Suzanne Y. Badawi

Suzanne Badawi is a special counsel in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

Areas of Practice

Suzanne is an insurance attorney who litigates disputes in state and federal courts and provides insurance companies with coverage advice. Her focus is insurance law (bad faith litigation and coverage in both the first- and third-party contexts) and professional liability law.

Suzanne manages cases from inception of litigation through trial or other disposition. She has achieved successful results in numerous lawsuits involving claims of insurance bad faith, breach of contract, fraud and negligence. Examples of her case achievements are listed under the Experience tab. In addition, she advises insurance companies regarding coverage, policy interpretation and policy drafting. Suzanne's approach is to litigate cases successfully and cost effectively, with regular communication, to ensure client objectives are met.

Suzanne is a member of the Insurance Litigation and Professional Liability Industry Teams at the Firm.

Suzanne is an appointed member of the California State Bar Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, which administers the bar-sponsored lawyers Errors & Omissions insurance program. Suzanne was selected for Fellowship in the Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society whose membership is limited to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation.

Suzanne is also a frequent lecturer on legal ethics, professional liability law, and insurance law, in California.

• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Member, The Trial Law Institute

Representative Matters

• Komin v. Travelers Property & Casualty Insurance Company (Kern County Superior Court, December 2016) – Prevailed on summary judgment in a California State Court.  This was a first-party breach of contract and bad faith case involving a coverage dispute as to the duty to defend under a homeowners liability policy.   
• Kim v. Allstate Insurance Company (Los Angeles Superior Court, May 2016) –Prevailed on summary judgment in a California State Court.  This was an insurance bad faith case arising from a claim for uninsured motorist benefits under an automobile insurance policy, where the plaintiff was seeking punitive damages.  

• Garcia v. Allstate Insurance Company (C.D. Cal 2015) –  Prevailed on summary judgment in the District Court.  Case involved causes of action for breach of contract and bad faith with a punitive damages component. Plaintiffs sued  under an automobile insurance binder.
• Myers v. Allstate Insurance Company, 2015 WL 3766721 (C.D. Cal 2015) –  Prevailed on summary judgment in the District Court.  This was an insurance bad faith case arising from a claim for underinsured motorist benefits under an automobile insurance policy, where the plaintiff was seeking punitive damages.  The District Court decision was published.
• Ahmad v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (2014) – Defended Fireman’s Fund in a breach of contract/bad faith insurance case involving a claim for mold and water damages, where substantial property damage, additional living expenses and contents losses were claimed.  Plaintiffs sought over $5 million in damages including punitive damages.  The case went to a five-week trial that resulted in a complete defense verdict.

• Ryan v. Standard Fire Insurance Company (E.D. Cal. 2014) – Defended insurer in bad faith lawsuit arising from a first-party underinsured motorist claim. Filed summary judgment and then plaintiff dismissed case while motion was pending, thereby avoiding summary judgment ruling.
• Discover Property & Casualty Ins. Co. v. Infinity Ins. Co. et. al. (C.D. Cal. 2014) – Prevailed on summary judgment in the District Court. Case involved declaratory relief action for coverage determinations under an insurance policy as well as a bad faith and punitive damages claim. 
• Payaslyan v. Allstate, 2013 WL 2128325 (C.D. Cal. 2013) – Prevailed on summary judgment in the District Court. Case involved claim for uninsured motorist benefits where insured claimed years of delay and undervaluation of personal injuries. The order granting the motion is published in Westlaw.
• Farb v. Superior Court, 174 Cal.App.4th 678 (2009) – Defeated an $80 million child support claim arising out of a surrogacy contract, which resulted in a published decision in the client’s favor.
• Campania Management Company; CampMed Casualty & Indemnity Company; Nevada Mutual Insurance Company – Represented various insurers in numerous coverage matters involving professional liability insurance policies in California and Nevada.
• Drommi v. Allstate – Defended Allstate in a case that went to a six-week jury trial and resulted in a defense verdict. Plaintiff alleged that Allstate mishandled her earthquake claim and wrongfully rescinded an offer to pay her over $400,000 in policy benefits.
• David Bateman v. Allstate – Defended insurer in a jury trial that resulted in a defense verdict. Plaintiff alleged breach of contract and bad faith refusal to pay policy benefits. The case included a claim for punitive damages.
• Neumann v. Allstate (2014) - Prevailed on summary judgment motion in the District Court. Plaintiffs claimed over a million dollars in damages, seeking punitive damages for alleged bad faith. This ruling is especially notable because it was the fourth case that Ms. Badawi resolved by prevailing on a summary judgment motion, in federal court, in just over one year.
• Mostajo v. Allstate – Prevailed on summary judgment motion. Plaintiff claimed unreasonable eight-year delay in payment of underinsured motorist benefits for personal injuries under an auto policy. Punitive damages were claimed.
• Thomas v. Allstate – Prevailed on summary judgment in State Court. Case involved claim of breach of contract and bad faith for alleged failure to pay for earthquake damage to home. Punitive damages were claimed.
• Harmoush v. Allstate – Prevailed on summary judgment in the District Court. Case involved fire loss, where plaintiff alleged claims for breach of contract and bad faith. Punitive damages were sought.
• Holman v. Downey Savings and Loan Assoc.; Orozco v. Downey Savings and Loan Assoc.; Sones v. Downey Savings and Loan Assoc. – Defended the FDIC, as receiver for Downey, in case involving successor liability claims. Prevailed on motion to dismiss.
• Frances Bateman v. Allstate – Prevailed on summary judgment in State Court. Case involved claims under a homeowners' insurance policy, with a punitive damage component.
• Sweeney v. Allstate; Gourgouris v. Allstate; Lee v. Allstate; Malcolm v. Allstate; Davies v. Allstate – In each of these separate and distinct cases, summary judgment motion was filed on behalf of defendant insurer. Plaintiff dismissed lawsuit while motion was pending, avoiding summary judgment ruling.
• Del Guzzi v. Bernal Holding Company – Successfully expunged lis pendens recorded by the plaintiff against the defendant' commercial properties. Motion to expunge lis pendens granted and case dismissed.
• Goldberger v. Allstate – Defended insurer in breach of contract and bad faith lawsuit with punitive damage component. Plaintiffs dismissed case after mediation, with no pay out.
• Big O Tires v. Ocampo – Represented plaintiff Big O Tires in a breach of contract claim against customer. Prevailed on summary judgment.
• Andreas v. Allstate – Case involved numerous unrelated plaintiffs joined together, suing the insurer for breach of contract and bad faith with a punitive damage component. Defended insurer, and achieved dismissals by demonstrating to plaintiffs that claims would not prevail if they proceeded.
• Zunzurovski v. Allstate – Defended insurer in bad faith lawsuit arising from a theft claim under a homeowners' insurance policy. Filed summary judgment and then plaintiff dismissed case while motion was pending, thereby avoiding summary judgment ruling.
• Silcott v. Allstate – Defended insurer in a case involving an earthquake claim where the insured had a policy issued under the California Earthquake Authority. Filed a summary judgment analyzing the differences between the California Earthquake Authority policy and the insured's Allstate homeowner's policy. Plaintiff dismissed the case while the motion was pending, avoiding a summary judgment ruling.

