agent / Broker E&O Litigation Trends & Best Practices, Client Seminar, April 2019

    Insurance Agent / Broker E&O – Claims Prevention and Defense in 2018 and Beyond, Client webinar, February 2018

    Mediation and Pre-Suit Claims Handling – Best Practices, Client Seminar, August 2016

    Insurance Agent E&O Claims Prevention and Defense – The Road Ahead in 2016, Client Seminar, March 2016

    Developments and Emerging Trends in the Legal and Insurance Areas of Cybersecurity, Client Seminar, February 2016

    Published Works

    PA Supreme Court Decision Helps Insurance Agents, Financial Advisors, Insurance Agents & Brokers (IAB)’s Primary Agent Magazine, September 2018 

    Legal Updates for Insurance Agents & Brokers, regular contributor, 2018-present

    "PA Supreme Court Narrows Basis to Establish Fiduciary Duty Owed By Financial Advisors/Insurance Agents," Defense Digest, Vol. 23, No. 4, December 2017

    "Insurance Agent E&O Claims Prevention and Defense," Insights, The Institutes CPCU Society, Summer 2017 

    "Insurance Broker E&O – Emerging Trends in Civil Litigation and Practice Tips for 2016," PLUS Journal, November 2015

    "Insurance Broker E&O -- Emerging Trends in Civil Litigation and Practice Tips for 2016," Riding the E&O Line, newsletter of the DRI's Professional Liability Committee, September 2015

    Case Law Alerts, regular contributor, 2014-present

    Admissions
    New Jersey
    2006
    Pennsylvania
    2006
    U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    Education
    Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (J.D., 2006)
    Boston College (B.A., 2003)
    Associations & memberships
    American Bar Association
    Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
    Pennsylvania Bar Association
    Philadelphia Bar Association
    Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
    Year joined
    2006