Matthew J. Gollinger

Matt Gollinger is an associate in the firm's Minneapolis office where he represents clients in all aspects of litigation in federal and state courts as well as alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

His practice has focused on reinsurance disputes concerning matters including rescission, fraud and misrepresentation, coverage reinstatements, ex gratia payments, claims control, rights of association/cooperation, accident and health claims allocation, punitive/exemplary damages, and global property/casualty programs.  Matt has represented cedents, reinsurers, and retrocessionaires in primary and excess capacities, facultative and treaty arrangements, including reinsurance “facilities” and fronted coverage agreements.  In the course of bringing these disputes to resolution, Matt has handled a wide variety of issues ranging from challenges to party-appointed arbitrators, to e-discovery compliance and recovery, to domestic and foreign third-party discovery.

Matt’s other principal practice area is first-party property insurance coverage litigation.  Matt has assisted clients enforce common law and contractual rights concerning appraisal, duplicative insurance, policy interpretation, priority of recovery, salvage, coverage under “ensuing loss” provisions, valuation, the right to repair or replace, triggers of coverage, bad faith, as well as the application of a wide variety of coverage exclusions for certain property and named perils. 

In addition, Matt has represented clients in complex commercial litigation on matters ranging from trade secret misappropriation to multi-party construction disputes concerning contractual obligations and negligent performance.  Matt’s pro bono practice has included representation in landlord/tenant disputes, assistance with residency issues, and serving in the capacity of Legal Counsel on the Saint Paul Jaycees Board of Directors for 2007 and 2008.

Representative Matters

KAAPA Ethanol L.L.C. vs. Affiliated FM Insurance Company (Insurance coverage action involving coverage for property damage and time element losses sustained due to nine improperly constructed ethanol tank foundations and subsequent settling damage to the tanks)

Allianz Insurance Company v. World Trade Center Properties LLC
(Insurance coverage action, including two month jury trial, and related appraisal involving destruction of World Trade Center complex on 9/11 and claims in excess of $7 billion for property damage and time element losses)

Multiple confidential reinsurance indemnity disputes—involving amounts ranging from several million dollars up to several hundred million dollars—including successfully obtaining rescission of consecutive semi-automatic treaty arrangements concerning ceded primary exposures on energy-related property/casualty risks located throughout the world.

Articles & Presentations

• Attorney Contact with Experts: Protection of Expert Credibility and Attorney Work Product

Professional Affiliations

• Hennepin County Bar Association: Civil Litigation Section, Insurance and Tort Law Section
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• American Bar Association: Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section; Litigation Section