Christopher P. Leise

Christopher Leise focuses his practice on complex insurance and commercial litigation, including the representation of licensed insurance agents and brokers in professional liability claims and agency contract disputes. He also has extensive experience litigating complex insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, RICO and insurance fraud claims, fire damage claims, and ERISA disputes. Chris works with regional and national brokerage firms defending professional liability claims and handling disputes with insurance companies throughout the mid-Atlantic region, as well as with commercial insurance carriers defending allegations of bad faith.

• Won jury verdict for property insurer voiding coverage for a multi-million dollar Pennsylvania fire loss due to policyholder’s material misrepresentations about the risk during the application process; verdict and judgment affirmed on appeal (Hered, LLC v. Seneca Insurance Company)
• Secured jury verdict rejecting Federal RICO claims against an insurance broker arising from the sale of life insurance pursuant to an employee benefit plan 
• Lead counsel before the New Jersey Appellate Division wherein the Court vacated a $9 million trial court judgment and entered judgment for an insurance broker in suit arising from the sale of breach of warranty and hull policies to a commercial ferry operator (Harbor Commuter Service, Inc. v. Frenkel & Co., Inc.)
• Secured multi-million dollar recovery on behalf of New Jersey insurance agents by proving that their agreements with an auto insurance carrier were terminated in bad faith and violation of New Jersey law (Scheller v. Rutgers Casualty Insurance Co.)