Kevin G. Horbatiuk

Kevin G. Horbatiuk

Offices: New York
Partner

Kevin's practice focuses on defending claims for benefits under ERISA group insurance plans, property and casualty defense work, trucking defense, asbestos claim defense and regulatory defense work.

He is counsel in New York State for New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Group Insurance Company of New York, Life Insurance Company of North America, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company and Connecticut General Life Insurance Company as well as various self-funded Employer Benefit Plans. He is national counsel for Cigna Corporation regarding writs of garnishment and UCC Liens served upon it.

Kevin acts as Qualified Officer for New York Life Group Insurance Company of New York. In addition, he is on the approved panel of outside counsel for JP Morgan ChaseBank, NA, Target Corporation, Lancer Indemnity Insurance Company and various Managing General Agents for National Trucking Companies and Insurers.

He has been retained to represent numerous national self-insured accounts in personal injury, property damage lawsuits, asbestos claim litigation and trucking accident cases as well as to provide pre-litigation services concurrent with the happening of a catastrophic event.

Kevin stays involved in the community, giving back to his alma mater, Fordham University, by lending his wide range of legal knowledge to Fordham's Mock Trial team. He also offers legal guidance, and on the water kayak support, to the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club and Uptown Paddling, Inc., a non-profit offering free kayaking to neighborhood youth in Inwood and Washington Heights. In addition to providing legal services, he provides on the water safety support at its kayaking events on the Hudson River. He successfully completed training with Billion Oyster Project and is now an Ambassador of the organization, performing public outreach at community events, lecturing on the history of oysters and the status of local oyster restoration projects in addition to providing hands on support for their Oyster Research Stations ( ORS ) and reefs located in New York Harbor and adjacent waterways, especially the waters of the east Bronx where he volunteers with the City Island Oyster Reef. Kevin monitors the health and growth of the oysters in the ORS that are accessible via kayak. He provides on the water safety support by kayak at the annual Heroes of the Hudson event which affords patients of the veterans Administration Hospital in Manhattan the opportunity to spend a day kayaking and sailing on the Hudson River. He is a member of the Kingsbridge Historical Society and is very active in formulating programs focusing on the local history of northern Manhattan and the west Bronx.

Education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1981
Fordham University, B.A., History, summa cum laude, 1978
Experience
Was a Senior Trial Counsel for Cigna's in-house litigation office for 13 years
Has litigated numerous high exposure construction, transportation and products liability cases in Kings and Bronx Counties
Admissions
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of New York
New York State Bar
Memberships
Defense Research Institute's Life, Health and Disability Litigation Committee.
Catholic Lawyers Guild
Speaking Engagements
National Business Institute : Advanced Civil Litigation Skills in New York; Long Island , New York; November 2015 ( "Using Evidence to Support Your Proposed Damages Claim," "Addressing Weaknesses in Your Case in Closing Arguments." )

American Conference Institute: 16th National Advanced Forum on Ligating Disability Insurance Claims, New York, NY, January 23, 2013; The Discovery Battle Continues: The Current Scope and Limitations of Discovery in Disability Claims Actions, and Tactics and Strategies for Securing Meaningful and Useful Discovery for Your Case.

American Conference Institute: 11th National Advanced Forum on Ligating Disability Insurance Claims, Boston, MA, June 12, 2008; Subjective Disorders: Practical Tips for Utilizing the Medical Facts in Litigation For the Defense, Mock Disability Trial: The Defense Perspective.

Eastern Claims Conference, New York, NY, February 26, 2008, Mock Mediation-Behind Closed Doors.

National Business Institute: Powerful Evidence in New York Civil Litigation, Long Island, NY, January 2004.

New York State Bar Association: Basics of Premises Liability 2001, December 7, 2001, "Put Up Your Dukes": Tavern owner liability, bar fights, aggressive bouncers, transferred intent, dram shop update.

New York State Bar Association: New York City Faculty for the "Discovery 2000-For Experienced Litigators Seminar, May 12, 2000, Trial Considerations.

News Insights

May 4, 2023

Kevin Horbatiuk wins a verdict in favor of our clients after a trial on liability in Queens County, Supreme Court

On April 28, 2023 Kevin Horbatiuk won a verdict in favor of our clients after a trial on liability in Queens County, Supreme Court in the case of El Hassan vs Munoz Trucking Corporation and Maria Theresa Corral.

April 25, 2019

Kevin Horbatiuk Obtains Reduction In Fees And Interest In ERISA Case

Kevin Horbatiuk received a favorable decision for our client in the case Cohen v. Life Insurance Company of North America, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Civil Action No. 17 CV 9270) from District Judge J. Paul Oetken.

November 19, 2024

Tashi Vaish Obtains A Defense Verdict On Liability In Supreme Kings

Congratulations go out to Tashi Vaish who got a unanimous defense verdict on liability earlier today in Supreme Kings on the Salway Nasser v. Tadhbir Singh and Jean R. Joseph case. The plaintiff, who did not know who caused the accident, was a passenger in the insured''s livery vehicle headed to JFK Airport. The co-defendant was also a livery driver and neither driver could be produced for either a deposition or trial.