Michael J. Kozoriz Associate

Michael Kozoriz has extensive experience in the areas of life and disability insurance law, personal injury, commercial litigation and appellate practice in the courts of New York and New Jersey.

During law school, Michael served as the Articles Editor of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal. Prior to entering private practice, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Nicholas J. Stroumtsos, J.S.C., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, County of Middlesex.

Representative Matters

• Represented disability insurer in a dispute over claimant’s entitlement monthly benefits; obtained summary judgment declaring the insured had no right to benefits due to failure to cooperate with the claim investigation; judgment was affirmed by the Second Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals
• Represented disability insurer in a dispute over claimant’s entitlement to accrued benefits with a present value of approximately $4 million; obtained verdict declaring the insured had no right to benefits, only return of certain premiums paid of approximately $27,000
• Represented life insurer in dispute over proceeds of “key man” coverage where “key man” committed suicide years after the lapse of the policy, the lapse of which he never informed his business partners; otained summary judgment for insurer on grounds that policy provided that premium notices would be sent only to the business, which was operated by the now deceased “key man,” and not to the business partners, the beneficiaries of the policy