Lee S. Harris - San Francisco, CA
Attorney at Goldstein, Gellman, Melbostad, Harris & McSparran, LLP
Insurance Coverage including Bad Faith and ERISA Lawyers in San Francisco, CA
1388 Sutter Street Suite 1000 San Francisco, CA 94109 - 5454
- Free Consultation
San Francisco Insurance Coverage including Bad Faith and ERISA Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Insurance Coverage including Bad Faith and ERISA 75%
- Personal Injury 25%
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Lee S. Harris is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has assisted individuals and small businesses with complex insurance, injury and property damage problems. He has handled cases involving homeowner property damage and insurance claims, serious accident injuries, disability insurance disputes (including ERISA claims), life insurance claims, as well as refusal to defend and other liability insurance matters. He was a pioneer in handling mass disaster insurance cases in the SF Bay Area. He has served as chair of the American Association for Justice, Insurance and Bad Faith Litigation groups. Lee is an officer and director of the Consumer Attorneys of California where he received 3 Presidential Awards of Merit. He received an AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 rating from Martindale. He has been elected as a fellow of the American Bar Association and has been repeatedly selected as one of Northern California Super Lawyers.
Education
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Legal Education
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University of San Francisco School of Law,
San Francisco,
California, 1977
J.D.
Honors: American Jurisprudence - Evidence
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University of San Francisco School of Law,
San Francisco,
California, 1977
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Non Legal Education
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Harvard University,
Cambridge,
Massachusetts
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
Honors: With Honors
Major: Government
-
Harvard University,
Cambridge,
Massachusetts
Current Employment Position(s)
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Partner
Past Positions
- Cartwright, Bokelman, Borowsky, Moore & Harris, Partner, 1977 - 1996
Languages
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English
Classes and Seminars
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Stanford Law School Advocacy Skills, Stanford Law
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USF Intensive Advocacy Program, USF Law
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American Association for Justice (AAJ) Education, American Association for Justice
- California College of Trial Arts, Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
Pro Bono Activities
- Alameda Planning Board, President, 1993 - 2000
- CHBI Board, President, 2001 - 2006
Representative Cases
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Barbour v. UNUM
- Citation: 2011 WL 2586144, Insurance Bad Faith
- Year: 2011
-
Sobel v. Sun Life and Health Ins. Co.
- Citation: WL 5170296N.D.Cal., ERISA, Long Term Disability
- Year: 2008
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Jones v. St. Paul Travelers
- Citation: 496 F.Supp.2d 1079, ($3.5 million judgment enforcement action vs. employer's insurer for arm amputation suffered on the job)
- Court: N.D.Cal.
- Year: 2007
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TRB Investments, Inc. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co.
- Citation: 40 Cal.4th 19, Insurance Bad Faith
- Year: 2006
-
Sabatino v. Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston
- Citation: 286 F.Supp.2d 1222, ERISA, Long Term Disability
- Court: N.D.Cal.
- Year: 2003
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Conestoga Services Corporation, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Executive Risk Indemnity, Inc., Defendant-Appellee
- Citation: 312 F.3d 976, Insurance coverage and duty to defend and indemnify
- Year: 2002
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Reed v. Scottsdale Ins. Co
- Citation: 1998 WL 34072536, Defendant Monticello Insurance Company tortuously breached its duty to defend
- Court: N.D.Cal.
- Year: 1998
-
Ty Volkmann V. Supershuttle of San Francisco, Inc. Et. Al.
- Citation: WL 33363545, Personal Injury
- Year: 1997
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Wadell Engineering v. Hodges & Shutt
- Citation: 1992 WL 12146100, Bad Faith Tortuous Interference
- Year: 1992
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Philippine Export & Foreign Loan Guarantee Corp. v. Chuidian
- Citation: 218 Cal.App.3d 1058, Act of state doctrine did not provide immunity for Philippine government-owned entity created to guarantee loans regarding any assets in United States
- Court: Cal.App. 6 Dist
- Year: 1990
Bar Admissions
- California, 1977
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1977
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2009
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2000
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 2000
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1987
Other Affiliations
- Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), 1977 - 2014 (Vice President)
- American Association for Justice (AAJ), 1977 - 2014 (Member/Past Chair, Insurance and Bad Faith Litigation)
- American Bar Association (ABA), 1977 - 2014 (Fellow)
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA), 1977 - 2014 (Board of Directors, Member)
- University of San Francisco, Alumni Association, 1977 - 2014
- University of San Francisco, Alumni Association, 1989 (President)
- Bar Association of San Francisco, 1977 - 2014
Photo
Contact
1388 Sutter Street
Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94109 - 5454
Phone: 415-906-2620
Fax: 415-673-5606
Email: Send a message
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