Craig Bennion

Craig H. Bennion concentrates his practice on all aspects of insurance coverage analysis and insurance policy language interpretation, advanced contract analysis, appellate advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution.

Craig’s insurance coverage background spans 30 years’ experience in analyzing insurance policies and claims, in both first-party property and third-party liability areas. He represents leading national and regional insurers and self-insured risk pools.

Craig has analyzed coverage and advised clients in first-party matters under all-risk commercial, homeowners, and builder’s risk policies, involving a wide range of issues including business interruption; theft and vandalism; snow load damage; fidelity risks; boiler and machinery; computer damage and electronic loss; primary/excess issues; UIM coverage; construction defects; water intrusion, mold and rot; earth movement; and collapse.

Craig offers experienced legal services related to property claims ranging from providing advice concerning reservation of rights, coverage declinations, and policy language; conducting examinations under oath; negotiating claim resolution, directly or through mediation; and litigating disputed claims in declaratory and bad faith actions.

Craig has extensive experience in third-party liability matters, including coverage issues concerning bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, and advertising injury; contractual liability; employment practices liability coverage; directors and officers liability; professional errors and omissions liability; primary/excess issues; claims-made policies; violation of civil rights; molestation or sexual abuse; and construction defect claims. Craig also advises clients concerning the development of new or alternate policy language.

Recent articles authored by Craig have addressed application of the ensuing loss clause in multi-cause property losses; erosion of the attorney-client privilege in property loss investigations and claim handling; and the insured’s compliance with the policy’s examination under oath requirement.

Craig is a member of the appellate and alternative dispute resolution sections of the Washington State and King County Bar Associations, and is a member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance and the Northwest Insurance Coverage Association.

Craig received his Bachelor of Arts at Wesleyan University in 1977 and earned his law degree at Stanford Law School in 1980. He began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Barbara Durham of the Washington Court of Appeals. He has served as a neutral (arbitrator or mediator) in a variety of commercial disputes, and provides mediation services on a pro bono basis for King County District Court, where he has mediated over 150 small claims disputes.

EDUCATION :

• Stanford University Law School, J.D., 1980
• Wesleyan University, B.A., 1977

BAR ADMISSIONS : Washington

COURT ADMISSIONS :

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Washington
• U.S. District Court — Western District of Washington
• Washington Supreme Court

AFFILIATIONS :

• American Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• Northwest Insurance Coverage Association
• Washington State Bar Association