Practice Focus
Bruce Palmer concentrates his practice on insurance, particularly on claims and coverage litigation, professional liability coverage, environmental pollution and property damage coverage. He represents insured parties and also captive and traditional insurance carriers. Bruce also writes insurance policies and endorsements and advises on claims practices and coverage, both generally and for specific claims.
Bruce has broad experience litigating and settling pollution, commercial and construction disputes. He has represented regional and national banks, single and group captive insurers, risk retention groups, secured lenders, real estate developers, construction companies and others in a wide variety of insurance, commercial and environmental litigation and counseling. He is admitted to practice in Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Significant Matters
Litigation of insurance coverage for toxic tort claims in Utah
Litigation and settlement of property damage environmental liability claims in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts
Rewriting of insurance policies for captive insurer writing primary, excess and deductible reimbursement coverage for its national program of property, casualty, product recall, product liability, employment practices, environmental impairment, employee dishonesty, workers compensation, medical stop loss and terrorism coverage.
Advice to captive insurer on best claims practice and protocol for large property loss adjustment arising out of destruction of buildings and business interruption due to Hurricane Katrina.
Community Involvement
Bruce serves as president of the Danville School Enrichment Fund.
Publications/Presentations
“Best Practices: Writing Effective Policies and Handling Claims For Captives and RRGs,” presented at the Vermont Captive Insurance Association Annual Conference, Burlington , Vermont, August 2007
Reported Cases
Hingham Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Heroux, 549 A.2d 265; (RI 1988) (homeowners liability coverage for horse escape from unscheduled premises)
Lopes v. G.T.E. Prods. Corp., 560 A.2d 949 (RI 1989)(workers compensation exclusivity)
Vermont Gas Sys. v. United States Fidelity & Guar. Co., 805 F. Supp. 227 (1992); 151 F.R.D. 268 (1993) (environmental property damage coverage for manufactured gas plant)
Judge Dev. Corp. v. Bank Of New York, 814 F. Supp. 384 (1993)(lender/developer dispute over mortgage discharge)
Select Design v. Union Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 165 Vt. 69, 674 A.2d 798 (1996) (coverage for taking of customer list as advertising injury)
United States v. Davis, 31 F. Supp. 2d 45 (1998); 20 F. Supp. 2d 326 (1998); 1 F. Supp. 2d 125 (1998); 11 F. Supp. 2d 183 (1998); 261 F.3d 1 (2001) (CERCLA contribution action)
Vermont Elec. Power Co. v. Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Ins. Co., 72 F. Supp. 2d 441 (1999)(all-risk property damage coverage for gradual destruction of electrical transformer)
Northern Sec. Ins. Co. v. Mitec Telecom, Inc., 3 F. Supp. 2d 483 (1998); 38 F. Supp. 2d 345 (1999)(duty to defend environmental damage claims)
Okemo Mt., Inc. v. United States Sporting Clays Ass'n, 376 F.3d 102 (2d Cir. 2004) (ambiguity in a general release)
R.L. Vallee, Inc. v. Am. Int'l Specialty Lines Ins. Co., 431 F. Supp. 2d 428 (2006) (coverage for leaking UST)
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