Defense Counsel

Defense Counsel

ABC’s insurance coverage includes preplanning efforts to avoid/mitigate a loss and provides outstanding legal defense to protect an insured in the event a claim does occur 

Fitzpatrick, Hunt & Pagano, LLP

As designated counsel for the ABC Program, Fitzpatrick, Hunt & Pagano, LLP handles, coordinates and oversees all claims and litigation across the United States, and around the world. Through its long history in aerospace related litigation, Fitzpatrick, Hunt & Pagano, LLP brings an experience and depth to its clients in this specialized area of the law with several of its attorneys having technical backgrounds in areas such as engineering, piloting, and aircraft maintenance.


The firm also draws on an extensive network of experienced local defense counsel, consultants and expert witnesses in all aspects of aviation, space, and relevant scientific disciplines. If an ABC insured has local counsel, with aerospace expertise, that it wishes to recommend to work as part of the defense team led by Fitzpatrick, Hunt & Pagano, LLP on specific matters, Lead Underwriters are open to consideration of such proposals.


ABC's Defense Counsel works closely with ABC insureds in the following areas:

PRODUCT LIABILITY AND

LOSS PREVENTION SEMINARS

The cornerstone of loss prevention is product integrity. Seminars for ABC insureds covering this important issue are provided by ABC's Defense Counsel as a complimentary service. The seminars are conducted at the insured's facility and focus on the specific needs and topics of particular interest to each ABC insured. This session can be provided to anyone in your company and usually includes people from the following areas: finance, legal, risk management, contracts administration, engineering/quality control, marketing, and product support. The seminars provide detailed information on the following critical components of product liability, litigation management and claims management:

  • The need for and the creation of product integrity and safety programs
  • Litigation from inception through the appeal process
  • Document retention policies
  • Update on product liability law
  • Legal theories of liability your company needs to be aware of
  • Legal developments that may impact your company
  • The judicial system and how to use it to your advantage
  • The litigation process and how to prepare for a trial

CLAIMS AND LITIGATION MANAGEMENT

  • Litigation team available from inception through appeal process
  • On-site accident investigation
  • Post accident product teardowns, inspections and testing
  • Liaising and interfacing with government agencies
  • Defense of claims and litigation
  • Online access to individual insured's claims data
  • Centralized claim handling services


ADDITIONAL ADVICE AND GUIDANCE 

  • Drafting and reviewing service bulletins, warranties and contract language.
  • Responding to FAA & NTSB inquiries and investigations
  • Holding product integrity committee meetings
  • Continuously reviewing and updating the product integrity program

ABC Insureds, underwriters and brokers have full time access to their matters by contacting: 
Ralph Pagano, Esq., Fitzpatrick, Hunt & Pagano, LLP
Ralph.Pagano@fitzhunt.com | 212-937-4004

The law offices of Fitzpatrick, Hunt & Pagano are in the role of ABC Defense Counsel, with Mendes & Mount handling asbestos, chemical exposure, and other toxic tort and health hazard claims ("Toxic Claims") for ABC.


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