NFSI/Emory Symposium – Navigating The Murky Waters of Legal Liability After Constructing The Good Ship – Safe Passage: Presented by Debra Cook

Navigating The Murky Waters of Legal Liability After Constructing The Good Ship – Safe Passage

Presented by Debra Cook

In this presentation Debra discusses successful implementation of proven approaches to walkway safety.

Learn how use a well-defined corporate mandate through claims resolution to assure just and responsible corporate conduct that respects human dignity without becoming a target for lawsuits!

Debra Cook

Debra Cook focuses her practice primarily in insurance tort and contract actions representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants in litigation in state and federal courts, including trial work and appeals.  She has defended commercial clients in personal injury walkway surface claims as well as managed the disposition of walkway surface claims against the leading manufacturer and distributor of tile and stone surfaces in the United States.  Additionally, she has prosecuted insurance bad faith claims and other commercial contract claims in state and federal court.  She was on the trial team that prosecuted an insurance contract and bad faith claim to jury verdict and the later appeal and cross appeal.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Cook worked as a litigation associate with a regional firm in Los Angeles County, where she litigated disputes for companies involving business torts, personal injury, and breach of contract claims.  Ms. Cook has argued several arbitration disputes to disposition.   In addition, Ms. Cook was the Risk Manager for Dal-Tile Corporation, the leading supplier of tile and stone products in the United States, overseeing eight trial defense verdicts.

Ms. Cook graduated summa cum laude from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois with a B.S. in Accountancy in 1987.  She became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Texas and Certified Management Accountant and worked for Price Waterhouse specializing in the audits of insurance company reserves.  Afterwards, Ms. Cook developed her expertise in the analysis and management of risk, obtaining a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) certification and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) certification.  She graduated magna cum laude with a J.D. from Oak Brooke College of Law in 2007.

Ms. Cook is admitted to practice law in California and before the United States District Courts for the Central, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California.  In 2014, Ms. Cook was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.