Joanna L Young

Partner | New York, United States
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Profile

Education

  • Pace University School of Law, JD, 2001
  • City College of the City University of New York, BA (magna cum laude), 1994
  • Michigan State University

Joanna is a partner in the New York office where she maintains a nationwide practice providing comprehensive legal advice to US and London market insurers seeking to minimize exposure, maximize risk transfer, and efficiently and effectively resolve a variety of complex first and third-party insurance coverage issues. Joanna has extensive experience litigating in state and federal courts, including issues involving New York’s Insurance Law and Labor Laws, as well as Massachusetts G.L. c. 93A and c. 176D.

Joanna is a member of Kennedys’ Associate Development Committee and participates in recruitment and training efforts for the firm.

Qualifications and admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • New York
  • US District Court for the District of Colorado
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • US District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • US District Court for the Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
  • US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • US Supreme Court

Work highlights

  • Successfully dismissed bad faith allegations against insurer and, after trial, the U.S.D.C., Massachusetts dismissed the complaint due to late notice of the claim under a professional liability policy where judgments entered against the insured exceeded the remaining policy limits and included 12% statutory interest. The First Circuit affirmed and the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari.
  • Successfully obtained summary judgment for insurer where New York’s “unfortunate events” test did not apply to an employee’s thefts totaling almost $1.5 million. The claimant did not appeal or seek re-argument.
  • Secured a dismissal with prejudice for insurer after moving for summary judgment in a New York Labor Law case where the claimant sought to recover $20 million in damages. Instead of filing opposition, the insured agreed to dismiss all claims against the insurer with prejudice and without costs and is instead pursuing its broker.
  • Effectively dismissed claims to recover defense costs and reimbursement of a $2.2m settlement based on a violation of a condition to the general liability policy and professional liability policy. The dismissal was affirmed on appeal, with costs.
  • Obtained summary judgment for insurer in action where insured sought reimbursement of amounts it contributed toward settlement of underlying lead paint litigation.
  • Avoided expense of appeal through effective re-argument where the court wrongfully denied summary judgment.
  • Defeated claimant’s dispositive motion and negotiated a nuisance value settlement and release where the sufficiency of insurer’s disclaimer was questionable and claimant sought to recover $6.5m.

Presentations and publications

  • “Unique Ethical Challenges Lawyers Face In Mediation”, American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Conference, “West Coat Waves – Navigating Insurance Coverage Currents”, La Jolla, CA (February 2024)
  • “Implementing an In-House Diversity Program”, Perrin Conferences Women in Insurance and Litigation Conference, New York City, NY (October 2023)
  • Depositions, Kennedys Associate Training (August 2023)
  • Written Discovery & Document Production, Kennedys Associate Training (May 2023)
  • “PFAS Coverage: Government Enforcement and Cleanup”, American Bar Association 2023 Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Tucson, AZ (March 2023)
  • “The Three-Cornered Mediation: How to Resolve Coverage and Liability at the Same Time”, American Bar Association Section of Litigation 2020 Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Tucson, AZ (March 2020)
  • “Anatomy of a Coverage Position Letter”, In-House Client Training (February 2020)

Report decisions

  • Stormo v. State Natl. Ins. Co., 116 F.4th 39 (1st Cir. Sept. 19, 2024), denied, 145 S.Ct. 1430 (March 24, 2025)
  • Century 21 Dept. Stores, LLC v. Starr Surplus Lines Ins. Co., 226 A.D.3d 532 (1st Dept. 2024)

Services

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