Dominic S. Nesbitt
Dominic S. Nesbitt directs the firm’s coverage analysis practice.
Dominic initially trained as an insurance broker at Lloyd’s of London before entering law school in the early 1980s. He is licensed to practice law in both California and England.
Dominic’s initial practice in London with Lawrance Messer & Co. (now Nabarro Nathanson), as well as his entire practice in California, has been devoted exclusively to the area of insurance coverage analysis, with a particular focus on commercial general liability, directors and officers, professional liability, and property policies. Dominic is the past Chairman of the Insurance Section of the San Diego County Bar Association.
Prior to forming Osborne & Nesbitt LLP in 1996, he was associated with the national law firms of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP and Adams, Duque & Hazeltine. He is a member of both the California Bar and the Law Society of England and Wales.
Dominic holds an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been annually recognized by his peers as a leader in the field of insurance law.
Further details about Dominic's professional background and experience can be found in the "Professional Summary PDF" in the left column.
Have Questions?
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Why should I select Osborne & Nesbitt as my coverage counsel?
In this field, expertise and experience matter. Coverage analysis and litigation on behalf of policyholders is all we do. We have represented some of California's leading companies against many of the nation's largest insurers. Having ourselves at one time worked on behalf of the insurance companies, we are able to apply an invaluable "Insider's Edge" to your claim.
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What monies can be recovered from the insurer?
Potential recoveries can include the attorney fees and costs incurred to defend the third party lawsuit, the amount of any settlement or judgment paid, as well as prejudgment interest, bad faith damages, and even punitive damages. We have obtained substantial recoveries on behalf of clients by successfully identifying and challenging wrongful denials of the duty to defend.
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What is the cost of challenging a wrongful defense denial?
Although insurance litigation can be expensive, we are frequently willing to review and challenge a wrongful denial of the duty to defend on a contingency fee or "percentage-of-recovery" basis.
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How long does a policyholder have to challenge a wrongful denial of the duty to defend?
Under California law, a policyholder has four years to challenge a wrongful denial of the duty to defend. What is more, this four year period does not even begin to run until the underlying lawsuit, which the insurer has refused to defend, has concluded. For this reason, by way of example, a wrongful denial of the duty to defend issued six years ago, in which the underlying lawsuit did not conclude until only three years ago, can still be challenged.
