❖ Founding Partner & Shareholder, Leiter & Belsky, P.A. (2000 – Present)
                                                                                                                                                      

Eric G. Belsky, Esq., a founding partner and shareholder at Leiter & Belsky, P.A. (2000 – Present), concentrates on litigation and appellate representation in first-party and third-party insurance coverage disputes, declaratory judgment actions, statutory and common law bad faith actions, and general civil litigation in insurance defense matters on behalf of Florida insurance carriers, public corporations, third-party administrators and self-insureds.

Mr. Belsky (born Atlanta, Georgia, 1962) earned his Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from Nova University (1990) and his Juris Doctorate degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Miami (1993) where he served as a member of the Moot Court Board and the The Inter-American Law Review.  Mr. Belsky was formerly a partner with the firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP (1993-2000) and is admitted to practice before the Florida Bar; the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; and the U.S. Supreme Court.

As a trial and appellate attorney, Mr. Belsky has been involved in several landmark insurance coverage decisions in Florida, including Montalvo v. Dept. of Environmental Regulation, 667 So.2d 816 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1995) (involving commercial general liability coverage for environmental clean-up costs);  Lassiter Construction Co. v. American States Insurance Co., 699 So.2d 768 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1997) (involving coverage for construction defects and damages caused by subcontractors); and Boulton Agency v. Phoenix Worldwide Industries, 698 So.2d 1248 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 1997) (regarding an insurance carrier’s vicarious liability for errors and omissions by producing agents).
                                                                                                                                                      

Other notable appellate decisions arising from insurance coverage and defense-related matters include:

• Stephens v. Auto‑Owners Insurance Co., Inc., 906 So.2d 322 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2005) (affirming final judgment for insurer in uninsured motorist action following exclusion of plaintiff’s experts).

• Beacon Glass Co., Inc. v. Old Dominion Insurance Co., 30 So.3d 507 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2010) (per curiam) (affirming summary declaratory judgment finding no duty to defend or indemnify against bodily injury claims excluded by CGL policy’s pollution exclusion).

• General Star Indemnity Co. v. Boran Craig Barber Engel Construction Co., 895 So.2d 1136 (Fla. 2^nd DCA 2005) (granting certiorari and quashing order denying insurer’s motion to sever direct action by insured contractor pursuant to Florida Non-Joinder Statute).

• Lopez v. The Canteen Corp., 815 So.2d 685 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 2002) (affirming summary judgment for insured defendant in negligence action alleging faulty electrical work).

• Eagle American Insurance Co. v. Nichols, 814 So.2d 1083 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2002) (affirming declaratory judgment for insurer finding that “per claim” policy limits, not “aggregate” limits, applied to legal malpractice action alleging insured attorneys failed to join multiple defendants in underlying medical malpractice action).

• Glucksman v. Persol North America, Inc., 813 So.2d 122 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2002) (reversing final judgment for plaintiff in legal malpractice action and remanding with instructions to enter final judgment for defendant as a matter of law).

• Grabois v. Ultracare Ultrasound, Inc., 782 So.2d 966 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 2001) (reversing dismissal of insured defendant’s cross-claims for contribution and indemnity in underlying medical malpractice action).

• Leatherwood v. Cardservice International, Inc., 929 So.2d 616 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2006) (affirming dismissal of action for lack of venue pursuant to internet “Click Agreement”).

• Timco v. City of Coral Gables, 744 So.2d 1214 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 1999) (affirming summary judgment for City based upon lack of legal duty to warn of open and obvious dangers).

• Horvath v. Anderson, Moss, Parks & Sherouse, P.A., 728 So.2d 315 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 1999) (affirming directed verdict for defendants in legal malpractice action over objections arising out of juror coercion during polling).

• City of Pompano Beach v. T.H.E. Insurance Co., 709 So.2d 603 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1998) (affirming, in part, declaratory judgment for insurer upholding manuscript endorsement “Shooter’s Exclusion” in CGL policy issued to fireworks display vendor).

• Ochlockonee Banks Restaurant v. Colvin, 700 So.2d 1229 (Fla. 1^st DCA 1997) (reversing final judgment for plaintiff and granting defendant’s motion for new trial based upon improper “compromise” jury verdict).

• Bucci v. Auto Builders South Florida, Inc., 690 So.2d 1387 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1997), 709 So.2d 1381 (Fla. 1998) (quashing intermediate appellate court order and holding that jury verdict awarding past and future medical expenses with no award of intangible damages is not an “inadequate verdict” as a matter of law).

• Paston v. Wiggs Contracting Co., Ltd., Inc., 698 So.2d 933 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1997) (affirming final judgment for insured defendants in action alleging construction defects).

• Avis Rent a Car v. Monroe County, 660 So.2d 413 (Fla. 3^rd 1995) (interpreting and applying non-exclusivity provisions in rental car company’s concession agreement).

• Mendez v. Blanco, 665 So.2d 1149 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 1996) (affirming dismissal of lawsuit by claimant as sanction for misrepresentations made under oath during discovery).

• Cecil v. D’Marlin, 680 So.2d 1138 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 1996) (affirming final summary judgment for bus company for injuries sustained by claimant while disembarking).

• Banegas v. Reco Realty, 700 So.2d 448 (Fla. 3^rd DCA 1997) (affirming final summary judgment for insured property-owner in action alleging injuries on leased premises).

• Barnett Bank v. Baldwin & Assoc. Landscape Architects, 633 So.2d 125 (Fla. 3^rd 1994) (affirming directed verdict for defendant in catastrophic automobile loss).

• Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co. v. Lewis, 709 So.2d 587 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1998) (establishing method of calculation of subrogated insurer’s pro rata share of reimbursement following underlying settlement).

• Alhussain v. Sylvia, 712 So.2d 806 (Fla. 4^th DCA 1998) (quashing service of process for lack of personal jurisdiction over non-resident Florida defendant).

• Allstate Ins. Co. v. Occidental Internat’l, 140 F.3d 1 (1^st 1998) (Puerto Rico) (regarding conflict and choice-of-law principles in insurance coverage actions and affirming insurer’s denial of claim on late notice defense).