SPENCE TAYLOR is a Partner in the Firm's Litigation Section, where he has practiced since 1996. His practice focuses on environmental, insurance coverage and business litigation.
Environmental Litigation – Mr. Taylor represents companies in toxic tort, environmental litigation, and enforcement actions involving the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, common law riparian rights and other state and federal environmental laws. He has substantial experience in litigating insurance coverage disputes involving the pollution exclusion on behalf of property owners, policyholders and insurers, as well as indemnification matters arising from soil and groundwater contamination. He is a frequent lecturer and writer on the topic of environmental insurance coverage for environmental actions and toxic tort claims.
Insurance Coverage Litigation – Mr. Taylor represents both policyholders and insurers in insurance coverage litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, employer’s liability, errors and omissions, directors and officers liability, financial institution bonds, commercial property and other insurance policies and products. He has significant experience in coverage matters involving additional insured, construction defect, abstention, late notice and cooperation issues frequently litigated in state and federal courts. He also has represented both policyholders and insurers in coverage matters arising from natural disasters, including seeking policy interpretations from the Administrator of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Business Litigation – Mr. Taylor has tried cases to juries and courts involving claims of identity theft, breach of non-compete and stock option agreements, personal injury claims and other commercial disputes. He has defended banks and other businesses against consumer class action lawsuits and fraud cases, and authored Chapter Four, Misrepresentation and Fraud, in the American Bar Association Text, Business Torts Litigation (2d Ed. 2005).
Representative Experience
-
Represented utility in defending against claims by Environmental Protection Agency under New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act.
Represented utility in Tri-State Water Rights Litigation.
Represented property owners in indemnification disputes involving properties with soil and groundwater contamination.
Represented policyholders and insurers in environmental insurance coverage matters including toxic tort litigation brought by over 400 claimants, property contamination (PCBs, chlorinated solvents and mold), first-party claims for hurricane damage and recovery of remediation/clean-up costs.
Represented policyholder in successfully obtaining additional insured coverage in dispute before federal district court and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
-
AV rated by Martindale Hubbell
-
Listed in Super Lawyers for Insurance Coverage and Environmental Litigation, 2009
-
Birmingham Bar Association
-
Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, President of Young Lawyers Section and Member of Board
-
Alabama State Bar
-
Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Law Committee
- ADLA Young Lawyers Trial Academy, Co-Chair 1998-2001
-
University of Alabama School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy, 2000-2001
-
American Bar Association, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee
-
Listed in B-Metro’s Top Lawyers in March 2010