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Neal H. Rockwood, APC

Litigation and Trial Consultant

Bio

Before transitioning his practice to litigation and trial consulting, Mr. Rockwood emphasized his practice on insurance bad faith, insurance coverage, construction defect, landslide and business litigation representing primarily plaintiffs.

Born in Medford, Massachusetts, Mr. Rockwood attended high school in northern California, after which he lived in Africa for a year and a half with his parents who were Peace Corps volunteers.

After returning from Africa he attended college at San Francisco State University and earned a degree in International Relations. While at San Francisco State he was President of the International Relations Student Union and graduated with departmental honors, magna cum laude, in 1978.

Mr. Rockwood obtained his legal education at Western State University College of Law where he ranked in the top ten percent of his class and was a member of Law Review. He graduated in 1982 and practiced in various law firms emphasizing in insurance bad faith and construction defect litigation prior to joining the firm of Thorsnes, Bartolotta, McGuire & Padilla in 1987. In July of 2001 he formed his own firm with C. Brant Noziska, Rockwood & Noziska, LLP.

Prior to forming Rockwood & Noziska, LLP, Mr. Rockwood worked at Thorsnes, Bartolotta, McGuire and Padilla. He started as an associate in 1987 and became a partner in January, 1991. His practice focused on construction defect, insurance coverage insurance bad faith and landslide litigation.

Since 2001, Mr. Rockwood, through his professional corporation, was a founding partner of Rockwood & Noziska, LLP, continuing his emphasis in construction defect, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, landslide and business litigation.

In April, 2022, Mr. Rockwood transitioned his practice from active involvement in litigation and trial work to litigation and trial consulting. He remains active in the local Bar as well as Consumer Attorneys of San Diego and Consumer Attorneys of California.

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Email:

Address:
10755 Scripps Poway Pkwy, F, #634, San Diego, CA, 92131

Telephone:

(619) 944-9363

Professional Affiliations

Past member of the Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints and Unfair Claims Practices Task Force,

the purpose of which was to create the Regulations for California governing insurance companies’ actions.

 

San Diego County Bar Foundation

Past President for two years and on the Board of Directors for six years (1994-2001) and again on the Board of Directors from 2016-2021, including President for one year. The Bar Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the San Diego County Bar Association.

 

San Diego County Bar Association

As well as being a member, Mr. Rockwood Co-Chaired Law Week Committee for four years.

 

San Diego Trial Lawyers/Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

Editor of the Insurance Law Column for the Trial Bar News, 1994 and 1995. Spoke at seminars on insurance coverage, bad faith, and insurance related issues relative to construction defect cases.

 

California Trial Lawyers Association/Consumer Attorneys of California

Speaker at various annual conventions on the topic of insurance bad faith, coverage related questions in construction defect cases and new topics related to insurance cases.

Professional Awards

Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award presented by the San Diego Trial Lawyers for Outstanding Trial Advocacy in CSP

Union v. State Firm Fire and Casualty (May 1992)

 

Outstanding Trial Attorney Award presented by the San Diego Trial Lawyers for Outstanding Trial Advocacy

1800 South Maple v. Allied Property & Casualty (2009)

 

Top Ten Plaintiff Verdicts in California -2009-

1800 South Maple v. Allied Property & Casualty (Nationwide Insurance) (2009)

Los Angeles Daily Journal, January 27, 2010

 

Top 100 Verdicts (58) in the United States 2009, Verdict Search (ALM Publication)

1800 South Maple v. Allied Property & Casualty (Nationwide Insurance) (2009)

 

San Diego Super Lawyers, 2010 to present

 

Top Lawyers Award by San Diego Daily Transcript (2005)

 

Outstanding Service Award presented by San Diego County Bar Association (May 1991)

for outstanding services as Co-Chair of the Law Week Activities.

 

Certificate of Recognition presented by Insurance Commissioner, John Garamendi for Distinguished Service on the Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints and Unfair Practices Task Force (1992)

 

Appreciation Award presented by San Diego County Bar Association (2003)

in recognition for exemplary service as Chair of the Golf Committee.

