Mary Derner has practiced insurance coverage law for 35 years. Ms. Derner represents policyholders in complex commercial property and liability insurance coverage matters. She advises individuals and businesses on insurance disputes concerning property losses, construction defects, environmental contamination, business losses, bodily injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury, crime and employee dishonesty coverage, employment-related claims, consumer fraud, intellectual property, directors’ and officers’ coverage and professional liability insurance.

Ms. Derner provides advice and opinions to clients and other attorneys concerning insurance coverage issues, pursues insurers to defend and indemnify clients against claims and lawsuits, negotiates resolutions of insurance claims and obtains settlements funded by insurers of claims and lawsuits against clients. She also advises clients in connection with the placement of coverage and negotiation and drafting of policy terms. She assists clients and attorneys in drafting and negotiating provisions relating to insurance in various types of agreements including construction contracts and leases.

Ms. Derner graduated, cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of Law (now University of California College of the Law, San Franciso). She graduated from the University of Santa Barbara, Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors. Mary began her legal career in 1989 in the insurance coverage group of a large San Francisco law firm and throughout her career has continuously practiced insurance law.

Ms. Derner is admitted to practice law in all state courts in California, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and all U.S. District Courts in California.

Mary and her husband Doug have three married sons.  She is a proud grandmother of six grandchildren.  She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, reading, and having family get-togethers.

Significant Matters:    

• Advise clients regarding insurance coverage under property and cyber policies for ransomware attack to recover business income losses.

• Represent owner and  general contractor of 8 building apartment complexes in recovering builder’s risk insurance proceeds for water damage to buildings during construction.

• Represent owner of grocery stores in connection with business interruption claims arising from the Paradise Fire.

• Obtain insurance defense of suits brought against businesses by former employees for harassment.

• Advise client on commercial crime coverage for theft of funds due to computer hacking and email spoofing.

• Provide insurance coverage advice to wineries regarding fire related property and business interruption losses.

• Represent resort owners in resolving multi-million-dollar insurance claims with property and liability insurers arising from defective construction.

• Negotiate terms of Contractor Controlled Insurance Program for repairs of Hawaiian resort damaged by water intrusion and construction defects.

• On behalf of real estate brokerage, prepared Supplemental Brief requested by Federal Court Judge regarding nationwide case law interpreting policy exclusion for deceptive business practices resulting in Court ruling exclusion was inapplicable.

• Advise Plaintiff’s counsel in construction defect action regarding insurance coverage for defendant general contractor resulting in settlement.

• Represent owner and operation of room and board home in connection with liability insurance for death of resident.

• Advise general contractor regarding liability insurance for construction dispute claims involving water damage.

• Pursue coverage for the defense and indemnity of apartment owner against suit by tenants alleging habitability claims.

• Maximizing insurance recoveries under multiple auto policies for wrongful death and bodily injury claims.

• Negotiate settlement of fire loss claim with insurer that denied coverage.

*By identifying past results, Weaver Currie, PC in no way implies or guarantees that any prospective client will receive a similar result, or for that matter, will prevail in any particular matter handled by Weaver Currie, PC.

For assistance or to contact Mary Derner, please reach out to her legal assistant, Veronica Aguilar, at veronica@weavercurrie.com.