ELLIOT H. WERNICK

(602) 331-4600
(602) 331-8600 Fax
EMail

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

Mr. Wernick’s practice focuses upon complex personal injury matters, including the defense and litigation of complex automobile and trucking accidents resulting in serious physical injury or death. He devotes a substantial amount of his personal injury practice to the defense of injury and wrongful death claims against motor carrier transport companies.

Mr. Wernick’s practice also includes insurance coverage analysis and litigation. Mr. Wernick has handled complex insurance coverage claims in both the first- and third-party contexts. His insurance coverage litigation practice has included all types of insurance policies with a particular emphasis on life, health and disability. Mr. Wernick’s insurance coverage practice includes interpretation and analysis of general liability, personal and commercial auto related coverage claims and professional malpractice. He devotes a substantial amount of his insurance practice to the defense of insurance bad faith and punitive damage claims against insurance companies.

EDUCATION AND SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES:

Arizona State University, College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1993)

• Associate Note and Comment Editor, Arizona State Law Journal (1992-1993)
• Truman Young Prosecutorial Fellow (1992-1993)
• Willard H. Pedric Scholar
• American Jurisprudence Award, Trusts & Estates (1993)

University of California, San Diego (B.A., 1990)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

• Board Member, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (2005-present)
• Participant, International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy (2002)
• Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education/Young Lawyer’s of Arizona, Judge - Arizona High School Mock Trial State Tournament (2001)
• Maricopa County Bar Association, Young Lawyer’s Division, Judge – Essay Writing Competition for Law Week (2001-2002)
• Arizona State University College of Law, Judge – Moot Court and Closing Argument Competitions

MEMBERSHIPS:

• State Bar of Arizona
• Maricopa County Bar Association
• Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute
• American Bar Association

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• State of Arizona (1993)
• United States District Court, District of Arizona (1993) 
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1995)
• U.S. Supreme Court (1997)

 REPORTED CASES:

• Brookover v. Roberts Enterprises, Inc., 215 Ariz. 52, 156 P.3d 1157 (App. 2007)
• State of Arizona v. Serna, 176 Ariz. 267, 860 P.2d 1320 (App. 1993)