PRACTICE:
Litigation and Trial Consultant

BAR INFORMATION:
California – 1982

COURT ADMISSIONS:
All State Courts in the State of California

EDUCATION:
San Francisco State University, B.A. International Relations (1978)
Western State University School of Law, JD (1982)

Website: https://nhrapc.com

Before transitioning his practice to litigation and trial consulting, Mr. Rockwood emphasized his practice on insurance bad faith, insurance coverage, construction defect, landslide and business litigation representing primarily plaintiffs.

Born in Medford, Massachusetts, Mr. Rockwood attended high school in northern California, after which he lived in Africa for a year and a half with his parents who were Peace Corps volunteers.

After returning from Africa he attended college at San Francisco State University and earned a degree in International Relations. While at San Francisco State he was President of the International Relations Student Union and graduated with departmental honors, magna cum laude, in 1978.

Mr. Rockwood obtained his legal education at Western State University College of Law where he ranked in the top ten percent of his class and was a member of Law Review. He graduated in 1982 and practiced in various law firms emphasizing in insurance bad faith and construction defect litigation prior to joining the firm of Thorsnes, Bartolotta, McGuire & Padilla in 1987. In July of 2001 he formed his own firm with C. Brant Noziska, Rockwood & Noziska, LLP.

Prior to forming Rockwood & Noziska, LLP, Mr. Rockwood worked at Thorsnes, Bartolotta, McGuire and Padilla. He started as an associate in 1987 and became a partner in January, 1991. His practice focused on construction defect, insurance coverage insurance bad faith and landslide litigation. He was a founding partner of Rockwood & Noziska, LLP, continuing his emphasis in construction defect, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, landslide and business litigation.

Since 1982 Mr. Rockwood has worked on and litigated landslides in Malibu (Big Rock Mesa), San Clemente, Oceanside (Oceana Mission), Ventura (Padre Place), and San Diego (Rancho Bernardo). His experience has resulted in the recovery of several millions of dollars, and, in at least two instances, resulted in the remediation of the slides.

In April, 2022, Mr. Rockwood transitioned his practice from active involvement in litigation and trial work to litigation and trial consulting. He remains active in the local Bar as well as Consumer Attorneys of San Diego and Consumer Attorneys of California.

Publications

American Association of Justice, Insurance Law Section, Vol. 15, No. 2, Winter 2009:

“The Hidden Truth Behind an Insurer’s Denial: The Crime Fraud Exception to the Attorney Client Privilege”

Shepards/McGraw-Hill Insurance Litigation Reporter Vol. 11, Number 5, May 1989, feature article:

“Garvey v. State Farm The Dawning of a New Era in California Earth Movement/Construction Defect Coverage Claims.”

Co-Authored by James A. Roberts

Western State University Journal of Law, Vol. 4, Number 1, 1995:

“The Continuing and Progressive Loss and Loss in Progress Rule: When is Coverage Triggered Under First and Third Party Policies?”

Co-Authored by Robert E. Bright

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 5, May 1994:

“‘Premises Alienated’ exclusion (Narrowly Interpreted) Prudential-LMI Commercial Insurance Company v. Reliance Insurance Co.”

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 6, June/July 1994:

“Is Third Party Bad Faith Liability Dead?”

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 9, November 1994:

“Application of ‘No Action’ Clause When Insured Has Settled Underlying Action.”

Trial Bar News, Vol. 17, Issue 10, December 1994:

“Food For Thought: 4th District Rules Insurers Cannot Bring Good Faith Settlement Motions.”

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 3, March 1995:

“Tortious Breach of Settlement Agreement – Settlements a Helping Hand.”

Co-Authored by C. Brant Noziska, Esq.

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 5, November 1995:

“Change Over Notices, Adequate or Not?” (Coverage Changes Require Adequate Notice.)

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 7, August/September 1995:

“The Case That Launched a Thousand Slips: Antitrust Claims and the Insurance Industry.” (Unfair Trade Laws Apply to Carriers.)

Co-Authored by Robert E. Bright

Trial Bar News, Vol. 18, Issue 9, November 1995:

“Emotional Distress and Duty to Defend”

Lectures

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention/Seminar, November 2000.

Topic of Discussion: “Construction Defect, Cutting Edge.”

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention/Seminar, November 1999.

“If I Had a Hammer: Handling Construction Defect Litigation, Insurance Related Issues.”

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention/Seminar, March 1998.

“Insurance Issues to Look For In Construction Defect Lawsuits”

Western Trial Lawyer Association “Pride, Passion and the Practice of Law,” June 1998. Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.

Topic of Discussion: “Experts, Proof and Sex Appeal”

Consumers Attorneys of San Diego and Nevada Trial Lawyers Association “Construction Defect Witnesses: The Good Bad and The Ugly,” June 1997. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Topic of Discussion: “Direct and Cross Examination of Witnesses.”

American Bar Association Mid Year Meeting of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, February 1996. Newport, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Cutting the Gordian Knot: Mediating the Construction Coverage Dispute.”

Lorman Education Services, August 1995. San Diego, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Insurance Bad Faith Claims, Anatomy of a Bad Faith Trial.”

Lorman Education Services, March 1994. San Diego, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Insurance Law Update; Issues in California Bad Faith Litigation.”

Lorman Education Services, November 1993. San Diego, California.

Topic of Discussion: “Insurance Law and Litigation, Anatomy of a Bad Faith Trial.”