Jose M. Umbert

Partner

San Francisco
44 Montgomery Street
Suite 3400
San Francisco CA 94104

TEL: (415) 633-1914
FAX: (415) 693-0770

jumbert@zelle.com

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Jose practices in a variety of litigation areas. He has substantial experience in domestic and international antitrust cases, unfair competition matters, property insurance disputes in the United States and abroad, and class action litigation.

Jose has written and presented on several insurance coverage and international antitrust issues, and volunteers for a non-profit organization advancing immigrants' rights and opportunities.

Representative Matters

In re Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practices Litigation (representation of defendant energy company in multidistrict litigation challenging sales of motor fuel for a specified price per gallon without disclosing or adjusting for the fuel's temperature expansion)

Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases (coordinated class action lawsuit on behalf of California consumers involving antitrust and unfair competition claims arising from the defendants' rules regarding acceptance of their credit and debit cards)

In re Converted Organics Litigation (defense of class action lawsuit alleging that manufacturer of organic fertilizers breached agreements with investors)

International insurance coverage disputes involving:

hurricane damage to glass manufacturing facilities in Mexico;
a design defect in the reactor of a methanol plant in Trinidad;
the collapse of a glass furnace in Spain;
the interruption of natural gas supply to a Tunisian power plant as a result of an offshore oil well shutdown; and
the alleged theft of stock from a check manufacturing plant in Mexico.

International reinsurance arbitrations arising out of:

the 9/11 terrorist attack; and
the contamination of cereal oats by the use of an unapproved pesticide.

ADCO Construction Defect Cases (represented property insurer in multi-party litigation in the Superior Court of California relating to major defects in the construction of the luxurious Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara)

Articles & Presentations

"Calif. Plumbs The Depths Of Water Damage Exclusions," Insurance Law360, April 10, 2013, author

"Pinnacle's Limited Impact On California Property Litigation," Insurance Law360, November 2, 2012, co-author

"The Scope of Property Insurance Appraisals in California," Insurance Law360, July 7, 2011, co-author

Competition Law Roundtable, 18th Annual International Law Firm Alliance ILFA e-iure Conference, May 26-28, 2011, presenter (Corresponding PowerPoint presentation in PDF format)

"Case Study: Zhang v. Superior Court," Insurance Law360, February 15, 2011, co-author

"Private Enforcement of Articles 101 and 102 in Europe's National Courts," The Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business, published by the Center for International Legal Studies, Volume 32, 2010, co-author

"Case Study: Village Northridge v. State Farm," Insurance Law360, October 7, 2010, co-author

"Disqualification Standards: Party-Selected Appraisers," Insurance Law360, February 8, 2010, co-author

"Next Battleground In EU Antitrust Litigation," Competition Law360, April 7, 2009, co-author

"The Next Battleground in Antitrust Litigation: Private Enforcement of Articles 81 and 82 in the Courts of the European Union's Member States," November 2008, co-author

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
State Bar of California
Bar Association of San Francisco
California-Spain Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the Board of Directors

News

Court Approves Settlement in Disability Discrimination Class Action