As a litigation strategist for insurers, businesses and employers, Eugene C. Blackard Jr. evaluates his defense for each case by its effectiveness and ability to achieve his client’s objectives. Assertive investigations, skillful handling of scientific, technical and medical evidence, and deft management of expert testimony all contribute to Gene’s sustained record of litigation success. 

Effective Litigation Defense Counsel

Gene focuses on insurance defense with particular expertise in mass and complex environmental and toxic torts, catastrophic personal injury, premises liability and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) claims.

Focusing on Industries Important to California

Construction, health care, manufacturing, gas and oil are among the industries where Gene has significant experience. He has successfully defended construction contractors and subcontractors facing asbestos and toxic torts claims on multiple occasions. 

Representing Clients Nationwide

Currently, Gene serves as national coordinating counsel of litigation for a leading international electrical distributor, managing its legal risks across 38 states.

Additional clients include The Travelers Companies, Chubb, CNA, AIG, Arrowpoint Capital Corp, Atlantic Mutual, The Hanover Insurance Group, Fireman’s Fund and Valero Energy Corporation. 

Gene Blackard’s representative matters include:

Insurance Coverage, Mass Toxic Torts and Environmental Torts

• Asbestos - Successful defense in a high volume of asbestos claims against individual, multiparty and class action defendants. Gene has in-depth experience handling multijurisdiction issues in complex asbestos cases and defending both target and tangential players. He has an extensive practice defending construction contractors and subcontractors in asbestos claims.
• Benzyne - Defended independent oil company against claims made by survivors of a deceased plaintiff, a tree trimmer, alleging that benzyne in his trimming machine’s gas exhaust caused his fatal leukemia. Using a sophisticated argument in court filings, Gene achieved a zero payment settlement and shut down future litigation threats.
• Mold - An emergency room physician alleged serious injury due to mold caused by his hospital’s ventilation system and sued the HVAC contractor, who was Gene’s client. Following the results of a rigorous investigation that undermined the physician’s claims, the case was resolved for a fractional amount prior to a decision on summary judgment.
• Toxic and Environmental Torts - Gene’s broad experience includes defending claims of injury caused by exposure to benzene, toluene, silica, tetrachloroethylene(PCE), water contamination and welding fumes.

Personal Injury and Premises Liability

• Stunt Work Injury - Defended film production company in claim made by catastrophically injured water ski stunt performer; claim was resolved with low monetary payout by the insurer.  
• Pepper Spray - Achieved a zero payment on a personal injury claim on behalf of a fast food chain covered by its insurer. Claim involved our defense of the restaurant’s security officer alleged to have injured a fleeing thief with pepper spray. 

National Litigation Coordinating Counsel 

• Serving as litigation coordinator for national defendant, a Fortune 500, $5 billion international distributor of electrical and communications products.  Gene is overseeing and monitoring its litigation in 38 states, ensuring a cohesive and cost-effective litigation strategy.  

Industries

• Insurance
• Construction Contractors and Subcontractors
• Product Manufacturers and Distributors   
• Oil Producers
• Security
• Healthcare and Medicine