Debora A. Pitman - Montclair, NJ

DEBORA A. PITMAN has more than thirty years’ experience litigating, arbitrating, and mediating complex commercial, insurance, reinsurance, and employment disputes in federal and state courts and before regulatory and arbitration tribunals. As to insurance, Ms. Pitman has significant experience litigating coverage issues, including coverage triggers, additional insured coverage as a risk transfer mechanism, and coverage priority. Further Ms. Pitman has represented cedants and reinsurers in litigations and arbitrations involving loss allocation, clash coverage, and contract construction.

Prior to joining Clark Guldin, Ms. Pitman represented Manhattan’s largest commercial property owner, an S&P company, in a variety of insurance coverage disputes and tort claims including premises liability focusing on achieving the most cost effective resolution. In addition, Ms. Pitman has considerable experience in the field of employment law counseling clients on a wide range of issues, including negotiating employment and separation agreements, unlawful termination, discrimination, whistleblowing, and retaliation claims. Also, she has represented individuals and business entities in matters ranging from successfully defending against a New York broker’s commission claim for a New Jersey lease to an insurance broker’s liability for premiums received.

Further, Ms. Pitman has vast experience in defending attorneys and other professionals against malpractice claims. Moreover, she has counseled municipalities on zoning and planning issues and has significant experience in real property transfer, title, and survey matters. Concisely stated, Ms. Pitman handles all aspects of litigated matters from case management and strategy through dispositive motions and appeals.

Highlighted matters:

• Secured summary judgment for a property owner on its claim for additional insured coverage in a matter that was appealed to New York’s Court of Appeals.
• Secured summary judgment in favor of a reinsurer before an American Arbitration Association panel prior to hearing.
• Second-chaired a FINRA arbitration resulting in client being absolved from liability for a $1.25 million forgivable loan based on a financial institution’s misstatement when courting and retaining client.
• Was part of the team that recovered intellectual property that the client had developed while employed by a large financial institution involving federal litigation and FINRA arbitration.
• Successfully litigated a question of first impression in a professional liability lawsuit resulting in an affirmance by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Representative Decisions

• Billiard Balls Management LLC v. Mintzer Sarowitz Zeris Ledva & Myers, LLP, No. 153477/2016 (Sup Ct. N.Y. County Aug. 20, 2018)
• 1515 Broadway Fee Owner, LLC, et al. v. Seneca Insurance Company, Inc., 90 A.D.3d 436 (1st Dep't 2011)
• B.P. Air Conditioning Corp. v. One Beacon Ins. Group, 8 N.Y.3d 708 (2007)
• Bashant v. Mid-Westchester Realty Associates, LLC, 31 A.D.3d 680 (2nd Dep't 2006)
• Glavey v. Latzman, 290 A.D.2d 263 (2d Dep't 2002)
• Tinelli v. Redl, 199 F.3d 603 (2d Cir. 1999)