Christopher R. Wagner

Christopher R. Wagner is a Partner in the Los Angeles office of GRSM. He is a member of the firm’s Insurance Practice Group.

Christopher focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including litigation of insurance coverage and bad faith matters. He also has significant experience representing clients in appellate matters and has briefed a number of important issues before the California Supreme Court representing both parties and amici curiae. In addition, he represents court-appointed receivers in real estate litigation.

Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California
• U.S. Supreme Court

Memberships

• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• California State Bar

Representative Experience

Examples of Christopher's experience include the following:

• Represented an attorney in a legal malpractice action. Christopher filed a special motion to strike (anti-SLAPP motion) pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16. The trial court granted the anti-SLAPP motion and awarded his client all of his attorneys’ fees and costs.
• Represented an insurance carrier on a third-party insurance coverage and bad faith action arising out of contentious underlying litigation between an HOA and its board of directors. The trial court sustained his demurrer, without leave to amend. The case then settled while on appeal.
• Represented an insurer in a complex multi-million-dollar first party insurance coverage and bad faith action involving a low-income condominium development. The trial court granted summary adjudication in favor of his client on the bad faith claim, based upon the genuine dispute doctrine and the advice of counsel defense. The case thereafter settled on very favorable terms.
• Represented an insurer in a first party insurance coverage and bad faith action involving roofing and related property damage. After obtaining significant sanctions against the opposing party, Mr. Wagner’s client prevailed on a motion for summary judgment.
• Represented an insurer in a third-party insurance coverage and bad faith action involving claims of sexual assault and battery. The trial court sustained his demurrer to the first amended complaint, without leave to amend.
• Represented an insurance agent in an agent malpractice action arising out of an alleged failure to properly obtain auto insurance for an individual who subsequently was involved in a serious accident which resulted in major injuries. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of his client, at which time the matter settled.
• Represented an insurer in a first party insurance coverage and bad faith action involving significant claims of mold bodily injury and property damage. After years of heated litigation, on the first day of trial, the trial court sustained Christopher's demurrer to the third amended complaint, without leave to amend. The judgment of dismissal was affirmed on appeal. (Figueroa v. Fire Ins. Exch. (C.A. Cal. 2004) 2004 Cal.App.Unpub.Lexis 11210.)
• Represented an insurer in an insurance coverage and bad faith action involving multiple underlying claims, and multiple primary and excess policies. The trial court granted summary judgment for the client and the court of appeal affirmed. (Christiansen v. Truck Ins. Exch. (C.A. Cal. 2004) 2004 Cal.App.Unpub.Lexis 7827.)
• Represented an insurer in a first party insurance coverage and bad faith action involving the “house eating fungus,” poria incrassata.” The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of his client. The matter was settled on appeal.
• Represented a trade magazine for the gemstone industry in a trade libel action. Christopher filed an anti-SLAPP motion pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 that was denied.  He appealed the ruling.  The Court of Appeal reversed in full and ordered the trial court to grant the anti-SLAPP motion in favor of his client.  (Direct Shopping Network v. Interweave Press LLC (C.A. Cal. 2010) 2010 Cal.App.Unpub.Lexis 3597.

Publications

• Insurance Defense Conflicts of Interest: Three Main Approaches, Insurance Quarterly Newsletter (August 2010). 
• Co-Author, The Insurer's Attorney-Client Privilege: Managing And Protecting the Privilege, Defense Research Institute (April 2010)
• Co-Author, Handling Mold Litigation in California, CEB Action Guide, 3rd Edition (September 2009)
• Co-Author, Handling Mold Litigation in California, CEB Action Guide, 2nd Edition (September 2007)
• Co-Author, Handling Mold Litigation in California, CEB Action Guide, 1st Edition (October 2005)
• False Alarm? Effect of MacKinnon v. Truck Insurance Exchange on Mold Exposure Claims, CEB Real Property Law Reporter, Vol. 28, No. 1 (January 2005)
• Co-Author, Beyond Bad Faith – Upping the Ante With Class Action and Unfair Business Practice Claims, Defense Research Institute (February/March 2004)
• Making Reservations: Does an insurer's conduct-based reservation of rights automatically trigger the insured's right to independent counsel?, Los Angeles Lawyer, Vol. 26, No. 4, p. 36 (June 2003)
• Absolute Pollution Exclusion Trend Will Impact Mold and Asbestos Claims, Insurance Day, Issue No. 1,087 (April 4, 2002)
• Business Method Patents: Insurance Coverage Implications After State Street v. Signature Financial, Mealey’s Emerging Insurance Coverage Disputes, Vol. 6, No. 17 (September 4, 2001)

Presentations

• Everything You Wanted To Know About The Cumis Doctrine But Were Afraid To Ask, San Diego County Bar Association Seminar, San Diego (2010)
• Is the Fungus Still Among Us?, CEB Seminar, San Francisco (2006)
• Independent Counsel in California and Elsewhere, African American Insurance Professionals Assn. Seminar (2002)
• A Nationwide Survey of Defense and/or Indemnity Obligations in Administrative Action Settings, Environmental Claims Managers Assn. Seminar (1999)
• A Nationwide Survey of Independent Counsel Rules in Reservation of Rights Situations, Environmental Claims Managers Assn. Seminar (1999)

Education

J.D., Santa Clara University, 1992

B.S., Political Science, Santa Clara University, 1989

Honors

Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Insurance Coverage and Business Litigation (2007, 2009-2018, Law & Politics)