Recent News:
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.
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.
News
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.
February 16, 2021
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2021 year.
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).
August 03, 2015
The Global Insurance Department presented a two-part webinar series addressing Florida claims handling issues arising out of first and third party claims and litigation in June, 2015.
July 31, 2015
Matthew Criscuolo and John David Dickenson write an article in The Risk Retention Reporter titled "Leveling the Playing Field: Representing Risk Retention Groups in Coverage Disputes."
Publications
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...
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,...
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...
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.
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
October 23, 2018
The Florida Supreme Court recently decided Harvey v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., No. SC17-85, 2018 WL 4496566, at *1 (Fla. Sept. 20, 2018), an important case setting forth what many will try to argue has lessened the standard for bad faith law in Florida to one of negligence plus.
The case has a...
Events & Seminars
Upcoming Events
June 21, 2023
- Webinar
John David Dickenson and Chad A. Pasternack will present a Cozen O'Connor webinar titled "Florida Insurance and Bad Faith Reform Update."
Past Events
February 16, 2022
- Webinar
January 10, 2018
- Webinar
November 19, 2015
- Miami, FL