Scott N Godes

Scott Godes is an experienced trial lawyer who litigates complex insurance coverage disputes. He helps corporate policyholders recover insurance when their claims have been denied by their insurance companies. Mr. Godes received a decisive victory as lead counsel in a four-month asbestos-related insurance coverage class action trial that found insurance coverage was available for ~20,000 pending asbestos claims. Mr. Godes has helped clients recover over $800 million in insurance proceeds.

Mr.Godes has represented a variety of clients seeking to obtain insurancecoverage from their insurance companies.  Mr. Godes' coverage experience ranges from directors and officers (D&O) insurance questions to the scope of manuscript technology liability policies through long tail liability claims (such as asbestos and PCBs) under standard form CGL policies. He received a decisive victoryas lead counsel in a landmark four-month asbestos-related insurancecoverage class action trial. In that case, the policyholder’s insurancecompanies asserted that they had paid out their aggregate limits forall of the policyholder’s asbestos-related claims, and therefore, owedno additional coverage. The Supreme Court of New York disagreed withthe insurance companies, ruling decisively against the primary and“wrap up” insurers, finding that there was premises/operations(“non-products”) coverage for the claims under the policies. That casewas the first asbestos non-products coverage case resolved favorablyagainst the insurers after a full trial on the merits. The case alsofavorably resolved a number of other critical issues, including notice,number of occurrences, and the statute of limitations. Mr. Godes also has represented policyholders in declaratory judgmentinsurance coverage actions, insurance-related bankruptcies andadversary actions, insurer rehabilitation actions, and commercialarbitrations. He has litigated and advised clients regarding insurancecoverage for computer data, hardware, and software claims; mass tortliabilities; potential director and officer claims; asbestos claims;environmental property damage; flood claims; and class actions. He alsohas been instrumental in claims that have settled for more than $800 million in insurancecoverage. In addition to his insurance coverage experience, Mr. Godes haslitigated complex commercial and government contract disputes andbusiness-related torts. He has represented clients before state andfederal courts, in administrative proceedings, and in commercialarbitrations.