Kevin Burns

Kevin Burns

Partner

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Kevin Burns is a partner of the firm and practices in the areas of general and commercial litigation. He has litigated cases in nearly all of the downstate New York courts. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, obtaining favorable results for his clients. Kevin has written and argued appeals in the 1st and 2nd Departments of the Appellate Division, the New York State Court of Appeals, and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. He is well versed in all areas of defense practice and litigation from answer through discovery, to trial and appeals. He is a proponent of the use of alternative dispute resolution and mediations and has handled numerous UM/SUM arbitrations and framed issue hearings, as well as no-fault arbitrations and trials.

Kevin has over 12 years of prior claims experience with Progressive Insurance as a claims representative, claims manager and large loss specialist. Thereafter, he worked as a supervising attorney with Progressive's downstate house counsel operation for five years. He has extensive experience in the area of insurance and insurance claims. Kevin's claims background gives him a unique perspective in handling the defense of personal injury claims for the insurance industry.

Professional Affiliations 
  • Defense Research Institute: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Trucking Law Committees
  • New York State Bar Association: Member, Special Committee to Review the Code of Judicial Conduct; Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section 
  • New York Night Life Restaurant Association
Admitted to Practice
  • New York 
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • Federal District Court, Second Circuit Court of Appeals
Prior Experience
  • Claims Manager - Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
  • Supervising Attorney - Progressive Insurance Staff Counsel
Civic Activities
  • Town Council Member, Town of Patterson, NY
  • Patterson Little League and Carmel High School Baseball Fundraising Committee
Education
  • Carnegie-Mellon University, B.A., B.S., 1987
  • Pace University School of Law, J.D., 1998
Publications/Presentations
  • Presenter, “Defense of a Personal Injury Lawsuit in New York State,” August 2010
  • Presenter, “New York PIP: Coverage and Exclusions & Recent Decisions and An Update on Leased Vehicle/Lessor Liability,” 2010
  • Presenter, "New York PIP & SUM: Coverage, Defenses, & Recent Decisions," 2010
  • Presenter, "The Defense of Sum Claims and The Serious Injury Defense," Defendant, December 1, 2007
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