Heath A. Bender is a trial and appellate attorney for Chubb's White Plains, New York House Counsel firm of Varvaro, Cotter, Bender & Walthall. He has practiced in the areas of general liability, premises liability, construction site liability, products liability, and automobile liability. He is also experienced in defending professional liability litigation on behalf of various categories of professionals including debt collectors, franchisors, employment agencies, property managers and travel agents. Prior to joining the White Plains House Counsel Firm, Mr. Bender was an associate attorney with the firm of Bower, Sanger, & Lawrence, P.C. in New York, New York, where he practiced in the area of medical malpractice defense. Prior to that, Mr. Bender was employed by the United States Department of Justice as an Assistant District Counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service's New York District Office.
EDUCATION
Law:
The John Marshall Law School (J.D. 1994) Staff Editor, The John Marshall Law Review
Undergraduate:
University of Vermont (B.A. 1990)
BAR ADMISSIONS
States:
New York State Bar, 1995
Colorado State Bar, 1996
Connecticut State Bar, 2004
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
American Bar Association
Phi Delta Phi Honorary Legal Fraternity
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Mr. Bender has extensive experience representing corporate and individual clients from case inception through trial in the areas of products liability, premises liability, property damage litigation, subrogation, labor law and construction site personal injury claims, auto litigation, civil rights and defamation litigation, and various other commercial and civil litigation matters. Mr. Bender has successfully defended his clients at the trial court and appellate levels in both state and federal courts, and has several verifiable verdicts. He has been cited in the New York Law Journal (United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Docket No. 02-4896, Teresa M. Medina v. Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, April 14, 2005), and has several published decisions from the various Appellate Courts throughout New York State. He has been a guest speaker at New York State Continuing Legal Education seminars and routinely presents cases at Insurance Committee meetings regarding coverage and exposure issues and litigation management. He also presents legal education seminars to his large corporate clients and their staff whom he represents on a regular basis in a variety of matters.
