Eric Lawton

Eric Lawton represents businesses and individuals in the resolution of complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on the representation of policyholders in insurance disputes. A seasoned advocate with over 35 years of experience, he has obtained litigation victories and successful settlements in a broad range of matters, including insurance coverage issues of bad faith, unfair business practices, duties to defend, indemnify and/or pay benefits, in matters involving a wide variety of coverage types, claims, and industries. These include policy types such as commercial general liability (CGL), crime and fidelity, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, professional liability, insurance broker liability, property and business interruption losses and workers compensation insurance. He provides advice and strategies that identify coverage opportunities, protect against unnecessary losses, and secure revenue from insurance policies through litigation and alternative means. He also represents clients in matters ranging from policy audits to risk assessments to litigation for coverage recoveries to complex resolution options that include strategic settlements and other options, as well as business litigation including contract disputes and business fraud, unfair business practices and unfair competition. Mr. Lawton’s practice has an emphasis on representation of employers in disputes with workers compensation insurers involving classification codes, independent contractors, payroll audits and violations of law in the manner of assessing premiums. He also litigates issues regarding deficient claims handling and improper reserving under a policy of workers' compensation insurance which have a substantial impact on an employer's premiums and insurability. He has helped California employers involved in such disputes save millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and recover millions of dollars in damages.

• Insurance Coverage
• Insurance Bad Faith
• Business Litigation
• Represent Employers in Workers Comp Premium & Classification Disputes

• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Hourly Rate Fee Arrangements

California

Since 1972

9th Circuit

Since 1974

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 1975

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

J.D. (1972)

1972

Honors: Dean's List

Activities: Research Assistant to Professor Fred Lower

University of California - Los Angeles

B.A. (1969) | Political Science - International Relations

1969

Honors: Dean's List

Activities: UCLA Karate Team

Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award

Marquis Publishing

2017

Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

AV Preeminent 5 out of 5 Rating

Martindale Hubbell

Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys

Martindale Hubbell

SuperLawyers

Thomson Reuters

Excellent

Avvo

Who's Who in America

Marquis Publishing

Who's Who in American Law

Marquis Publishing

Bruin Professionals

Member

2006 - Current

Provisors

Member

1996 - Current

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Member

1982 - Current

American Bar Association

1981 - Current

California State Bar  # 53958

Member

1972 - Current

Workers Compensation Insurance, UCLA Bruin Professoinals, Manatt Phelps, Los Angeles, CA 90067

UCLA Bruin Professoinals

What Employers (and their Advisors) Need to Know About Workers Compensation Insurance, MCLE, Swerdlow, Florence, Sanchez, Swerdlow & Wimmer, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Swerdlow, Florence, Sanchez, Swerdlow & Wimmer Law Offices

Protecting Employers in Workers Compensation Insurance Premium & Classification Disputes, MCLE, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro

Workers Compensation Insurance, UCLA Bruin Professoinals, Manatt Phelps, Los Angeles, CA 90067

UCLA Bruin Professoinals

Avoiding Insurance Gaps, 2029 Century Park East, Los Angeles, CA 90067

March 12, 2014

Provisors Lawyers & Legal Professionals Affinity Group

Certificate in Mediation

Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution