John David Dickenson

Regional Manager, Global Insurance Department – East

Recent News:

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

John David (J.D.) Dickenson focuses his practice in the area of insurance and reinsurance. He represents insurers and risk retention groups in complex coverage, claims handling, and bad faith litigation and also provides coverage and excess exposure opinions. 

He regularly counsels insurers on medical and legal professional liability, general liability, first party property matters and directors' and officers' coverage. His work includes monitoring potential excess exposure issues, conducting complex coverage analysis, and handling multiple claimant issues.

J.D. practices in state and federal court and has tried cases to verdict in both venues. He also handles complex commercial litigation matters including insurance regulatory, securities, and real property related litigation.

J.D. has been selected for inclusion in the Florida Super Lawyers - Rising Stars edition numerous times.  In his free time, J.D. is an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. He is a member of the State Board of Directors of the Coastal Conservation Association Florida, founder of its South Palm Beach Chapter and Chairman of its Statewide Habitat Restoration Committee.

J.D. earned his bachelor's degree from Lafayette College and graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law.
 

Experience

News

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

Cozen O’Connor Announces Changes to Firm Management

February 16, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2021 year.

Cozen O’Connor Names Six New Shareholders

September 07, 2017

Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce the promotion of six members to shareholders of the firm: David Brisco (San Diego), Michael de Leeuw (New York), John Dickenson (West Palm Beach), Jonathan Lichtenstein (Philadelphia), William Walsh (Seattle), and Ingrid Welch (Philadelphia).

Publications

Florida Enacts Broad Insurance Reforms Focusing on Bad Faith [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

March 29, 2023

From 2019 to 2022, the Florida Legislature enacted four separate property insurance reforms that sought to rein in abusive property insurance litigation fueled by one-way attorney’s fee shifting and an army of professional plaintiffs filing lawsuits pursuant to assignments of benefits. In its...

Florida Begins New Era with Major Property Insurance Reforms [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

December 16, 2022

For the fourth time since 2019, the Florida Legislature has enacted property insurance reforms aimed towards stabilizing a beleaguered insurance market. The bill, S.B. 2-A, creates a reinsurance assistance program, establishes additional oversight for insurers with high volumes of hurricane claims,...

Florida Property Insurance Reform Round Three Brings Big Changes [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

June 01, 2022

For the third time since 2019, the Florida Legislature has enacted broad property insurance reforms with the goal of stabilizing the insurance market and curbing litigation filed by unscrupulous contractors. The bill, S.B. 2D, creates a reinsurance program, amends certain prohibited advertisement...

Global Insurance Perspectives on Climate Change [White Paper]

July 21, 2021

J.D. Dickenson, Jonathan Toren, and Ryan Kelly discuss how continually shifting climate change risk realities have the potential to impact claims handling and litigation management in the insurance industry.

A Look Inside Florida’s Recent Property Insurance Reform [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

June 14, 2021

Two years after implementing meaningful assignment of benefits reform, Florida enacted broader property insurance claim reform. On June 11, 2021, Governor DeSantis sign S.B. 76, which takes effect on July 1, 2021. S.B. 76 focuses on reducing insurance claim litigation by, amongst other things,...

A Consequential Ruling: Florida Supreme Court Rejects Recovery of Consequential Damages in First-Party Breach of Contract Actions [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

January 22, 2021

In first-party breach of insurance contract actions, the parties oftentimes dispute whether the policyholder may seek damages that are not explicitly provided for in the policy, with the policyholder arguing such indirect damages flow from the alleged breach of contract. By doing so, policyholders...

Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Exception to the 'Four Corners' Rule for Determining an Insurer's Duty to Defend [Casualty Coverage Chronicle Blog]

September 24, 2020

As a general rule, an insurer’s duty to defend arises under Florida law when the allegations of the complaint against the insured “fairly and potentially bring the suit within policy coverage.” Jones v. Fla. Ins. Guar. Ass’n, Inc., 908 So. 2d 435, 442-43 (Fla. 2005). This general rule is often...

Correlation or Causation for Coronavirus-Related Business Income Losses [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

March 24, 2020

In the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, countless businesses have reduced or closed operations—some permanently. Flights have been canceled, hotels and restaurants have closed, and employees have been told to stay home. Naturally, businesses will seek to offset their financial losses...

Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part III – Proof by Other Claims [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

November 21, 2019

In Part I of this series, we explored the differences between institutional and non-institutional bad faith. For claims of institutional bad faith, plaintiffs often attempt to demonstrate a pattern and practice by offering evidence of claims of other policyholders. Unlike claims of institutional bad...

Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part II – Focusing on Plausibility [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

November 20, 2019

In Part I of this series, we discussed institutional bad faith and best practices for insurers to minimize the risk of these costly and intrusive lawsuits. In Part II, we will focus on cutting discovery off at the pleadings—by narrowing the plaintiff’s claim, you limit the scope of relevance in...

Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part II – Focusing on Plausibility [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

November 19, 2019

In Part I of this series, we discussed institutional bad faith and best practices for insurers to minimize the risk of these costly and intrusive lawsuits. In Part II, we will focus on cutting discovery off at the pleadings—by narrowing the plaintiff’s claim, you limit the scope of relevance in...

Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part I – A Primer on Institutional Bad Faith [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

November 14, 2019

Broadly speaking, there are two types of bad faith claims that may be alleged against an insurance company—traditional or non-institutional bad faith, and institutional bad faith. For the former, a policyholder would seek to hold an insurer liable for its acts or omissions that directly and...

Defending Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Part I – A Primer on Institutional Bad Faith [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

November 14, 2019

Broadly speaking, there are two types of bad faith claims that may be alleged against an insurance company—traditional or non-institutional bad faith, and institutional bad faith. For the former, a policyholder would seek to hold an insurer liable for its acts or omissions that directly and...

Florida Creates Right of Contribution Among Liability Insurers for Defense Costs [Alert]

June 19, 2019

John David Dickenson and Chad A. Pasternack discuss the Florida Legislatures new law that protects policyholders and levels the playing field for insurers that play by the rules.

Key Questions to Consider in Light of Operation Rubicon’s Investigation into Insurance Fraud in South Florida [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

June 13, 2019

Law enforcement in Miami-Dade County, Florida recently arrested nine individuals described by Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis as the “ringleaders of an elaborate fraud scheme” led by Barbara Maria Diaz de Villegas,[1] owner of the public adjusting company The Rubicon Group.[2]  The...

Florida’s “Assignment of Benefits” Bill: A Guide Through the New Statutory Framework [Property Insurance Law Observer Blog]

April 26, 2019

This week, after 7 years of failed efforts, the Florida Legislature passed a meaningful Assignment of Benefits (“AOB”) reform bill.  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced yesterday that he would sign the legislation designed to cut back on abusive AOBs, a practice that has plagued the...

Education

  • Stetson University College Of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2002
  • Lafayette College, B.A., 1996

Awards & Honors

Chambers and Partners USA: Florida: Insurance 2023

Super Lawyer "Rising Star" (Florida) 2009-2011, 2013

Leadership West Palm Beach Selection, 2007

  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • Palm Beach County Bar Association
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
  • Order of Barristers
  • Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, State Board of Directors and State Government Relations Committee, Coastal Conservation Association