DAVID B. EZRA
MEDIATOR | ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION EXPERT | INSURANCE EXPERT WITNESS
A shareholder in Berger Kahn’s South Orange County office, David Ezra has successfully represented clients involved in insurance employment and business litigation for over 30 years. David excels at helping parties find common ground and is known for helping parties reach settlements in even the most challenging circumstances in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. Armed with extensive liability insurance coverage knowledge, decades of litigation and insurance coverage experience that fostered problem-solving instincts, David is dedicated to collaborating with parties to resolve even the most difficult cases.
After earning his J.D. from the University of Southern California in 1990 (Order of the Coif, Top 3%) where he served as editor of the Southern California Law Review, David completed his mediation training and certification in 2005 through UC Irvine’s Conflict Management and the Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. He served as the 2018 Chair for the Alternative Dispute Resolution section. For over a decade, he has also served as a volunteer arbitrator for the Orange County Bar Association’s mandatory attorney fee arbitration program.
David has been recognized for his years of hard work and dedication, including being named Best Lawyers 2018 and 2016 Insurance Litigation "Lawyer of the Year" for Southern California. He has also been included in the list of Best Lawyers of America from 2015 to present, Super Lawyer's list of "Top 100" Southern California Super Lawyers from 2013 to present and "Top 50" Orange County Super Lawyers from 2010 to present. Additionally, David was once recognized as one of Orange County's "Top 5" Attorneys in Insurance and Employment law by OC Metro magazine.
Through David Ezra Mediations, David mediates a wide range of complex disputes related to employment, insurance, business, construction, personal injury, professional liability, and more.
Beyond his litigation and mediation work, David writes and speaks extensively on mediation, insurance, employment, and other related aspects of law, having recently published the mediation article “The Mediator’s Nightmare” (as featured in the Orange County Bar Association publication, OC Lawyer). In his free time, David keeps an eye on sports. In 2008, he published a book on baseball and steroids, Asterisk: Home Runs, Steroids, and the Rush to Judgment (Triumph Books; Foreword by Mike Schmidt).
More About Dave
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California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor of Arts, History, with Honors, 1987
University of California, Irvine
Certificate in Conflict Management and the Use of ADR, 2005
University of Southern California
Notes Editor (1989-90)
Staff Member (1988-89)
J.D., 1990 (Order of the Coif, Top 3%)
Law Review, Southern Cal. Law Rev.
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Berger Kahn Irvine (1992-Present)
Represent and advise clients in relation to insurance claims and litigation.
Irell & Manella Newport Beach (1990-1992)
Represented policyholders in insurance litigation.
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California
U.S. District Court, Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
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Orange County Bar Association, Chair 2018 Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
Orange County Bar Association, Secretary/Treasurer 2016 Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
Orange County Bar Association, Member
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• Cal. Capital Ins. Co. v. Emp’rs Comp. Ins. Co., 89 Cal. App. 5th 638 (2023) (Amicus Brief)
• Alanis v. Leonard Roofing, Inc., No. B291597, 2020 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2039
• Hayward v. Superior Court, 2 Cal. App. 5th 10 (2016)
• Underwriters of Interest v. ProBuilders Specialty Ins. Co., 241 Cal. App. 4th 721 (2015)
• Aquarius Well Drilling Inc. v. American States Ins. Co., 593 F. App’x 720 (9th Cir. 2015)
• Bisno v. Kahn, 225 Cal. App. 4th 1087 (2014)
• Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Central Garden & Pet Co., 2013 Cal. App. Unpub LEXIS 6245
• Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Kim, 2013 Cal. App. Unpub LEXIS 2309
• Itani v. Yorba Linda Water Dist., 2012 Cal. Super. LEXIS 20611
• Cooper v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 177 Cal. App. 4th 876 (2009)
• Padilla Const. Co., Inc. v. Transportation Ins. Co., 150 Cal. App. 4th 984 (2007)
• Equus Products, Inc. v. Truck Ins. Exchange, 2006 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 10082
• Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Allen, 2005 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2585
• Barratt Am., Inc. v. Transcon. Ins. Co., 102 Cal. App. 4th 848 (2002)
• Lomes v. Hartford Financial Services Group, 88 Cal. App. 4th 127 (2001)
• Continental Cas. Co. v. Superior Court (Paragon), 92 Cal. App. 4th 430 (2001)
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• Best Lawyers in America -- Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Insurance Litigation (Best Lawyers) (2015-2023)
• Best Lawyers 2016, 2018 and 2019, Litigation-Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” for Los Angeles, Pasadena, Orange County and Riverside areas (Best Lawyers)
• “Top 100” Southern California “Super Lawyers” (2013-2023)
• “Top 50” O.C. “Super Lawyers” (2010-2023)
• “America’s Most Honored Lawyers” - Top 1% (2020 to 2022, American Registry)
• Peer-Rated AV Preeminent (Martindale Hubbell)
