FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE GRAY AREAS OF INSURANCE COVERAGE
Sean O’Connor handles a wide variety of insurance coverage disputes arising under many different policy lines, including comprehensive general liability, homeowners, commercial property, auto, and professional liability (E&O). When retained to advise insurers in connection with first- and third-party claims, he prepares comprehensive opinion letters outlining their duties and obligations based upon the facts, the policy, and applicable law. A proficient writer and communicator, Sean lays out the risks and provides recommendations for the insurer to make the most informed decision possible under the circumstances.
In addition to offering advice and counsel, Sean represents insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation and actions for declaratory judgment. Defending against lawsuits primarily involving first-party property losses, Sean’s role includes answering pleadings, exchanging, serving, and responding to discovery, conducting depositions, preparing and arguing dispositive motions, and participating in alternative dispute resolution, among other tasks. With strong attention to detail, Sean is thorough from the outset of the case or claim and addresses issues he foresees could be a problem down the road.
Sean brings prior experience with prosecution and defense of complex civil litigation claims, including premises liability, products liability, subrogation, and general commercial matters.
PRACTICE AREAS
ADMISSIONS
Bar Admissions
- Oregon, 2021
- Colorado, 2015
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon, 2021
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 2016
EDUCATION
- University of Denver, Strum College of Law – J. D., 2015
- Villanova University – B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, 2011
MEMBERSHIPS
- Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (Member)
AWARDS & HONORS
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© (2021 – Insurance Law)
CLIENT WINS
Ctr. for Excellence in Higher Educ., Inc. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am., 2018 WL 925028 (D. Colo. Feb. 16, 2018) (summary judgment entered in favor of the insurer on the duty to defend and indemnify based upon the absence of an “occurrence” under a CGL policy).
SKI ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD
Sean has been an avid skier all his life, learning to walk and ski at the same time at the age of two. As an adolescent, he was on the mountain most weekends in Vermont, Quebec, and upstate New York. During his undergrad, Sean studied abroad in Austria, in part, so that he could experience après in the Alps. He moved to Salt Lake City before making his way to Denver for law school. Now with a son of his own, Sean plans to introduce him to the slopes in Oregon.
