Samuel H. Ruby

Practice Experience

Sam Ruby is the firm-wide Practice Group Leader for the Insurance Law Group and is the Shareholder-in-Charge of the firm's San Francisco office. Sam advises and defends national and international insurers in connection with complex property, liability, and marine insurance claims. He has defended multi-million-dollar lawsuits for declaratory relief, breach of contract, and bad faith. He also provides coverage opinions and represents insurers at appraisals and examinations under oath. Sam is a frequent author on insurance law subjects. In addition to insurance litigation, Sam has handled a variety of general business and tort litigation.

Sam is admitted to several federal bars and handles cases in state and federal trial courts throughout California. Sam has also successfully argued cases in the California Court of Appeal and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Property Insurance Coverage Practice
Sam has represented insurers in connection with large fire, water damage, mold, earth movement, electrical disturbance, construction defect, collapse, business interruption, and bad faith claims. He has extensive experience with issues such as insurable interest, "covered property," "physical loss or damage," date of loss (manifestation/loss-in-progress), causation and exclusions, valuation, misrepresentation/concealment, non-cooperation, and late notice/time bar.  Sam attends functions of the Loss Executives Association and the Property Law Committee of the American Bar Association's Tort and Insurance Practice Section.

Liability Insurance Coverage Practice
Sam has represented insurers in connection with tenders of defense, demands for indemnity, and contribution actions between insurers. He has extensive experience with standard and non-standard commercial general liability (CGL) forms, including "all sums" issues, "legally obligated to pay as damages" issues, definitions of "bodily injury," "property damage," "occurrence," and "advertising/personal injury," exclusions, "other insurance" clauses, and independent ("Cumis") counsel issues.

Admiralty/Maritime/Transportation Insurance Coverage Practice
Sam has particular expertise in marine insurance coverage matters, having advised and represented underwriters of such coverages as ocean and inland marine cargo and storage; hull/yacht; protection and indemnity; marine general liability; ship repairer's, marina operator's, and boat dealer's liability; and motor carrier's liability. He is one of the few attorneys in the country to have litigated claims involving container lessor's insurance, steamship agent's liability insurance, pilots' liability insurance, and the U.S. Marshal's liability insurance for vessels under arrest.

General Business and Tort Litigation
Sam has represented companies and individuals in disputes over sales contracts, banking contracts, construction contracts, commercial leases, intellectual property, and regulatory matters. He tried a case in Humboldt County against a shopping mall landlord that resulted in substantial long-term savings for a tenant. Sam also has represented individuals and companies in property damage and personal injury cases. He has defended claims involving industrial and motor vehicle accidents, including a multi-million-dollar traumatic brain injury claim.