Benjamin R. Messing
Associate
Benjamin R. Messing focuses his practice on counseling and defending clients in all matters related to business and insurance. Benjamin’s significant insurance coverage-litigation experience includes residential property, commercial property, inland marine, builder’s risk, commercial general liability, general liability, professional liability, crime and fidelity, employment liability, directors and officers, errors and omissions, excess and umbrella, and specialty environmental. Along with other attorneys in the Global Insurance Services Practice Group, he handles a broad range of sophisticated legal needs for domestic and international insurers.
Benjamin’s practice involves assisting and advising insurers with underwriting, policy formation and delivery, fraudulent claims (including staged losses, arson, and enhanced losses), as well as bad faith and extra-contractual claims. He counsels insurers with complex coverage issues throughout the claims process, beginning with pre-suit coverage investigations through defense and post-trial appeals. He draws on this experience to draft policy forms and endorsements adopted and implemented by insurers in both personal and commercial line policies.
In addition, Benjamin has extensive litigation experience dealing with matters involving small businesses, real estate transactions, corporate defense, and employment disputes, as well as commercial financing transactions, debt collections, personal injury, Electronic Funds Transfer Act claims, and environmental claims.
Related Areas
Honors & Awards
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent
Admitted to Practice
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of PennsylvaniaStates
Education
- Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, J.D., 2003
- Carnegie Mellon University, B.S., 2000
- Prior to pursuing his juris doctor at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, Benjamin earned his bachelor’s from Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with both University and College honors. He began his legal career clerking for an Appellate Division Judge in New Jersey, where he was responsible for complex automobile insurance fraud cases.
Community Involvement
- Stichter Lodge #254 F&AM
- Order of the Eastern Star, Schuylkill Chapter 338, Past Patron
- Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Sigma
Publications & Events
- “Policy Language or No, You Can’t Depreciate Labor In Arkansas” (Co-Author), Law360, January 4, 2016
- “Personal Lines – A Twenty-Four Hour Water Loss Mystery,” Property and Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB) Large Loss Conference, October 4, 2016
- Contributing Author, “Bad Faith Compendium,” Fire, Casualty, and Surety Bulletins (FC&S), 2014
- “Bad Faith Arising From Property Claims,” Annual Property Conference, September 23, 2014
- “Advanced Property Topics Panel,” Annual Property and Subrogation Conference, October 24, 2013
- “Technology in the Courtroom: A Double Edged Sword” (Co-Author) The Legal Intelligencer, 2010
- “Wall Off Your Assets: Building Legal Barriers Against Catastrophic Loss” (Co-Author), Business 2 Business, 2008
- “Whose Notice Is It, Anyway?” (Co-Author), 180 N.J.L.J. 309, 2005
- “Personal Lines – A Twenty-Four Hour Water Loss Mystery,” Property and Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB) Large Loss Conference, October 4, 2016
- “Bad Faith Arising From Property Claims,” Annual Property Conference, September 23, 2014
- “Advanced Property Topics Panel,” Annual Property and Subrogation Conference, October 24, 2013