Our People - David Prange

David Prange

Biography | Professional Resume | dprange@prangelawgroup.com

Managing Member

David Prange is the founding member of Prange Law Group. Dave specializes in complex insurance coverage disputes and defending individuals and medical and construction professionals in negligence claims. He also represents industries in need of legal advice in environmental cost recovery actions and contaminated site investigations and cleanups.

Dave has completed over 20 jury trials, and well over 100 arbitrations and mediations. He has extensive experience in appearing before administrative tribunals, and negotiating with state and federal regulatory agencies. His coverage expertise ranges from very large multi-site environmental matters, to sex abuse claims and construction defect claims.

Dave has served as special SIU counsel for several insurers, and has participated in a case which led to a multi-million dollar verdict against a fraudulent chiropractic clinic.

Dave worked out of the Seattle offices of Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt and Hoffman Hart for much of his tenure with those firms. Although Prange Law Group has chosen not to open a Seattle office, the firm's substantial Washington practice allows for low or no cost travel when representing clients in Washington matters. Prange Law Group also has developed longstanding relationships with Seattle insurance coverage and defense counsel and consulting firms.

Dave has two children, Jessica (15 years old) and Nicholas (12 years old), and enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking.

Resume

Prior Legal Experience

Abbott & Prange, P.C., Portland, Oregon (2004-06); Hoffman, Hart & Wagner LLP, Portland, Oregon (1993-2003); Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt (1988-93); Bonneville Power Administration, Law Clerk (1985).

Professional Associations and Admissions

  • Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Past Chair of Coverage Section
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues (FETTI)
  • Multnomah Bar Association
  • Oregon State Bar
  • Washington State Bar
  • Dave is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education (CLE) seminars.

Education

J.D., 1987, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, 1987; M.S., 1984, Natural Resources Planning, Colorado State University; B.S., 1984, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Highest Honors; A.A., 1982, Brevard Junior College (basketball scholarship).

Publications

Recent Oregon Environmental Insurance Coverage Cases and Legislation, ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP CONFERENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW EDUCATION CENTER (April 2007).

With Wisconsin’s Fair Claims Act, It’s the Lawyers Who Clean Up, David E. Prange, Milwaukie Journal Sentinel, Editorial Page (May 8, 2005).

Key CD Coverage Issues: An Update on Oregon Cases and Coverage in Oregon, CONSTRUCTION LAW UPDATE, WASHINGTON DEFENSE TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (March 2007).

Common Law Claims - Nuisance & Trespass, DAMAGES TREATISE, Oregon State Bar.

Representative Matters

Schnitzer Investment Corp. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, 341 Or. 128 (2006); 197 Or. App. 147 (2005). Represented defendant insurers in action seeking damages for breach of contract, bad faith, and intentional misrepresentation in relation to claims for coverage for environmental contamination at sites adjacent to the Willamette River. Successfully represented the insurers in the Court of Appeals and Oregon Supreme Court.

Harbor Island Superfund Site, Lower Duwamish Superfund Site, and Port of Seattle Terminals. Representing insurer of the Port of Seattle in connection with substantial claims by the U.S. EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology relating to contamination at and near several Port properties, Elliott Bay, and the Lower Duwamish River.

Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 465.478-.482. Lobbied on behalf of insurers opposed to creation and amendment of environmental insurance claims statute in Oregon.

Portland Harbor Superfund Site. Representing insurers of the City of Portland and other PRPs in connection with in-water contamination claims by the U.S. EPA, and soil and groundwater contamination claims by the Oregon DEQ relating to numerous upland sites.

Puget Sound Energy, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Represented defendant insurer in insurance coverage action involving contaminated sites owned by regional electric utility in Northwest Washington.

City of Tacoma v. Century Indemnity Co. Represented primary and excess insurer of the City of Tacoma regarding claims arising from area-wide contamination of Commencement Bay and related Natural Resources Damages.

Newmont Mining Site. Representing insurer in complex claim regarding former uranium mine Superfund site in Eastern Washington.

Van Osten Lumber. Represented insurer in cleanup and sale of former wood treating facility in Central Oregon under state Brownfields program.

Archdiocese of Portland v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Represented excess insurer in complex coverage matter involving hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse. Client was dismissed without payment.

Asarco v. American Home Ins. Co. Represented primary and excess insurer in complex multi-site declaratory relief action involving widespread contamination from copper smelter slag.

AT&T v. Continental Cas Co. Represented excess insurer which was asked to pay class action defense and indemnity costs relating to alleged harm from cell phone use.

Olympic Pipeline Co. v. Cont. Cas. Co. Represented insurer in coverage action relating to Olympic Pipeline’s claim for coverage under joint venture member’s policy for catastrophic pipeline explosion. Summary judgment affirmed on appeal. Olympic Pipe Line Co. v. Somerset Marine, Inc., 2004 WL 2526440 (Wash App. 2004).

General Metals of Tacoma v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Represented primary and excess insurer in multi-site declaratory relief action involving Washington’s largest scrap metal facility on Commencement Bay.

Great Northern Ins. Co. v. Benj. Franklin Savings & Loan, 953 F.2d 1387, 1992 WL 16749 (1992) Represented first-party and liability insurer in case seeking coverage for asbestos removal. Court enforced absolute pollution exclusion and related first-party exclusions. Upheld on appeal to 9th Circuit.

Louisiana Pacific v. Continental Cas. Co. Represented excess insurer in defense of coverage claim for payments made by insured in class action settlements for defective siding. Trial court granted summary judgment for client.

Sierra Pacific v. Unigard Ins. Co. Represented insurer of adverse parties in complex multi-party TCE groundwater cleanup site. 2003 WL 23962278 (D. Or. 2003).

St. Paul Ins. Co. v. McCormick & Baxter Creosoting Co. Represented multiple insurers in two-site wood treating contamination claim. Oregon’s seminal case for the qualified pollution exclusion, trigger of coverage, and related key coverage terms. 126 Or. App. 689, 870 P.2d 260 (1994), aff’d, 324 Or. 184 (1996).

Wildish Sand & Gravel Co. v. Northwest Natural Gas Co. Represented regional gas company in action alleging unfair rate practices. 796 P.2d 1237 (Or. App. 1990).

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