Heather L. McCoy
Senior Attorney
Heather McCoy is an experienced litigator based in the firm’s New York office. She primarily represents insurance companies in first-party and third-party coverage disputes, often including claims of bad faith and unfair claim settlement practices, and involving a range of insurance lines, such as commercial general liability, business and personal property, employers’ liability, umbrella and excess policies. Over the course of her career, Heather has provided knowledgeable counsel to general counsel, claims executives, insurance brokers and agents with respect to various insurance-related litigation, risk mitigation and coverage issues.
Heather also has extensive insurance defense experience, representing commercial properties, including sports and recreational facilities, against liability claims involving bodily injury, property damage, construction and premises liability-related claims.
Prior to joining the firm, Heather honed her skills at a regional litigation boutique specializing in insurance, construction, sports, financial services, commercial and products liability litigation.
- Successfully defended an insurance company in a declaratory judgment action wherein the insured bar sought defense and indemnity for a wrongful death action resulting from a drunken assault that occurred on its premises.
- Represented an insurer in a declaratory judgment and breach of contract action challenging the insurer’s denial of coverage under an excess-of-loss policy based on the insured’s failure to comply with the policy’s notice provision. New York Bus Operators Compensation Trust v. American Home Assurance Company, 71 Misc. 3d 630 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2021).
- Obtained summary judgment on breach of contract, negligence, common law bad faith and statutory bad faith claims asserted against an insurance broker and an insurance company on grounds that there was no evidence the broker had a duty to procure assault and battery coverage for the insured, and there was no issue of fact that the insurance policy did not provide coverage for assault and battery. Irby v. Connecticut Underwriters, Inc., CV156057814S, 2018 Conn. Super. LEXIS 1833, at *1 (Super. Aug. 20, 2018).
- Secured the dismissal of common law and statutory bad faith claims asserted against a national insurance company, and subsequently obtained summary judgment in favor of the property insurer on the remaining breach of contract claim based on an argument that there was no duty to defend or indemnify the insured against the underlying intentional tort complaint because it did not allege property damage sufficient to trigger coverage, and because the insured failed to give timely notice. Jazlowiecki v. Nationwide Ins. Co. of America, HHDCV126036618S, 2014 Conn. Super. LEXIS 32, at *1 (Super. Jan. 2, 2014); Jazlowiecki v. Nationwide Ins. Co. of America, HHDCV126036618S, 2014 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2004, at *1 (Super. Aug. 7, 2014).
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law - Newark, J.D., 2003
- Villanova University, B.A., 1996
Admissions
- Connecticut, 2010
- New York, 2004
Courts
- U.S. Dist. Ct., Dist. of Connecticut
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member, Connecticut Bar Association
- Board Member, Local Little League Baseball and Softball Organization