Latest News
01.01.2011On January 1, 2011 the New York State Department of Insurance’s much-debated Regulation 194 went into effect.
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12.22.2010
Court grants motion to dismiss negligent misrepresentation claim against actuarial firm; members of workers' compensation self-insurance trust lack standing to bring an action against outside professional because of lack of privity of contract.
Attorneys
Christopher Hitchcock
chitchcock@hitchcockcummings.com
- Lafayette College, B.A., cum laude, 1976
- Washington University School of Law, J.D. 1979.
Bar Admissions
- New York State – 1980
- U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York – 1981
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit – 2006
- US District Court for the Western District - 2010
- US District Court for the Northern District - 2011
Honors
- Named to New York Metro Super Lawyers
- Named to Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition
Christopher Hitchcock has thirty years of experience as a litigation lawyer in New York’s federal, state and appellate courts. Chris has extensive experience in the areas of commercial litigation, professional malpractice, construction litigation, employment litigation and insurance coverage. He is a leading authority on legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims, partnership disputes and dissolutions, and ethics questions involving law firms. He is also an advisor to real estate entities and contractors regarding their insurance programs. Significant representations include:
- Defense verdict following eight week trial of wrongful termination claims by contractor against not-for-profit school;
- Dismissal of multiple law suits against law firm in connection with allegations arising out of the settlement of pharmaceutical litigation;
- Successful representation of reinsurer prosecuting fraud and RICO claims;
- Dismissal of legal malpractice action arising from underlying lawsuit claiming catastrophic injuries;
- Dismissal of claims by liquidator of hedge fund against not-for-profit to recover alleged overpayment of investment;
- Ongoing representation of administrator of workers’ compensation trusts in multiple class actions;
- Successful representation of not-for-profit in action for professional negligence and breach of contract against health insurance administrator.
In his defense of professional liability claims, Chris has represented more than 100 law firms in the New York metropolitan area. He also has
had extensive experience in other complex litigation matters throughout his career.
Terry Cummings
tcummings@hitchcockcummings.com
- University of London, LLB – 1979 (London School of Economics & Political Science)
Bar Admissions
- New York State – 1982
- U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York – 1982
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit - 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit - 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit – 2006
- US District Court for the Northern District - 2011
Terry Cummings has a reputation as a highly experienced lawyer in the field of insurance regulation; her practice involves representing clients before insurance regulatory agencies, and in particular the New York Insurance Department. Although insurance regulatory issues are a major focus of her practice, she also has considerable experience as a litigation lawyer. For over 25 years, Terry has represented small, medium sized, and large organizations with business interests in the insurance and reinsurance industries. These include property/casualty insurers, life, and accident & health insurance companies, reinsurers, intermediaries, managing general agencies, insurance producers of every description, as well as policyholders. The breadth and depth of Terry’s experience with the U.S insurance industry since 1982 makes her unique among lawyers who practice commercial insurance law. The types of matters that Terry routinely handles include:
- Representing licensees before the New York Department of Insurance involving all areas of compliance;
- Formation and licensure of new insurance agencies/producers;
- Formation and licensure of new insurance carriers;
- Formation of Risk Retention Groups;
- Formation of Risk Purchasing Groups;
- Designing captive insurance programs;
- Drafting insurance policies and reinsurance agreements;
- Professional liability issues for various professionals, including medical malpractice issues;
- Insurance coverage disputes.
Terry’s career began in the 1970s at one of the United Kingdom’s largest insurance conglomerates. After three years working in an underwriting and sales environment, Terry attended the London School of Economics and Political Science to read law. After graduating with a bachelor of laws degree (LLB) in 1979, Terry moved to the U.S. and worked as a litigation paralegal for one of the country’s leading law firms.
Terry was admitted to practice law in New York in March. 1982. Following admission, Terry was an “in-house” litigation attorney at one of the nation’s largest life insurance companies, and since 1985 has been engaged in the private practice of law at three major firms prior to founding Hitchcock & Cummings LLP with Christopher Hitchcock in February, 2007.
John W. Hanson
Litigation Attorney
jhanson@hitchcockcummings.com
- Insurance Defense
- Legal Malpractice
- Commercial Litigation
- State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A., 2002)
- Hofstra University (J.D., 2005).
- New York State – 2005
- New Jersey; 2006
- U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York – 2007
- US District Court for the Northern District - 2011
Rebekah D'antonio
Litigation Attorney
rdantonio@hitchcockcummings.com
- Insurance Defense
- Commercial Litigation
- Gettysburg College – (B.A. 2003)
- Hofstra University – (J.D. 2007).
- New York State – 2008
Meghan Flaherty
Litigation Attorney
mflaherty@hitchcockcummings.com
- Insurance Defense
- Fairfield University – (B.A. 2003)
- St. John's University School of Law – (J.D. 2006).
- New York State – 2007
Peter C. Maloff
pmaloff@hitchcockcummings.com
- Corporate Commercial Law
- Amherst College – (B.A. 1975)
- New York University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1979).
- New York State – 1980