Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partner Claudia A. Costa was a featured moderator at the 2018 PLUS International Conference on November 8 in San Diego. Costa lead a panel discussion on employment practices liability titled, "Pick A Topic: Wheel of Misfortune."
Costa's vast experience defending private and publicly held corporations, including private and charter schools leaders' liability matters, added substantial insight as she guided her panel of experts through a high-energy and interactive session that focused on hot trending legal issues impacting employers and filling courtrooms throughout the country. Employment Liability Coverage issues are frequently in the news, from religious objections, the #MeToo movement, support animals, marijuana legalization, the opioid crisis and workplace substance abuse policies, and more. Costa's panel of industry experts weighed in on how claims are trending, the ways in which underwriting must evolve, and what's next in this exciting and constantly-evolving sector of insurance.
Serving on Costa's panel were Marchelle (Marci) M. Houston, Esq., Senior Vice President, Claim, Bond & Specialty Insurance, Travelers; Carrie Kurzon, National EPL Product Leader, The Hartford; Thomas Lookstein, Vice President - Financial Lines & Professional Liability Claims, Starr Companies; and Laura Zaroski, Esq., Senior Vice President, Arthur J. Gallagher, & Co.
The 2018 PLUS International Conference was held November 7-9 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. For more information on the conference or to view the agenda, please click here.
Claudia A. Costa is a member of Gordon & Rees' Employment Law, Professional Liability Defense and Commercial Litigation practice groups. In her Professional Liability Defense practice, Costa defends lawyers, accountants, architects and insurance brokers/agents in professional malpractice suits brought against them. She also skillfully defends municipalities and townships in civil rights and municipal liability claims. Costa's experience spans a range of other practice areas across the professional liability spectrum including representing private and charter schools in school leaders' liability matters. She has served as general counsel for cases involving student expulsion, pregnancy, special accommodations and allergies, course removal, and the defense of wrongful termination and discrimination claims. She is also called upon to provide advice with regard to the disciplinary action of teachers and students, protocols for handling parents, and drafting of institutional handbook.
Gordon & Rees is a national litigation and business transactions firm with more than 850 lawyers in 52 offices across the United States. Our lawyers provide full service representation to public and private companies ranging from the Fortune 500 to start-ups. Founded in 1974, Gordon & Rees is recognized among the fastest growing and largest law firms in the country. Additionally, in 2018 Law360 ranked the firm among the top 40 largest U.S. firms and The American Lawyer ranked the firm among the top 45 on its Diversity Scorecard.