Ira’s legal practice focuses on the representation of insurers in complex coverage matters, both in litigation and in an advisory capacity. He has substantial experience litigating property damage and business interruption coverage issues under commercial first-party property policies, many of which arose out of the devastating Florida hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. Ira’s coverage work in commercial general liability has encompassed a variety of underlying claims, including claims arising out of pollution, asbestos, lead paint, construction defects, workplace injuries, patent/trademark infringement, unfair competition and negligent security.
Ira has also litigated a wide range of coverage issues arising under claims-made policies, including directors and officers, errors and omissions and professional liability policies. Ira also regularly advises insurers on policy wording, regulatory requirements, avoidance of bad faith exposure and strategies for minimizing both the risk and expense of litigation.
Practices
- Great American v. 2000 Island, 153 So. 3d 384 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014)
- Towers of Oceanview South v. Great American, 2014 WL 4376147 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
- Tower Insurance v. Blocker, 2013 WL 4716397 (M.D. Fla. 2013)
- Axis Surplus v. Contravest, 921 F. Supp. 2d 1338 (M.D. Fla. 2012)
- Tower Insurance v. Lormejuste, 2012 WL 1986881, report and recommendation adopted and incorporated, 2012 WL 1986827
- Heathrow Country Club v. Zurich, 2007 WL 4206635 (M.D. Fla. 2007)
- Glidden v. Lumbermens Mutual, 2004 WL 2931019 (Ohio App. 2004)
- Apollon Waterproofing v. Bergassi, 87 Fed. Appx. 757 (2d Cir. 2004)
- Liggett Group v. Affiliated FM, 2001 WL 1457070 (Del. Sup. 2001)
Education
- Tulane Law School, JD, 1993, cum laude
- University of Florida, BS, Finance, 1990, with honors
Admissions
- Florida
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- United States District Courts: Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals: Eleventh Circuit
Languages
- English
Presentations/Publications
- Author, “Adjusting to Change” (Best’s Review, May 2008)
- Author, Florida’s Misinterpreted, Misguided and Misunderstood Attorney’s Fee Statute (Mealey’s, March 2008)
- Author, The Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Pre-2005 Valued Policy Law (Mealey’s, December 2007)
- Author, Sharing Secrets (Best’s Review, March 2006)
- Author, Is It or Isn’t It (Best’s Review, July 2005)
- Author, A Higher Policy (Best’s Review, July 2005)
- Author, The “Sunrise Endorsement”: Dark Days Ahead For Unwary Insurers (Mealey’s Litigation Report, September 28, 2004)