Practice Areas
Education
Bar and Court Admissions
Past Professional Experience

Steven J. Badger

Partner
Dallas
901 Main Street
Suite 4000
Dallas TX 75202
TEL: (214) 749-4207
FAX: (214) 760-8994
{ mail } sbadger@zelle.com
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Steve represents the commercial property insurance industry, both as a plaintiff in large loss catastrophe subrogation matters and as a defendant in coverage matters involving roofing and other construction issues.

The past seven years of Steve’s career has been in large part devoted to leading the $5 billion subrogation action arising from the 9/11 Terrorist Attack. Leading the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Steve was involved in directing all aspects of the action on behalf of the entire group of property damage plaintiffs. The litigation was recently settled for $1.2 billion, reportedly the largest subrogation recovery ever obtained by the insurance industry.

Steve's large loss catastrophe subrogation practice includes losses involving fires, explosions, product failures, building collapses, and other catastrophic events. He has handled subrogation matters across the United States and in several foreign countries. Steve has developed a particular expertise in losses involving natural disasters, such as hurricanes, windstorms, hailstorms, snowstorms, and floods. Typical losses involve hail damage to roofing products, building collapses under the weight of rainwater or snow, flood damage to buildings, and the blow-off of roofing systems during significant wind events.

Steve’s coverage practice focuses on the niche area of claims involving roofing and other construction products arising from hailstorms and wind events. He regularly assists his clients in addressing common adjustment and coverage issues typically arising in these losses (such as identification of hail/wind uplift damage, scope of necessary repair, and appraisal). Steve also represents their interests in subsequent coverage litigation, including matters involving suspected fraud. Steve has also developed a particular expertise in dealing with claims involving public adjusters, including claims where unlicensed construction consultants and contractors are acting as public adjusters.

An entertaining and informative speaker, Steve is frequently asked to present for industry groups and clients concerning both his subrogation and coverage practices.

Representative Matters

In re September 11 Litig., 1:21-MC-00101-AKH, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66905 (S.D.N.Y. July 1, 2010) (order and opinion granting joint motion to approve property damage settlement)

In re September 11 Litig., 1:21-MC-00101-AKH (S.D.N.Y, Aug. 13, 2009) (order and opinion denying motions to dismiss all claims of subrogated insurers)

Federal Ins. Co., Inc. v. HPG International, Inc. (claims involving failure of commercial roofing product)

Articles & Presentations

“There Has Got To Be A Better Way  --  Strategies For Early Resolution of Complex Subrogation Matters,” ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT, April 9, 2013, presenter

"First Party Property Insurance Appraisals – Time to Lawyer Up?,"  West LegalEdcenter webcast, April 2, 2013, presenter

"Hail Damage Claims - What The Hail Is Going On?," Emerging Issues in Property Insurance, Chicago, IL, March 28, 2013, co-presenter

Publisher – “Texas Hail Claims Bulletin", a monthly email bulletin providing information and resources relating to hail damage claim issues.  To subscribe, email dgruber@zelle.com.

"Appraisal Since Johnson – What The Hail Is Going On?," Dallas Bar Association's Headnotes, October 24, 2012, co-author

RIMS-DFW Chapter, Annual Conference; Keynote Address, "The Mother of all Subrogation Cases--Subrogation Arising From The 911 Terrorist Attack," October 15, 2012

"The Devolution Of Appraisal In Insurance Disputes," Insurance Law360, October 15, 2012, co-author

“Texas Hail Damage Claims Seminar—What The Hail Is Going On?”, August 9, 2012, organizer and presenter

“The Unauthorized Practice of Public Adjusting”, National Association of Public Adjusters Annual Conference, June 23, 2012, presenter

“Roofing and Insurance—When Worlds Collide”, North Texas Roofing Contractors Association Lunch & Learn, April 23, 2012, presenter

"Dallas attorney had inside view of 9/11 records," Dallas Business Journal, September 9-15 issue, profiled

"For Chicago Lawyer Bob Clifford, 9/11 Case Could Be His Biggest Yet," Chicago Magazine, March 2011 issue, quoted

"Silverstein Seeks Unsealing of Property Damage Deal," New York Law Journal, April 16, 2010, quoted

"Frivolous Defense: Why Do Plaintiffs' Attorneys Get All the Blame for Rising Defense Costs?," Swiss Re Claims Conference, June 2010, presenter

"Frivolous Defense: Strategies for Moving Meritorious Subrogation Actions to Resolution," Executive Summit, April 2009, presenter

"Catastrophic Subrogation: Wind, Water, Fire, and Terror," Xchanging, November 2008, presenter

"The Mother of All Subrogation Cases, Subrogation Arising from the 9/11 Terrorist Attack," NASP Conference, November 2008, presenter

"Managing Catastrophic Subrogation," NASP Conference, November 2008, presenter

"Commercial Roof Losses - Coverage, Adjustment, and Subrogation," PLRB Claims Conference, 2004, 2005, 2006, presenter 

"Roofing Subrogation Handbook," Claims Conference of the Property Loss Research Bureau, 2000 & 2001, author and presenter 

Professional Affiliations

Noteworthy

Steve recently served on the Property Damage Plaintiffs Executive Committee leading subrogation efforts from the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Steve assisted the Texas Legislature in enacting new licensing requirements governing the conduct of public adjusters.

News