Partner

William T. Corbett, Jr., is a senior litigation partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath and former head of the firm’s Insurance Practice Group.   He concentrates his practice in the areas of coverage and extra-contractual liability litigation and counseling in all property/casualty and professional insurance lines, with a well-developed specialty in appellate work.  William joined the firm in 1996 after working as counsel in the corporate law department of Travelers Insurance Companies in Hartford, Connecticut, where he developed a unique understanding and appreciation of underwriting and claims handling principles, as well as the needs and concerns of insurance industry clients.

William is a member of the tort and insurance practice section of the American Bar Association and a member of the Connecticut Bar Association.  He is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh Circuits.

APPELLATE DECISIONS

Allou Health & Beauty Care, Inc. v. Aetna Casualty and Surety Co., 703 N.Y.S. 2d 253 (App. Div. 2000) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying trademark infringement claim)

Callas Enterprises v. Travelers Indemnity Company of America, 193 F.3d 952 (8th Cir. 1999) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying trademark infringement claim)

Duramax Marine LLC v. Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois, et al., 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 16183 (6th Cir. Aug. 3, 2004) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying false advertising claim)

EKCO Group, Inc. v. Travelers Indemnity Co. of Illinois, 273 F.3d 409 (1st Cir. 2001) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying trade dress infringement claim)

Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Travelers Ins. Co., 193 F.3d 742 (3d Cir. 1999) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying claim for theft of trade secrets and unfair competition)

Hawkins v. Leslie’s Pool Mart, Inc., 184 F.3d 244 (3d Cir. 1999) (whether state law claims based on alleged improper labeling and packing were preempted by federal law)

Herman Miller, Inc. v. The Travelers Indem. Co., 162 F.3d 454 (6th Cir. 1998) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying patent infringement claim)

Insituform Technologies, Inc. v. American Home Assurance Company, 566 F.3d 274 (1st Cir. 2009) (whether business risk exclusions applied to underlying “property damage” loss)

Liberty Life Insurance Company v. Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 13796 (4th Cir. June 23, 1999) (whether “bodily injury” coverage implicated by underlying claims alleging negligent hiring, supervision, and retention of insurance agent who defrauded his customers)

Matagorda Ventures, Inc. v. Travelers Lloyds Ins. Co., 203 F. Supp. 2d 704 (S.D. Tex. 2000), 208 F. Supp. 2d 704 (S.D. Tex. 2001), both aff’d, No. 01-20403, 37 Fed. Appx. 91, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 10120 (5th Cir. May 14, 2002) (whether “prior publication” exclusion applied in context of underlying trademark and copyright infringement claims)

New York Life Insurance Company v. The Travelers Insurance Company, 92 F.3d 336 (5th Cir. 1996) (whether Coverage A implicated by underlying claim against insured based upon fraud by insured’s agent)

Nieman's Ltd. v. Travelers Ins. Cos., et al., Appeal No. 99-3771SI, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 7129 (8th Cir. April 20, 2000) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying claim for theft of trade secrets)

QSP, Inc. v. The Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, 773 A.2d 906 (Conn. 2001) (whether “personal injury” defamation coverage implicated by underlying claim brought by insured’s customers)

State Auto Property and Casualty Ins. Co. v. Travelers Indem. Co. of Am., 343 F.3d 249 (4th Cir. 2003) (whether “advertising injury” coverage implicated by underlying trademark infringement claim)