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ELIZABETH A. FITZPATRICK concentrates her practice on insurance coverage disputes and civil appeals. Ms. Fitzpatrick has represented insurers in declaratory judgment actions and arbitrations, achieved appellate victories for insurers and has rendered coverage opinions on a variety of issues arising under general, professional and employer's liability, directors and officers, homeowner's, and commercial and personal automobile liability policies. She is a frequent lecturer on insurance coverage topics for the New York State and Nassau County bar associations, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and various professional groups, and has served as the local chair and overall statewide planning chair for the New York State Bar Association's Insurance Coverage Seminars. Ms. Fitzpatrick has been a frequent contributor to the New York Law Journal's "Outside Counsel" column on coverage-related topics. She also serves as the editor of the Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP insurance coverage newsletter, We've Got You Covered and writes the firm's Insurance Coverage Blog. Prior to joining Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, Ms. Fitzpatrick was a member of a Long Island based firm representing several major insurers. She handled a variety of coverage related matters in New York state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Fitzpatrick is admitted to the New York State Bar, the Southern and Eastern districts of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and also is a member of the Insurance Committee of the New York State Bar Association's Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section, where she serves as chairperson for the Automobile and General Liability Subcommittee. Ms. Fitzpatrick also is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Insurance Committee. She earned her B.A. degree from the Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. degree from St. John's University School of Law. PAUL J. ISRAELSON has investigated and litigated first-party claims against insurance companies for more than 24 years involving issues of: late notice, coverage exclusions, non-cooperation, fraud, arson, material misrepresentation, damages, liability limits, suit limitation provisions, subrogation and property value. Mr. Israelson has conducted numerous examinations under oath pursuant to the policy terms, and has protected insurance companies from claims where there is no coverage. Additionally, he litigates property damage claims where the insurance company is called upon to defend and indemnify their insured due to their insured's alleged negligence, and also maintains an active appellate practice, handling the appeals of insurance coverage issues. Mr. Israelson teaches a seminar on insurance fraud at C.W. Post's College of Continuing Education. This seminar deals with legal issues applicable to handling claims where coverage is contested because of fraud and is approved for CPCU credit by the New York State Insurance Department. He has written three articles published in the Insurance Advocate, "The Importance Of Suit Limitation Provisions In Insurance Policies;" "The Wear And Tear, Inherent Defect, and Mechanical Breakdown Exclusions Have Been Successfully Applied in New York To Deny Coverage;" and "Helpful Hints For Investigating And Defending Against Fraudulent Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Claims." Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Israelson served as an assistant district attorney for the Kings County District Attorney's Office, assigned to the Economic Crimes and Arson Bureau. While in that bureau, he successfully prosecuted numerous fraudulent insurance claims and arsons for profit. Mr. Israelson earned his B.S. degree from the Wharton School of Economics and Finance, University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. GAIL L. RITZERT is a partner in the New York law firm of Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LLP, where she focuses her practice on insurance coverage and insurance defense matters, concentrating in both the coverage and defense of catastrophic injury cases arising from construction accidents, products and premises defects, and the defense of municipalities. She is a frequent speaker on matters related to insurance defense and personal injury for National Business Institute, the Defense Research Institute, the Defense Association of New York and the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Ritzert is a member of the Suffolk County, Nassau County and Connecticut bar associations, and the District of Columbia Bar, the Defense Association of New York (past president) and the Defense Research Institute (has served as the New York State representative). She earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Pfeiffer College, her M.Ed. degree from Frostburg State University and her J.D. degree from St. John's University. SETH I. WEINSTEIN is a partner in the New York firm of Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP, where his practice is principally concentrated in the areas of property loss litigation and insurance coverage, including the defense and prosecution of subrogation actions. These cases/claims often involve catastrophic building fires, explosions, building collapse, equipment and machinery malfunction, maritime disasters, water damage, water main breaks, mold, theft of property, property contamination and other pollution-related matters. Mr. Weinstein also assists insurance carriers with claims investigation, coverage interpretation and litigation of losses in the United States, Europe and Latin America. He has significant experience in very large complex first-party property coverage disputes, including many disputes concerning the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Mr. Weinstein routinely lectures on the subjects of property loss litigation and insurance coverage for clients and continuing legal education programs. He earned his B.B.A. degree from Florida Atlantic University and his J.D. degree from New York Law School.
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