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Attorney Profiles

Steven J. Polansky 
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Shareholder
phone(856) 414-6014
fax(856) 414-6077
emailsjpolansky@mdwcg.com

Steve concentrates his practice in complex litigation, primarily focusing on first party and third party insurance coverage issues and allegations of bad faith against insurers. His practice includes training of insurance professionals to avoid bad faith liability exposure. He has significant experience litigating these claims in both the trial and appellate courts.

He has authored numerous articles on insurance coverage issues and lectures on issues relating to insurance coverage and bad faith for the Property Loss Research Bureau, the Defense Research Institute and insurance carriers. In addition to his law practice, Steve was elected a Councilman in Cherry Hill Township from 2007 through 2009, and served as president of the Cherry Hill Township Council in 2008 and 2009.

In 1978, Steve received a BBA in accounting (magna cum laude) from Temple University. He went on to receive his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Syracuse University where he was a member of the Law Review. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

The Supreme Court of New Jersey certified Steve as a Civil Trial Attorney in 1989, and he is on the New Jersey Roster of Rule 1:40 qualified mediators. He has a distinguished "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubble. Prior to joining Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, he was managing shareholder of the New Jersey office of Spector Gadon & Rosen, P.C.

Significant Representative Cases:

  • Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Company v. Bennett, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, Docket No. A-2277-06T1 (decided January 1, 2008). The New Jersey Appellate Division in this case upheld an exclusion from coverage for an operator under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

  • Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Company v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car of Pittsburgh, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, Docket No. 1708 WDA 2006 (decided August 10, 2007). The Appellate Court in this decision enforced a family exclusion contained in an excess policy of insurance.

  • The Continental Casualty Company v. Gamble, United States District Court For the District of New Jersey, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 40732 (decided June 4, 2007). The federal court enforced a step-down provision pursuant to a youthful operator endorsement under a boating insurance policy.

  • Rock-N-Rolls Auto Salon, Inc. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, Docket No. A-6150-04T2 (decided June 20, 2006). The New Jersey Appellate Division in this important decision further defined the parameters of bad faith liability in New Jersey, upholding the trial court dismissal of bad faith claims on summary judgment. The decision further defines the parameters of law or ordinance coverage under a first party property insurance policy.

  • Regents of the Mercersburg College v. Republic Franklin Insurance Co., 458 F.3d 159 (3rd Cir. 2006). The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in this decision defined the limits of coverage under a law or ordinance endorsement. The court further rendered the first decision in the country addressing the interplay of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the law or ordinance endorsement.

  • Hollis-Arrington v. PHH Mortgage Corporation, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2006 U.S. App. Lexis 27021 (2006). Successfully obtained affirmance of dismissal of civil racketeering claims brought against an insurer by the insured.

  • CGU Insurance v. Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Company, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, Docket No. A-3283-01T2 (decided April 3, 2003). This was a significant case defining coverage for loading and unloading a motor vehicle under New Jersey law. The favorable decision for Mr. Polansky's client helped define the differentiation of coverage between CGL insurance policies and motor vehicle policies.

  • Winding Hills Condominium Association v. North American Specialty Insurance Company, 332 N.J. Super. 85, 752 A.2d 837 (Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division 2000). This is one of the leading cases in the country on trigger of coverage issues under a first party property insurance policy. Mr. Polansky successfully argued that the court should apply a manifestation trigger of coverage for first party property claims even though the court had already adopted a continuous trigger for other insurance coverages.

  • Weinberger v. Titan Indemnity Company, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, Docket No. A-6459-97T5 (decided January 28, 2000). Successfully enforced intentional act exclusion in a case where a municipality failed to follow proper procedures before demolition of a derelict property.

  • Stafford v. T.H.E. Insurance Company , 309 N.J. Super. 97 (Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division 1998). This is one of the leading cases on enforceability of an assault and battery exclusion in New Jersey. Mr. Polansky was successful in convincing the court to enforce the exclusion.
    • Year Joined Organization:
    2002
    Areas of Practice:
    Insurance Coverage Law
    Bad Faith Litigation
    Commercial Litigation
    Mediation
    Certification/Specialties:
    Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney


    Bar Admissions:
    New Jersey, 1981
    Pennsylvania, 1981
    U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1981
    U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1981
    District of Columbia, 1983
    U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2005
    Education:
    Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York, 1981
    J.D.
    Honors: Magna Cum Laude
    Honors: Order of the Coif
    Honors: American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure
    Law Review: Syracuse University Law Review


    Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1978
    B.B.A.
    Honors: Magna Cum Laude


    Published Works:
    Insurance Coverage Law In New Jersey, (co-author), National Business Institute, 2010


    Quality Claim File Notes, (co-author), Property Loss Research Bureau, 2007


    Insurance Coverage Litigation in New Jersey, (co-author), National Business Institute, 2005


    Claim File Notes, Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy, (co-author), Property Loss Research Bureau, 2005


    Insurance Coverage Law In New Jersey, (co-author), National Business Institute, 2004


    Bad Faith Litigation in New Jersey, (co-author), National Business Institute, 2004


    ADA and Property Insurance Claims, For The Defense, DRI, May, 2004


    Allocation of Coverage across Multiple Policies, For the Defense, DRI, May, 2002


    Insurance Coverage Law in Pennsylvania The Defense Perspective, National Business Institute, 2002


    Professional Liability Coverage/Directors and Officers Coverage Section of "Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage in Pennsylvania", National Business Institute, 2001


    Classes/Seminars Taught:
    Insurance Coverage Law - The Defense Perspective


    Professional Liability Insurance Coverage


    Directors and Officers Insurance Coverage


    Direct and Cross Examination of Economic Experts


    Employee Dishonesty Coverage First Party Property Coverage


    Collapse Coverage Under Commercial and Personal Lines Policies


    The Claim File - Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy


    Bad Faith Litigation in New Jersey


    Insurance Coverage Law in New Jersey


    Honors and Awards:
    AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell


    New Jersey Super Lawyer (2005-2006, 2008-2011)


    Professional Associations and Memberships:
    American Bar Association


    Camden County Bar Association, Trustee 2006-present; Co-Chair Federal Bench-Bar Committee 2005-present


    Defense Research Institute


    New Jersey Bar Association

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