Brian J. Clifford has over a decade of coverage, litigation, and trial experience in multiple jurisdictions. As a former municipal defense attorney, Brian has a long history of litigating cases involving complex constitutional and statutory issues. As an insurance coverage attorney, he advocates for and advises clients on a broad range of matters involving general liability, excess, property, and professional liability policies. He also advises clients on risk transfer related to construction projects, real estate development, and business operations. Brian has handled claims involving a variety of first- and third-party losses, including:
- Litigating and negotiating a large settlement for a claim involving failure to properly place key-man life insurance for a closely-held corporation.
- Negotiating the settlement of a rescission action brought by an insurance company against its insured in connection with a series of personal injury claims.
- Advocating on behalf of a construction company concerning the scope of builders risk coverage for a large defective-workmanship claim.
Brian has also successfully advocated on behalf of policyholders in state supreme court decisions, including:
- A Florida Supreme Court decision ruling that notice of right to repair is a “suit”.
- A Rhode Island Supreme Court decision holding that a “Good Samaritan” injured while rendering roadside assistance at the scene of an accident “occupies” the insured vehicle for purposes of recovering uninsured motorist benefits.
Brian is SDV’s resident authority on London Engineering Group (LEG) exclusions and mentors attorneys new to the practice of insurance coverage in the arts of writing and oral advocacy.
Brian and his wife reside in Simsbury, Connecticut with their dog Phineas.