Published and Unpublished Court of Appeal Decisions

• Neumann v. Allstate Insurance Company, --- Fed.Appx. ----, 2016 WL 878823 (9^th Cir. 2016)
• Myers v. Allstate Insurance Company, 2015 WL 3766721 (C.D. Cal 2015)
• Payaslyan v. Allstate Insurance Company, 2013 WL 2128325 (C.D. Cal. 2013)
• First Bank v. East West Bank, 199 Cal.App.4th 1309 (2011)
• Farb v. Superior Court, 174 Cal.App.4th 678 (2009)

• Presenter, “Professional Liability Insurance: What Your E&O Policy Does and Does Not Cover,” California Bar Association, Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, June 2, 2016
• Co-presenter with U.S. District Court Bankruptcy Judge Neil Bason, “Social Media: The Digital Highway to Hell?,” California Bankruptcy Forum 2016: Ethics Panel at the annual California Bankruptcy Forum, May 21, 2016
• Presenter, California Bar Association Event, “Advertising Your Expertise and Experience: What Can You Do to Build Your Practice While Meeting Your Ethical Obligations?” Webinar, Cal. Bar Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, December 1, 2014
• Presenter, Practicing Law Institute, “Getting The Engagement Letter Right” Webinar Program, October 14, 2014
• Presenter, "Mistakes Lawyers Make When They're Desperate for Business," California Bar Annual Solo and Small Firm Summit, June 20, 2014
• Presenter, "Legal Ethics in a Tech World and Tips to Avoid Legal Malpractice Claims," The American Lawyer Media, Litigator Summit, San Francisco, May 27, 2014
• Book Signing for California Legal Malpractice Law, sponsored by the American Lawyer Media, San Francisco, May 27, 2014
• Solo Presenter, "Ethical Considerations for Attorneys Practicing in the Age of Technology," Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Annual Spring Conference, April 2014
• Video Interview, "Using social media in conjunction with voir dire," Daily Journal, October 12, 2013
• Panelist, "Lawyers in Transition: Practical and Ethical Considerations When Making Changes," California State Bar Convention, October 12, 2013
• Presenter, "Client Selection, Relations & Billing: Keeping Your Law Practice Ethically Compliant and Profitable," California Solo and Small Firm Summit, June 21, 2013
• Presenter, "Recent Developments Regarding the 'Genuine Dispute' Defense," Luce Forward Insurance Litigation Seminar, October 14, 2010
• Solo Presenter, "Insurance in a Climate of Change," Luce Forward Insurance Litigation Seminar, September 11, 2008

• Appointed Member, California State Bar Committee on Professional Liability Insurance (COPLI)
• Member, Litigation Section and the Law Practice Management and Technology Section of the California Bar Association
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, Illinois Bar Association