 

Appreciation Award presented by San Diego Trial Lawyers (1994 & 1995)

for work performed as the Insurance Law Column Editor of the Trial Bar News.

 

Appreciation Award presented by the San Diego County Bar Foundation in Recognition for Exceptional Service to the Bar Foundation (1994-2001)

including service as President.

 

Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registrar of Pre-eminent Lawyers(2003-present)

for high professional legal standards and ethics.

 

San Diego County Bar Foundation – Service Award (2001)

Publications

American Association of Justice, Insurance Law Section, Vol. 15, No. 2, Winter 2009:

“The Hidden Truth Behind an Insurer’s Denial: The Crime Fraud Exception to the Attorney Client Privilege”

 

Shepards/McGraw-Hill Insurance Litigation Reporter Vol. 11, Number 5, May 1989, feature article:

“Garvey v. State Farm The Dawning of a New Era in California Earth Movement/Construction Defect Coverage Claims.”

Co-Authored by James A. Roberts

 

Western State University Journal of Law, Vol. 4, Number 1, 1995:

“The Continuing and Progressive Loss and Loss in Progress Rule: When is Coverage Triggered Under First and Third Party Policies?”

Co-Authored by Robert E. Bright

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 5, May 1994:

“‘Premises Alienated’ exclusion (Narrowly Interpreted) Prudential-LMI Commercial Insurance Company v. Reliance Insurance Co.”

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 6, June/July 1994:

“Is Third Party Bad Faith Liability Dead?”

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 9, November 1994:

“Application of ‘No Action’ Clause When Insured Has Settled Underlying Action.”

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 10, December 1994:

“Food For Thought: 4th District Rules Insurers Cannot Bring Good Faith Settlement Motions.”

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 3, March 1995:

“Tortious Breach of Settlement Agreement – Settlements a Helping Hand.”

Co-Authored by C. Brant Noziska, Esq.

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 5, November 1995:

“Change Over Notices, Adequate or Not?” (Coverage Changes Require Adequate Notice.)

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 7, August/September 1995:

“The Case That Launched a Thousand Slips: Antitrust Claims and the Insurance Industry.” (Unfair Trade Laws Apply to Carriers.)

Co-Authored by Robert E. Bright

 

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 9, November 1995:

“Emotional Distress and Duty to Defend”

Lectures

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention/Seminar, November 2000.

Topic of Discussion: “Construction Defect, Cutting Edge.”

 

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention/Seminar, November 1999.

“If I Had a Hammer: Handling Construction Defect Litigation, Insurance Related Issues.”

 

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention/Seminar, March 1998.

“Insurance Issues to Look For In Construction Defect Lawsuits”

 

Western Trial Lawyer Association “Pride, Passion and the Practice of Law,” June 1998. Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.

Topic of Discussion: “Experts, Proof and Sex Appeal”

 

Consumers Attorneys of San Diego and Nevada Trial Lawyers Association “Construction Defect Witnesses: The Good Bad and The Ugly,” June 1997. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Topic of Discussion: “Direct and Cross Examination of Witnesses.”

 

American Bar Association Mid Year Meeting of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, February 1996. Newport, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Cutting the Gordian Knot: Mediating the Construction Coverage Dispute.”

 

Lorman Education Services, August 1995. San Diego, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Insurance Bad Faith Claims, Anatomy of a Bad Faith Trial.”

 

Lorman Education Services, March 1994. San Diego, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Insurance Law Update; Issues in California Bad Faith Litigation.”

 

Lorman Education Services, November 1993. San Diego, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Insurance Law and Litigation, Anatomy of a Bad Faith Trial.”

Education

San Francisco State University, 1978

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

  • Departmental Honors, Magna Cum Laude
neal rockwood apc

Western State University School of Law, 1982

Doctor of Jurisprudence

  • Law Review
neal rockwood apc

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