Larry B. Panek

925.944.6080

Expertise

Mr. Panek has defended a major corporation in a variety of actions involving industrial equipment, including claims for damage and injuries arising out of fires allegedly caused by defective equipment.
He has defended automobile manufacturers with respect to claims of component failures, rollovers and other design and manufacturing defects, and pharmaceutical companies with respect to allegations of design and manufacturing defects in medical devices and medications.
Mr. Panek defended a manufacturer of infant toys in response to a class action claim consisting of over several hundred injured children and their parents. He obtained a ruling from the court that the class should not be certified which led to an early and cost efficient resolution of the claim.

Mr. Panek represented both insurers and insureds in first and third party insurance litigation involving construction defects, indemnity claims and all aspects of the typical commercial setting.
He also represented the owner of a resort property against several insurers to compel them to defend and indemnify the property owner against claims arising out of the construction of structures on the property.
In a recent matter, Mr. Panek represented an insurance carrier in a case arising from alleged failure to defend and indemnify a construction defect claim with an alleged value of over $50 million. After being retained to represent the carrier, he negotiated with the insured's counsel to obtain a dismissal of the bad faith allegations leaving a simple cause of action for breach of contract. Instrumental in obtaining the participation of other carriers representing subcontractors in the action so that client's share of the defense expenses in the underlying action was reduced by more than two-thirds.
He has successfully represented several insurers in a series of coverage cases involving claims of lost investment, fraud and misrepresentation arising out of investments in real estate construction.

Mr. Panek represented the owner of a hotel in Northern California in an action against subcontractors for damages caused by defective construction.
He has defended numerous contractors and developers throughout Northern California with respect to multiple dwelling structures and claims of defective construction and breach of contract, and has represented a general contractor and developer against claims of defects arising out of a large tract of homes.
Mr. Panek has also represented numerous subcontractors in multiple party construction defect cases.

Hastings College of the Law, University of California, J.D.

Loyola Marymount University, B.A., magna cum laude

Clerk to the Honorable Christine M. Durham, Utah Supreme Court

David C. Snodgrass Moot Court Board

State Bar of California

Association of Defense Counsel of California

American Bar Association, TIP section

Defense Research Institute