Profile

A veteran litigator and counselor to insurers, Mark Olson is a member of the firm’s trial practice, financial services and insurance coverage groups.  He frequently speaks to financial services and insurance industry groups and has several published cases in his career background.

Focused on Resolving Complex Business Litigation

Mark works closely with clients to achieve their goals in business disputes in state court, federal court and bankruptcy court. Mark has represented public, private, corporate and individual clients. He and his clients have successfully resolved complex, multiparty disputes through alternative dispute resolution and trial.  

Breadth and Depth of Commercial Conflict Resolution

His range of recent cases encompasses a diverse and interesting group. This includes election law counsel that required advice and litigation, real estate litigation, foreclosures and creditors’ rights - secured and unsecured, and inside and outside bankruptcy. He also has counseled on commercial leases, partner and director/officer liability, eminent domain and inverse condemnation, conversion (civil theft), business and accounting fraud, and insurance coverage.

A Strengthened Focus on Insurance Coverage Claims and Opinions

Bringing his litigation and unique accounting fraud experience to bear on coverage questions and strategies, Mark's insurance coverage matters have involved first- and third-party policies. These include director and officer, commercial general liability, and business, homeowner and automobile polices, including suspected fraudulent first-party claims.

Experience

Mark Olson’s major litigation representations have included the following: 

• Obtained a defense verdict on a $2 million claim against the manager of a business, prevailed on a cross-claim for defamation against the chief executive officer of the business and obtained a punitive damages award, after a three week trial in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
   
• Successfully defended a national moving company in a class action brought in federal court, obtaining dismissals of Section 17200 and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act claims and denial of certification of the class on the remaining claims, enabling a favorable settlement while on appeal.
   
• Successfully created a strategy permitting a construction lender, in $6 million stop-notice and mechanics-lien litigation on a major shopping center project, to quickly close its construction loan and extend and sell the permanent loan prior to the release of liens and stop notices and the successful conclusion of the remaining litigation.
   
• Represented a mobile phone accessory/OEM manufacturer in litigation, successfully using a series of injunctive remedies to unwind a failed business combination with a hostile competitor.

Mark's published cases include:

• Peninsula Guardians, Inc. v. Peninsula Health Care District, 168 Cal.App.4th 75, 85 Cal. Rptr. 3d 253 (2008)
   
• Roberts v. North American Van Lines, Inc., 394 F. Supp. 2d 1174 (N.D. Cal. 2004), discussed in W. Masterson, E. Baron & L. LaMothe, Cal. Civ. Prac., Bus. Litig. § 51:2 (2009) and in S. Davis, Disparity Out of Uniformity: Rethinking the Continued Vitality of the Carmack Amendment's Pre-Emption of State Consumer Protection Laws, 21 Loy. Consumer L. Rev. 325, 345-347(2009)
   
• Robertson v. North American Van Lines, Inc., 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7788, 2004 WL 5026265 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 13, 2004)
   
• Sandwich Chef of Texas, Inc. v. Reliance National Indemnity Ins. Co., 202 F.R.D. 212 (S. Dist. Tex. 2001), rev'd, 319 F.3d 205 (5th Cir. 2003)
   
• Sandwich Chef of Texas, Inc. v. Reliance National Indemnity Ins. Co., 111 F.Supp.2d 867 (S. Dist. Tex. 2000)

News/Publications

Recent News and Articles

Articles

Mark is the author of: 

• Detecting Financial Reporting Fraud, in PLI, Basics of Accounting and Finance, 2001-2007 (summers; annually).
• Duties of Directors and Officers of Financially Troubled Corporations, in Bruce A. Toth & Jason L. Booth, The Board of Directors, Ch. 7 (BNA Corp. Prac. Series 63-2d [2006])

News

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