William P. Krauss

William Krauss is a seasoned commercial litigator with a strong track record of positive outcomes. Working primarily with large national insurers, Bill litigates complex insurance disputes, including appeals, in state and federal courts as well as alternate dispute resolution settings. He also provides counseling and litigation avoidance strategies and has authored coverage opinions on various liability and first party coverage issues. By quickly yet thoroughly grasping the subject matter in a dispute, Bill offers his clients a comprehensive litigation strategy.

Bill advises insurers on a wide range of matters, including construction defect exposures, environmental liability, professional liability, directors and officers liability, bad faith and various personal lines risks. He has substantial experience handling matters involving occurrence-based and claims-made coverage for liability and first-party claims, defending insurance professionals in errors and omissions litigation and representing insurers in workers’ compensation coverage disputes.

Bill is a member of the Council on Litigation Management and is invited frequently to lecture on insurance, claim handling and professional liability issues. Prior to entering private practice, Bill served as a Deputy Attorney General in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. Following law school, he was a law clerk to the Honorable Theodore W. Trautwein of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.

Representative Experience
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

• Langan Engineering & Environmental Services v. Greenwich Insurance. Obtained dismissal of all claims against Greenwich Insurance on primary and umbrella policies in declaratory action arising from wall collapse in New York
• Pain and Ambulatory Surgical Center v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Obtained dismissal of bad faith and punitive damage claims against Liberty Mutual in action by medical provider seeking "facility fee" payment under automobile no fault coverage
• Stavola Contracting v. Liberty Mutual. Lead bad faith counsel for Liberty Mutual in eight-week trial resulting in favorable settlement
• Selbst v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds London. Lead bad faith counsel for Underwriters in jury trial arising from a claim for $1 million in disability benefits. All bad faith claims dismissed during trial. Successfully defended appeals
• Dillon v. Wausau Underwriters Insurance Company. Obtained dismissal of all bad faith and punitive damage claims asserted against a workers compensation insurer
• American Optical v. Admiral Insurance. Counsel for excess insurer in declaratory action seeking coverage for asbestos liabilities nationwide. Obtained favorable settlement following filing and argument of dispositive motions
• DiBernard v. Togno Insurance Agency. Trial counsel for insurance producer in malpractice claim involving placement of liability coverage. Defense jury verdict following week-long trial. Successful defense of appeals
• Patel v. Allstate. Counsel for one of several insurers sued in federal court by the owner of several medical providers who challenged the New Jersey statutory framework for investigating insurance fraud as unconstitutional. The suit was dismissed by the District Court and the dismissal was affirmed by the Third Circuit.
• Reyes v. March Associates. Counsel for Peerless Insurance in a declaratory suit arising from a construction site electrocution. After substituting as counsel while a dispositive motion was pending against Peerless, prepared detailed coverage opinions and successfully opposed the motion following argument before the Superior Court
• Various suits arising from Superstorm Sandy.  Defended Liberty Mutual in actions seeking homeowners insurance benefits and bad faith damages arising from the storm. Results include dismissal of actions in state and federal court on suit limitation provisions and favorable resolution of claims ranging from minor damage to the complete destruction of an oceanfront estate

Decisions
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

• Waste Management v. Admiral Ins. Co., 138 N.J. 106 (1993), cert. den. 513 U.S. 1183 (1995)
• Sealed Air Corp. v. Royal Indem. Co., 404 N.J.Super. 363 (App. Div. 2008), certif. den. 196 N.J. 601 (2008)
• Endo Surgi Center, P.C. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 391 N.J. Super. 588 (App. Div. 2007)
• Franklin Commons Partnership v. Abex Corp., 997 F. Supp. 585 (D. N.J. 1998)
• General Metalcraft Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 796 F. Supp. 794 (D.N.J. 1992)

Professional and Community Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)

Best Lawyers in America (2016-2025)

• Insurance Law

"New Jersey's Top Rated Lawyers" (2012), a list compiled by Martindale-Hubbell

New Jersey Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage (2009-2011, 2015-2017)

AV Peer Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

_{Please see Honor and Award Methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.}