Bennington, J. Christopher

Mr. Bennington helped to form the Kring & Chung coverage department after almost twenty years in private practice and another six years working in the general counsel's office of a major insurance company. His experience as a successful trial attorney combined with two decades in the coverage field allows him to bring a broad perspective to issues concerning insurance policies and the coverages they afford. He will be practicing from the firm's office in Irvine.

Mr. Bennington was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He graduated cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1979 with a degree in History, and then continued his education at the UCLA School of Law. He graduated from law school and was admitted to the California bar in 1982.

Mr. Bennington began his career with the Los Angeles firm of Harrington, Foxx, Dubrow & Canter, where he defended a variety of cases, including claims of medical malpractice, wrongful termination of employment, and products liability. He also represented hospitals in actions involving the termination or restriction of doctors' staff privileges.

Mr. Bennington moved his practice to the new firm of O'Flaherty, Abrahams & Carl, where he first began working on issues of insurance coverage. Mr. Bennington became a partner in the firm of O'Flaherty, Prestholt & Bennington in 1986.

He continued his practice during a long association with Wasserman, Comden & Casselman, where he handled insurance coverage and general litigation. Mr. Bennington represented both plaintiffs and defendants in environmental pollution litigation, and he defended claims of premises liability, products liability and construction defects.

Mr. Bennington joined Fireman's Fund Insurance Company in 2000, and worked in the general counsel's office on a variety of coverage issues. He handled matters arising from underlying claims of construction defects, appropriation of intellectual property, professional malpractice, premises liability and products liability. He pursued contribution actions against other carriers and litigated disputes with insureds over the appointment and compensation of independent defense counsel. He also offered advice to the claims and underwriting departments concerning the company's policy forms and claims practices.

During his career, Mr. Bennington has tried a number of jury trials, all to a favorable verdict, and resolved other matters through various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and inter-carrier arbitrations. He has also prepared and argued several matters before the California Courts of Appeal.

Mr. Bennington spends his free time keeping up with his children, playing music, reading about baseball and history, and umpiring Little League baseball games.