MELINDA W. EBELHAR
Melinda’s practice is primarily focused
on insurance and employment issues. In the insurance area this
includes analyzing coverage under liability insurance policies
and rendering opinions regarding same, overseeing litigation on
behalf of insurer clients (including monitoring defense counsel
invoices), and litigating coverage and so-called “bad faith”
cases on behalf of insurer clients. In the employment area this
includes reviewing employment practices and policies for clients
to insure they are in compliance with state and federal laws and
regulations and defending employment-related litigation. Melinda
spent eight years as an associate general counsel for Fireman’s
Fund Insurance Company, representing the group of insurance companies
in litigation, rendering coverage opinions, overseeing outside
counsel, and giving presentations to claims personnel on various
topics of interest related to insurance.
Melinda also has a particular sub-specialty
in appellate law, and she has represented clients in the state
and federal appellate courts on a broad spectrum of issues ranging
from medical malpractice (including cases which have helped to
shape California law) to general liability (including public entity
defense) to insurance coverage.
Melinda frequently presents on insurance-related
issues. Past topics have included current trends in insurance,
environmental issues, toxic torts, and uninsured/underinsured
motorist issues with a side foray into no-fault automobile insurance.
Previously, she served as an adjunct professor at Glendale College
of Law, teaching Conflicts of Law and Civil Procedure review to
graduating students.
Melinda also volunteers with Happy Strays
Animal Rescue, a not-for-profit rescue organization that cares
for and re-homes orphaned, abandoned and stray cats.
Education
- Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley,
JD, 1983
- Occidental College, AB, 1979; cum laude, psychology/theater
Admissions
- California
- New York
- United States District Courts: Northern District of California, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California
- United States Court of Appeals: Ninth Circuit
Representative Reported Case
- Niguel Ridge Homeowners Ass'n v. American Intern. Specialty
Lines Ins. Co. 2007 WL 247707
- Buena Vista Mines, Inc. v. Industrial Indemnity Co.
87 Cal.App.4th 482 (2001)
- Waters v. Young 100 F.3d 1437 (9th Cir. 1996)
- Zanghi v. Niagara Frontier Transp. Com'n, 626 N.Y.S.2d
23 (N.Y. 1995)
- Finkelstein v. 20th Century Ins. Co. 11 Cal.App.4th
926 (1992)
- Storch v. Silverman 186 Cal.App.3d 671 (1986)