Murchison & Cumming Adds Partner in San Francisco and Associate in Las Vegas

November 16, 2011

LOS ANGELES - Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that John H. Podesta and Douglas J. Duesman have joined the firm. Mr. Podesta joins the San Francisco office as a Partner, and Mr. Duesman joins the Las Vegas office as an Associate.

Mr. Podesta brings over twenty years of experience in insurance coverage and bad faith matters. Specializing in construction-related coverage issues, he regularly advises clients on construction insurance disputes involving ongoing operations, construction defect and OCIP/wrap-up matters. He serves as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Insurance Coverage Construction Subcommittee. With first-hand experience as a claims supervisor for a large insurance company, Mr. Podesta is knowledgeable of a wide range of insurance issues. He is also experienced in defending clients in business litigation and general liability cases, and resolving contract and policy issues.

A successful trial and appellate attorney, Mr. Podesta’s published decisions include: Pennsylvania General v. Am. Safety (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 1515; and Maryland Cas. v. Nationwide (1998) 65 Cal.App,4th 21. His experience and knowledge lend to his reputation as an aggressive advocate, resolving issues efficiently and helping clients to achieve their goals cost-effectively.

Mr. Duesman focuses his practice on insurance and bad faith defense, complex commercial litigation and business transactions. He specializes in first and third-party claims, insurance bad faith, tort litigation, insurance fraud and coverage. In the areas of general liability and business transactions, Mr. Duesman has handled a variety of matters involving slip and fall, automobile accidents and breach of contract issues, among others. He is experienced in all phases of litigation, defending clients at trial, in mediation, arbitration and through the settlement process.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm's attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.