Jonathan Barger is a Partner with the Chicago office of Butler. His primary focus is First-Party Property Claims and related Coverage Litigation, from large, complex commercial claims to personal lines claims. Jon also has significant experience defending third-party liability claims related to large property losses and international commercial litigation. He has worked on claims in excess of $250 million dollars throughout the United States and internationally.
Jon has substantial trial and litigation experience both regionally and nationally. He routinely handles all aspects of litigation and has tried numerous jury trials, including as lead trial counsel.
Jon assists insurers with first-party claim issues ranging from legal assistance with claims investigations, conducting examinations under oath, and providing coverage opinions. He defends insurers against allegations of breach of contract, bad faith, and other extra-contractual relief. Jon has significant experience with fire losses and the multiple issues that arise from fire investigation methods and techniques, fire cause and origin determination, fire spread, and fire suppression system performance. In addition to his fire loss background, he has handled cases involving water, mold, wind damage, as well as other types of property damage.
Jon advises internationally-based insurers on claims involving significant liability exposures throughout the United States, including product liability, D&O liability, and financial lines claims. His international experience includes working with European market insurers and defending European companies in U.S. Courts. His international background and expertise places him in a unique position to handle cases with complex jurisdictional issues.
Jon is a frequent insurance industry speaker and educator, providing training sessions and speaking at insurance industry conferences across the country on a wide range of property and other insurance topics. He volunteers as an instructor for training and continuing education for fire investigators with the Illinois Fire Service Institute at the University of Illinois, as well as the Illinois chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (“IAAI”).
Jon received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French language and literature from Vanderbilt University. He studied with the Vanderbilt-in-France program in Aix-en-Provence and with the Centre International d'etudes Francaises (“CIEF”) at the Universite Lumiere Lyon 2. He is fluent in French, with full business proficency. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, along with a Certificate in International and Comparative Law.
Experience
Petersen Properties
•Liability defense related to warehouse fire in Davenport, IA. Potential exposure in excess of $250 million. Suit in Iowa State Court involved property owner, multiple commercial tenants, and loss prevention/insurance company.
Ports of Indiana
•First-party property claim in Indiana Federal Court involving alleged damage to commercial dock wall on Lake Michigan. Claim in excess of $13 million.
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
•Liability defense related to church fire in northern Illinois. Potential exposure in excess of $4 million. Suit in Federal court involving alleged negligence on part of insured defendant due to service work performed on church organ over one month prior to fire.
Orren Pickell Designers & Builders
•Liability defense related to fire in private luxury residence in Lake County, Illinois. Claim in excess of $1 million, with allegation of negligence in causing fire as a result of construction activities.
Delta Precision
•First-party claim following fire loss, involving appraisal of business income loss and extra expense claims in excess of $700,000. Allegation that insurer denied claim when appraisal of claim resulted in value of zero. Dismissal of complaint with prejudice based on appraisal policy provision.
Federated Department Stores (Bloomingdale’s)
Recognitions
•AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
Media
Blog Posts
June 25, 2020 BLOG POST Nevada Division of Insurance Issues Notice to Property and Casualty Insurers Disallowing New Exclusions related to COVID-19, viruses, or pandemics
This notice does not impact existing policies that were submitted and approved before the COVID-19 emergency in Nevada. However, the NVDOI has requested that insurers voluntarily withdraw any such exclusions from policies submitted and approved on or after March 12, 2020.
Events
April 02, 2019 EVENT PLRB 2019 - Resolving Difficult Claims: Strategies for Property Adjusters
Join Partner Jonathan Barger, Nanci L. Smilie of Erie Insurance Group and Judy Sporlein of Liberty Mutual Insurance as they present Resolving Difficult Claims: Strategies for Property Adjusters at the PLRB Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo.
November 27, 2018 EVENT Liar, Liar, House on Fire: Investigation of a Suspected Arson Claim
Jonathan Barger co-presented on the topic Liar, Liar, House on Fire: Investigation of a Suspected Arson Claim for the PLRB Large Loss Conference on November 27, 2018.
September 27, 2018 EVENT Resolving Difficult Claims: Strategies for Property Adjusters
Join Jonathan Barger as he presents “Resolving Difficult Claims: Strategies for Property Adjusters” along with co-panelists Judy Spoerlein and Nancy Smilie at the Western Loss Association’s Fall Meeting.
April 15, 2018 EVENT PLRB Claims Conference- Resolving Difficult Claims: Strategies for Property Adjusters
Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig Attorney, Jonathan Barger, along with co-presenter Nanci Smilie of Erie Insurance Group presented at the PLRB Claims Conference in Orlando on April 15th and 18th. Their topic was on Resolving Difficult Claims: Strategies for Property Adjusters.
October 19, 2017 EVENT Western Loss Association Annual Meeting - Property Claim Ethics
Jonathan Barger from Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig presented in Delavan, WI at the Western Loss Association Annual Meeting on the topic of Property Claim Ethics .
March 28, 2017 EVENT PLRB CLAIMS CONFERENCE - Property Claim Ethics: Adjusting in Good Faith
Jonathan Barger from Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig along with co-presenter Nanci L. Smilie, presented in Boston, MA at the PLRB Claims Conference on the topic of Property Claim Ethics: Adjusting in Good Faith on March 28, 2017.
September 07, 2016 EVENT Builders Risk Coverage & Adjustments
Property & Liability Resource Bureau 2016 Central and Eastern Conferences
November 10, 2015 EVENT PLRB Eastern Regional Adjusters Conference
Claims Ethics and Good Faith Adjustments
September 23, 2015 EVENT Western Loss Association
Water, Water Everywhere (Coverage Issues on Flood, Surface Water; Litigation of Surface Water Case through Trial and Appeal).
June 16, 2015 EVENT PLRB Western Regional Adjusters Conference
Claims Ethics and Good Faith Adjustments
March 29, 2015 EVENT PLRB Claims Conference
The Innocent Co-insured: When Coverage Can Exist for an Intentional Act
September 16, 2014 EVENT PLRB Regional Adjusters Conference
New Tool for Fire and Explosions Investigations
March 17, 2013 EVENT PLRB Claims Conference
Art of Persuasion for the Claims Professional
April 15, 2012 EVENT PLRB Claims Conference
Art of Persuasion For The Claims Professional
November 01, 2011 EVENT International Association of Arson Investigators ( IAAI ), Illinois Chapter
Expert Witness - Courtroom Testimony Class
April 03, 2011 EVENT Building a Convincing Property Arbitration Case
Building a Convincing Property Arbitration Case
October 19, 2009 EVENT PLRB Regional Conference
Appraisal Mediation & Arbitration Case
September 09, 2009 EVENT PLRB Regional Conference
Appraisal Mediation & Arbitration Case
June 24, 2009 EVENT PLRB Regional Conference
Appraisal Mediation & Arbitration Case
September 09, 2008 EVENT PLRB Regional Conference
Appraisal Options with Property Claims
News
October 23, 2018 NEWS Jonathan Barger Featured In PLRB Online Training Module
Senior Associate Jonathan Barger co-presented an online learning module for the PLRB.
March 31, 2017 NEWS Jonathan Barger was recognized at the 2017 PLRB Claims Conference
At the 2017 PLRB Claims Conference & Insurance Expo in Boston, Senior Associate Jonathan Barger was bestowed the Outstanding Presentations Award. This honor recognizes Jonathan’s commitment to the PLRB over a 9 year span, speaking at 15 PLRB conferences during this time.
