Johnathan C. Lerner
Johnathan C. Lerner is the proud founder of New York City law firm Lerner, Arnold & Winston (LAW). He is dedicated to his clients, willing to stand for the rights of commercial enterprises, business owners, and residential property owners against insurance companies. Throughout his career, he has attained multiple multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for his clients.
The son of a former public adjuster, Johnathan has a vast knowledge of first-party insurance claim litigation. He uses this knowledge to help clients understand their insurance policy’s nuanced coverage and their rights to receive the appropriate indemnification for the losses/damages sustained. During the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, his deep understanding of wind and flood issues led him to assist many victims with their insurance claims. Johnathan’s expertise regarding insurance coverage issues also makes him a highly sought-after speaker on hot-topic issues in insurance litigation and property damage claims.
Johnathan’s passion and commitment to the practice of law also extend to those in his community that need legal representation. He has assisted local homeowners with the preparation and submission of claims to flood carriers. He also serves as the board president of Long Island’s Community Mainstreaming Associates (CMA), an organization dedicated to helping men and women with developmental disabilities reach their highest potential of independence and lead purposeful lives.
Johnathan is the proud dad of two boys, Nate and Jack, and provides advice and counsel as a dedicated little league baseball and basketball coach.
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Education
• Brooklyn Law School; Brooklyn, New York; Juris Doctor, 1995
• University of Maryland; College Park, Maryland; Magna Cum Laude, B.S., Finance, 1992
- New York State Bar, June 1997
- New Jersey State Bar, December 1995
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, February 1998
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, September 1997
- First-Party Property Damage Claims
- Third-Party Property Damage Claims
- Insurance Coverage Litigation
- A Property Insurance Primer – New York City Bar Association – October 2004;
- Additional Insurance Coverages: Funding Code Upgrades, Debris Removal, and Claims Preparation Expense – ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee Annual Spring CLE Meeting, April 2007;
- American Bar Association’s The Brief – Additional Insurance Coverages: Funding Code Upgrades, Debris Removal, and Claims Preparation Expense – 2008 Edition;
- Coverage For Losses at Abandoned Property – ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee Annual Spring CLE Meeting, April 2010;
- Co-Chair – Litigating the Catastrophic Property Damage Claim – ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee Annual Spring Meeting, May 2011;
- Coverage Triggers – ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee Annual Spring CLE Meeting, April 2012;
- Flood Coverage – Harris Martins Superstorm Sandy Insurance Coverage Litigation Conference – February 2013;
- Chair – From Claim to Verdict – Litigating the Complex Commercial Property Insurance Claim – ABA Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee Annual Spring Meeting, May 2015;
- Use of Experts in the Evaluation of Sandy Claims – First Party Claims Conference – October 2014;
- Co-ops, Condos & Leased Premises – First Party Claims Conference – October 2015;
- Sandy – Reflecting upon her Teachings in the Property Insurance World – ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee Annual Spring CLE Meeting, April 2016;
- Property Insurance 101 – Nassau County Bar Association – September 2016;
- Option to Repair or Replace – First Party Claims Conference – October 2016;
- Consequential Damages – A Policyholder Perspective – New York State Bar Association – May 2017
- When Disaster Strikes – Community Housing Improvement Program Seminar – June 2017
- How We Calculate the Actual Loss Sustained and Determine the Period of Restoration in the Adjustment of a Builder’s Risk and Commercial Property Claim – First Party Claims Conference – October 2017
- Adjusting and Litigating Losses Involving Condos and Coops – First Party Claims Conference – October 2018
- Property Insurance 101 – New York State Bar Association – May 2019
- Builders Risk, Understanding Periods of Restoration, Delay & Recovery – First Party Claims Conference – October 2019
American Bar Association Tort Trials and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)
Property Insurance Law Committee (PILC); 2015 through Present
- Vice Chair 2010-2013
- Chair Elect 2013-2014 term
- Chair for 2014-2015 term
Co-Chair Annual Meeting Litigating the Catastrophic Property Insurance Claim 2011.
Community Mainstreaming Associates (CMA); 2007 through Present
- Board Member 2011-Present
- Board Vice President 2014-2016
- Board President 2016-Present
- Golf Committee Member
- Honored by CMA’s Young Leadership Council; 2011
- Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation’s Teddy Award; 2011