William H. Stanhope
Experience
- Chairs the firm's Insurance Department.
- Member of the firm's Executive Board.
- Has trial and appellate experience in business interruption issues, property insurance coverage and subrogation, fire litigation, and inspection defense cases with particular experience involving the areas of turbine generator problems, fires, explosions and equipment failures, construction equipment failures including cranes and blocks, metallurgical failures including boiler and pressure vessel incidents and fires and explosions, geotechnical issues, and water treatment chemistry problems.
- Commercial litigation experience with the Unfair Trade Practice Act, copyright infringement and franchise termination cases.
- Reinsurance
Selected Results*
Milliken & Co. v. Defendant (Georgia, 1999): Recovery on behalf of property insurer and policy holder for fire in LaGrange, Georgia.
Blue Circle V. Robinson (South Carolina, 1997): Industrial fan explosion claim against manufacturer.
Medlock v. NCCI (South Carolina, 1998): Representation of workers compensation carrier on Unfair Trade Practices Act claim.
ABI v. Bell South (Georgia ,1994): Representation of database publisher on copy right infringement claim.
Kemper v. Centex Construction Co. (Florida, 1994): Obtained reformation of property insurance policy to exclude unintended coverages for contractor on hospital addition. Summary Judgment granted to insurance company.
City of Roanoke v. Waco (Virginia, 1994): Co-counsel with Brent Kaplan on fire resulting from contractor negligence during asbestos removal activity in the City Civic Center.
Melville (Marshalls) v. McDevitt & Straight (Georgia, 1994): Settlement of roof collapse claim resulting from construction defect after two days of mediation.
Arkwright Mutual Insurance Co. V. Safety Mutual Insurance Co. (Missouri, 1990): Reinsurance arbitration on treaties concerning liability policies.
Allendale v. Santee Print Works (South Carolina, 1989): Multiple boiler tube failures from chemical treatment deficiencies and coverage dispute.
Union Camp v. Letorneau (Virginia, 1988) : Crane collapse, settlement of full damages ($1 million) vs. Manufacturer, riggers and heavy machinery operator.
Container Corporation of America v. BBC (Florida, 1987): Multiple arcing in generator of paper mill turbine generator from corrosion. Recovery of partial business interruption loss despite contractual limitation on consequential damage.
Grumman Aerospace Corporation v. Daniel Construction (Georgia, 1986): Sulfuric acid tank failure. Full recovery against contractor and subcontractor.
Fogarty v. Wausau (Florida, 1986): Insurance agency dispute on executive contract. Summary judgment on intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.
Union Camp v. Beloit and Brown & Root (Alabama, 1984-1986): Paper machine major bearing failure. Trial and appeal with full recovery including prejudgment interest ($4.4 million) against installer and technical erector.
Lay v. Eckerd Drugs (Tennessee 1984-1985): Trial and appeal with full recovery for fire damages based on the legal theory of res ipsa loquitur.
Diamond Rug v. Pinkertons (Georgia, 1982-1983): Trial and appeal with full recovery against guard service for failure to detect sprinkler head discharge. Established Georgia rule that defendant must prove salvage value.
City of Columbus v. Clark Dietz & Associates: Engineers and Basic Construction Company (Mississippi, 1982): Second chair to Jim Anderson who was lead trial counsel - full recovery for damages ($2.5 million) to waste water treatment plant form clay levy failure. One month trial to court on liability.
Dittler Brothers v. Allendale (Georgia, 1981): Coverage defense for a bearing failure on printing machine. Summary judgment for insurer.
Recognition
- Named a "Georgia Super Lawyer," by Law & Politics**
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
- Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif (1976), Member of the Northwestern University Law Review
- Duke University, B.A., magna cum laude
Selected Speeches
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NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations (Co-presenter)
FM Global District Office, Atlanta, Georgia
(September 14, 2009)
-
Suing the Inspector/Designer: Legal Theories and Protections
Society of Fire Protection Engineers Greater Atlanta Chapter
(March 18, 2008)