JOHN K. WITTWER

602-331-4600
602-331-8600 Fax
Email

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

Mr. Wittwer's practice focuses upon analysis and litigation of complex insurance coverage issues, as well as the defense of insurance companies against claims of bad faith claim handling and punitive damages. Mr. Wittwer handles issues dealing with both personal and commercial lines. Mr. Wittwer also handles the investigation and litigation of complex employment law matters.

ADMISSIONS:

• Arizona
• United States District Court for the District of Arizona

EDUCATION AND SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES:

Arizona State University College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006)

• Associate Managing Editor, Arizona State Law Journal
• Pedrick Scholar
• Student Editor, Advanced Insurance Research class (supervised research of four law students)
• Graduated with Pro Bono Distinction
• Law Journal Symposium Committee
• Criminal Defense Mentor and Pro Bono Program
• CALI Excellence for the Future Award: Construction Law (Spring 2006), Scientific Evidence (Spring 2006), and Constitutional Liberties Seminar (Fall 2005)

Brigham Young University (B.A., Economics, magna cum laude, 1997)

• Full Tuition Scholarship
• Teaching Assistant: Intermediate Microeconomics, Public Finance

INTERNSHIPS:

• Legal Extern, Arizona Corporation Commission, Securities Division (Fall 2004)
• Couch Fellow (Summer 2004) (assisted in revision of Couch on Insurance treatise)

PUBLICATIONS:

• The Discoverability of Reserve Information in Bad Faith Cases, with Steve Plitt, 31 INS. LIT. REP. 81 (2009). 
• The Modernization of Arizona’s UM/UIM Written Offer Requirement, with Steve Plitt, e-Common Defense, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (Sept. 2008).
• Use of Independent Medical Examinations:  Analyzing Bad Faith Exposures Arising in First-Party Coverage Determinations, with Steve Plitt, In-House Def. Q., Vol. 3, No. 2 (Spring 2008).
• Colossus Under Attack:  The Legal Efficacy of Computerized Evaluation of Bodily Injury Claims, with Steve Plitt, 29 Ins. Lit. Rep. 321 (2007).
• A Developing Body of Law:  Daubert and the Insurance Bad Faith Expert, with Steve Plitt, In-House Def. Q.,  Vol. 2, No. 3 (Summer 2007).

Published Opinions

• Forbes v. 21st Century Ins. Co., 258 F.R.D. 335 (D. Ariz. 2009).

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

• Board of Directors, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Young Lawyers Division (2008-present)

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:

• Summer Associate, Kunz, Plitt, Hyland & Demlong (Summer 2005)
• Software Developer, contracted to American Express, Intuit, Allied Signal (1999-2003)
• Actuarial Assistant, William M. Mercer Inc. (1998-99)

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

• Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation