Eric Lawton

Eric Lawton

Law Offices of Eric Lawton, A Professional Corporation
  • Insurance Claims, Business Law, Arbitration & Mediation
  • California
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Eric Lawton represents businesses and individuals in the resolution of complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on the representation of policyholders in insurance disputes. A seasoned advocate with over 35 years of experience, he has obtained litigation victories and successful settlements in a broad range of matters, including insurance coverage issues of bad faith, unfair business practices, duties to defend, indemnify and/or pay benefits, in matters involving a wide variety of coverage types, claims, and industries. These include policy types such as commercial general liability (CGL), crime and fidelity, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, professional liability, insurance broker liability, property and business interruption losses and workers compensation insurance. He provides advice and strategies that identify coverage opportunities, protect against unnecessary losses, and secure revenue from insurance policies through litigation and alternative means. He also represents clients in matters ranging from policy audits to risk assessments to litigation for coverage recoveries to complex resolution options that include strategic settlements and other options, as well as business litigation including contract disputes and business fraud, unfair business practices and unfair competition. Mr. Lawton’s practice has an emphasis on representation of employers in disputes with workers compensation insurers involving classification codes, independent contractors, payroll audits and violations of law in the manner of assessing premiums. He also litigates issues regarding deficient claims handling and improper reserving under a policy of workers' compensation insurance which have a substantial impact on an employer's premiums and insurability. He has helped California employers involved in such disputes save millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and recover millions of dollars in damages.

Practice Areas
Insurance Claims
Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Arbitration & Mediation
Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
Additional Practice Areas
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Bad Faith
  • Business Litigation
  • Represent Employers in Workers Comp Premium & Classification Disputes
Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Hourly Rate Fee Arrangements
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
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9th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Languages
  • English
Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
J.D. (1972)
Honors: Dean's List
Activities: Research Assistant to Professor Fred Lower
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University of California - Los Angeles
B.A. (1969) | Political Science - International Relations
Honors: Dean's List
Activities: UCLA Karate Team
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Awards
Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award
Marquis Publishing
Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award
AV Preeminent 5 out of 5 Rating
Martindale Hubbell
Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys
Martindale Hubbell
SuperLawyers
Thomson Reuters
Excellent
Avvo
Who's Who in America
Marquis Publishing
Who's Who in American Law
Marquis Publishing
Professional Associations
Bruin Professionals
Member
- Current
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Provisors
Member
- Current
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Los Angeles County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
- Current
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California State Bar  # 53958
Member
- Current
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Speaking Engagements
Workers Compensation Insurance, UCLA Bruin Professoinals, Manatt Phelps, Los Angeles, CA 90067
UCLA Bruin Professoinals
What Employers (and their Advisors) Need to Know About Workers Compensation Insurance, MCLE, Swerdlow, Florence, Sanchez, Swerdlow & Wimmer, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Swerdlow, Florence, Sanchez, Swerdlow & Wimmer Law Offices
Protecting Employers in Workers Compensation Insurance Premium & Classification Disputes, MCLE, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro
Workers Compensation Insurance, UCLA Bruin Professoinals, Manatt Phelps, Los Angeles, CA 90067
UCLA Bruin Professoinals
Avoiding Insurance Gaps, 2029 Century Park East, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Provisors Lawyers & Legal Professionals Affinity Group
Certifications
Certificate in Mediation
Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Contact & Map
Law Offices of Eric Lawton, A Professional Corporation
100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 700
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Telephone: (310) 319-5409
Fax: (310) 394-8359