Ann C. Taylor

Ann Taylor has over 25 years of experience in complex litigations, with an emphasis on defending clients faced with mass disasters and high-stakes insurance contract disputes. Ann’s defense of mass tort cases often involves complex jurisdictional and procedural issues, such as personal jurisdiction, personal representative, forum non conveniens, Foreign Sovereign Immunity, Death on the High Seas Act and Act of State Doctrine. Ann’s handling of insurance contract disputes includes numerous declaratory actions, and reformation and rescission actions. She is an experienced trial attorney with proven results for her clients.

Ann’s litigation experience:

• Ann has been retained by leading Lloyd’s syndicates in the War Market to defend their interests in 14 insurance coverage litigations arising out of aircraft leased by U.S. business entities to Russian airlines, which remain in Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the imposition of Western sanctions causing the lessors to cancel leases, and the reactions of the Russian airlines and the Russian Federation. These cases involve issues regarding the availability of insurance, if any, under All Risks or War Risk policies and seek in excess of $3 billion. Ann is also coordinating these litigations with similar litigations pending in the United Kingdom and Ireland for these Lloyd’s syndicates.
• Lead attorney for plaintiff insurers of American Airlines, United Airlines and their preboard screeners that filed litigation against certain nation states that are alleged to have provided funds and otherwise aided and abetted the 9/11 terrorists:
  
  • Plaintiffs seek to recoup amounts paid for losses arising out of the September 11th terrorist attacks
  • This lawsuit has been consolidated with other lawsuits pending in the S.D.N.Y. initiated on behalf of individuals lost and injured, and other businesses and insurers that suffered losses, and involves complex issues concerning the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act as well as service and discovery on foreign nation states
• Lead trial attorney in the United States for product manufacturers and aircraft owner respectively arising out of AirAsia Flight 8501 and Flydubai Flight 981 accidents, which resulted in early dismissals for Locke Lord clients based on jurisdictional grounds
  
  • Lead counsel in litigation pending in Russia against the aircraft owner of the Flydubai Flight 981 accident aircraft, which involves working closely with Russian counsel
• Lead trial attorney for insurers domiciled worldwide in dispute over whether parties intended for insurance contracts to cover chemical-exposure claims caused by spraying activities to eradicate drug crops in South America by a U.S. Government contractor, which was sued by Ecuador and thousands of its citizens
  
  • Tried reformation and rescission actions, which resulted in a settlement after preliminary post-trial opinion was issued for Locke Lord’s clients
• Provided advice to primary and excess insurers concerning issues presented by liability of their insured for a mass disaster that exceeded insurance limits, issues included:
  
  • Ability to settle cases
  • Interpleader
  • Duties of good faith
  • Priority of coverage
  • Scheme to resolve all claims through a nationally known mediator
• Lead trial attorney for target defendant in mass tort litigations seeking in excess of $20 billion arising out of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States
  
  • Locke Lord’s client operated the preboard screening services through which the terrorists passed before boarding American Flight 11, which was flown into World Trade Center 1. Representation included successful resolution of all wrongful death and property damage claims except those of the net lessees of the World Trade Center
  • After several partial summary judgment motions, Locke Lord and counsel for American Airlines tried the unresolved damages issues, which resulted in a defense verdict
  • On appeal, all key findings were upheld by the Second Circuit, representation required a U.S. security clearance
• Lead trial attorney for insurers of a product manufacturer concerning the availability of coverage for a failed commercial satellite series
  
  • Representation involved resolving issues presented by litigating matters governed by the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations
• Defended insurers of four major U.S. air carriers in series of coverage litigations arising out of pollution at airports and maintenance facilities throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, where each air carrier sought in excess of $800 million
  
  • Secured settlements for Locke Lord clients
• Trial counsel in coverage dispute against newspaper publisher seeking over $70 million for pollution liabilities
  
  • Obtained a defense verdict at trial that was subsequently upheld on appeal