Lawyers: Eric Little
        
|
Eric Little grew up on the South Side of Chicago and moved to California in the late 1970s. He earned his BS in Economics and BA in English from University of the Pacific in 1985, and graduated with a J.D. from the University of San Francisco in 1993.
Practice Areas
Eric is Of Counsel to the Firm.
His practice focuses on policyholders with insurance claims involving liability and indemnity and other types of specific risk policies, including:
• Employment Practices Liability
• Directors, Officers & Entity Liability
• Commercial General Liability
• Professional Errors & Omissions
• Architects & Engineers Errors & Omissions
• Media Errors & Omissions
• Excess and Umbrella;
• International
• Homeowners & Homeowners Association
He also handles intellectual property litigation, such as copyright, trademark, trade dress, and trade secrets. And his litigation experience includes business torts and employment issues.
He has nationwide arbitration, state trial court and federal trial court experience, as well as state and federal appellate experience throughout the U.S.
Representative Appellate Decisions
- Zen Design Group adv. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 329 F. 3d (6th Cir. (Mich.) 2003). Secured a full defense paid by the insurer in patent and trademark litigation. Established new law regarding “infringement of slogan” offense in general liability policies.
- Elcom Hardware, Inc. v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 92 Cal. App. 4th 205 (2001). Appellate Court reversed the trial court and ordered a full defense paid by insurer in patent and trade dress litigation. Established new law regarding causation in discrete market segments under “advertising injury” coverage in general liability policies.
- David Kleis, Inc. v. Superior Court, 37 Cal. App. 4th 1035 (2nd Dist. (Calif.) 1995). Obtained full defense for policyholder, paid by the insurer in assault and sexual harassment litigation. Established new law regarding an insurer’s defense duty, regardless of allegations that insured’s employee engaged in reprehensible, intentional conduct.
- Indian Harbor Insurance Company v. Hartford Casualty Insurance Company, No. B192829 2007 WL 2955564 (2nd Dist. (Calif.) 2007). Represented insurer (which honored its obligation to reimburse defense costs) against non-defending insurer and obtained complete reimbursement of all defense costs from non-defending insurer.
Recent Trials & Arbitrations
Better Business Systems v. Lexington Insurance Company, No. 11-19500334-07, American Arbitration Association, Boston Mass. (Nov. 2007). Represented policyholder regarding settlement obligation under Employment Practices Liability Insurance Policy.
Nufern v. Indian Harbor Insurance Company, No. 52-195-L-00713-06, American Arbitration Association, Cleveland, Ohio (Oct. 2007). Litigated indemnity obligation under Intellectual Property Expense Reimbursement Policy.
Bar Admissions
State of California and all U.S. District Courts within California
U.S. District Courts for:
• Eastern District of Michigan
• Western District of Wisconsin
• District of Colorado
• Northern District of Illinois
• District of Kansas
U.S. Courts of Appeals for: First, Fourth, Sixth & Ninth Circuits
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL)
Orange County Bar Association
Personal
Eric is married to a college professor and lives in Orange County, California with their two children, enjoys running and NASCAR.
elittle@mckassonklein.com
EXT. 215