Education

• J.D., University of California at Los Angeles, 1986
• B.A., Pennsylvania State University, 1983 (high honors and distinction)

Admitted

• California, 1986

Work History

• Partner – Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP (1999 to present)
• Associate/Partner – Daniels, Baratta & Fine, LLP (1986 to 1999)

Memberships, Awards & Honors

• State Bar of California
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
• The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (The CLM)
• Martindale Hubbell Rated AV – Preeminent
• “Super Lawyer” in the field of Insurance from 2005 to 2019

Areas of Practice

Civil litigation, Appellate and Insurance Coverage.

Summary

Mark has thirty plus years of experience in insurance coverage analysis and civil litigation. Over 80% of his practice focuses on providing insurance coverage advice and opinions, drafting policy language, and litigating insurance coverage issues.

He also specializes in appellate practice, having briefed and argued more than 35 appeals, including before the California Supreme Court and United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.

Mark is also routinely retained by other lawyers in the industry to serve as an expert witness on insurance and bad faith issues confronting their clients in state and federal court actions. He has been retained as an expert on insurance matters more than 25 times.

Mark frequently provides training for insurers on coverage and compliance issues, including the California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations.

Mark has been consistently designated as one of Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” (by Law & Politics and the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine and Orange Coast Magazine) every year from 2005 to 2019.

Mark actively supports the UCLA School of Law, acting as the firm representative for the UCLA Law Firm Challenge and serving as the Class Chair for the 2016 Reunion Committee. He is also a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

As the father of two boys, Mark’s interests and hobbies include coaching youth sports and other outdoor activities. He has served as head coach for teams from U6 through U12 within AYSO Region 70 and for the Cheviot Hills Pony Baseball Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Cheviot Hills Pony Baseball Association and for AYSO Region 70. Mark is also active in the Boy Scouts of America and serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 50 in West Los Angeles.

Other hobbies include reading, political podcasts, travel, food, wine and Penn State and Steelers football.

Cases & Articles

Mark’s noteworthy California Supreme Court and appellate cases include the following:

• Butki v. United States Services Automobile Association (1990) 225 Cal.App.3d 464;
• Chemstar, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. (9th Cir. 1994) 41 F.3d 429;
• 3250 Wilshire Blvd. Bldg. v. Employer’s Insurance of Wausau (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 709;
• National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Nationwide Insurance Co. (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 709.
• Morris v. De La Torre 36 Cal.4th 260;36 Cal.4th 260;
• California Capital Insurance Company v. Nielsen (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 221;
• Du v. Allstate Ins. Co. (9th Cir. 2012) 697 F.3d 753 (Amicus)

Mark has authored or co-authored the following publications:

• Defending Claims for Pre-Tender Defense Costs: Who Ultimately Pays?, published in Verdict Magazine (2nd Quarter 1997);
• Defending the Bad Faith Action: The Empire Strikes Back, presented at the Consumer Attorneys of Cal. 34th Annual Seminar;
• All Told About Mold, presented at the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel 42nd Annual Seminar; and
• Liability for Injury on Your Premises Caused by Third Party Criminal Acts presented at the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel 54th Annual Seminar.