Doug specializes in property insurance law and litigation involving complex insurance claims and disputes. Doug's practice encompasses the full spectrum of property and casualty insurance coverage issues and disputes, including difficult cases arising out of arson fires and suspected fraudulent claims, and he has successfully represented clients in many such cases through trial and appeal. Over the years Doug also has litigated insurance subrogation cases, real estate actions, products liability cases, construction defect cases, and general business disputes. In addition to his litigation practice, Doug regularly is called on to counsel clients regarding a wide variety of complex legal issues.
Doug gained early trial experience serving the People of California as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Alameda. While practicing law full time, Doug also served for several years as an Adjunct Professor of Law for the University of California's Hastings College of the Law teaching Trial Evidence and Advocacy.
During law school, Doug served as an Editor and Member of the Hastings Law Journal, worked as an extern law clerk for the Honorable Eugene F. Lynch, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Doug recently resigned his positions as Legal Consultant to the California Conference of Arson Investigators, and as an Ex Officio member of CCAI’s Board of Directors, after serving in those capacities for several years.
Before joining Morris Polich & Purdy LLP, Doug was a Founding Partner of Rudloff Wood & Barrows LLP, a property and casualty insurance and "bad faith" boutique. From 1992 to 1998 Doug was an Equity Partner in Gordon & Rees. Doug started his career at Cooley Godward in 1985.