the cornerstone of construction law

Hunt Ortmann is one of the foremost authorities on California construction law, contracts, dispute resolution and litigation offering additional legal services in the areas of business and commercial law, employment matters and labor law compliance, real estate, insurance and suretyship.

receive the latest H+O Newsletter

Smart girls guide to construction law

Get Information

California-Mandated Training for Employers

Get Information

JoLynn M. Scharrer

SHAREHOLDER

phone626.440.5200

fax626.796.0107

email Scharrer | V-Card

print profile

Overview

Experience

JoLynn Scharrer is a shareholder at Hunt Ortmann who, for 30 years, specializes in the fields of business and insurance counseling and litigation, as well as employment. Ms. Scharrer leads the Firm’s Insurance Law Group and its Employment Law Group.

Ms. Scharrer’s practice includes the representation of clients in the areas of general liability, employment, environmental, construction defect, cyber liability, and business and complex tort litigation. She also represents insurers in all aspects of claim monitoring, handling underwriting issues, contribution matters between insurers, attorney fee disputes, agency and broker issues, and defending bad faith lawsuits. Ms. Scharrer has also handled mold, real estate, landlord-tenant and product liability claims. Ms. Scharrer has trial experience in these areas, as well as extensive experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation. Her experience ranges from monitoring non-litigated small claims to overseeing the handling and litigation of claims valued in excess of a hundred million dollars.

Ms. Scharrer also counsels small and growing businesses in business structure, commercial, contract and insurance matters. She develops structure and other document packages including corporate documents, human resources manuals and policies, employment and business partner contracts, and intellectual property protections. She handles litigation representing businesses in employment matters and contract disputes. Ms. Scharrer addresses all concerns for the small and growing business, including marketing and e-commerce.

Ms. Scharrer is keenly sensitive to the economic demands of litigation. She is an effective and conscientious advocate for her clients, and strives to find the most efficient resolution to all conflicts, including advising clients regarding early mediation, alternative dispute resolution and trial when necessary.

Education

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
- Pacific Law Journal, Assistant Comment Editor
- Gary V. Schaber Scholarship, Academic Achievement Scholarship,
- Philomena Scalora Scholarship, Eugene McGeorge Scholarship
- Phi Alpha Delta, President
California State University Northridge, B.A.

Bars + Courts

All California state and federal courts
Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin (pro hac vice)

Practice Areas

Reported Decisions

North American Capacity Ins. Co. v. Turner Construction Co. 2005 WL 1798409 (N.D. Cal. 2005);

Rosen v. State Farm General Ins. Co. (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1070;

Zero Corporation v. Employers Ins. of Wausau 1994 WL 927826 (C.D. Cal. 1994).

Memberships

CLM (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)
California State Bar Association− Litigation and Insurance Sections
Los Angeles County Bar Association

Representative Work

Ms. Scharrer currently acts as lead and coordinating counsel for a major insurer related to several declaratory relief and bad faith insurance actions regarding the bodily injury and property damage liabilities of the largest lead producers in the United States. These cases are currently being litigated in Illinois, Missouri and New York. Ms. Scharrer also provides counsel to clients related to insurance coverage for ongoing environmental issues, construction defect litigation and pre-litigation employment disputes.

Ms. Scharrer recently negotiated multiple severance agreements for various clients. She conducts claims investigations for employers, and provides California mandated prevention of sexual harassment training. Ms. Scharrer also drafts employee handbooks, contracts and specific policies and procedures for employer clients.

Her reported cases include:

North American Capacity Ins. Co. v. Turner Construction Co. 2005 WL 1798409 (N.D. Cal. 2005);

Rosen v. State Farm General Ins. Co. (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1070;

Zero Corporation v. Employers Ins. of Wausau 1994 WL 927826 (C.D. Cal. 1994).

Ms. Scharrer tried two lengthy environmental insurance coverage cases involving multiple parties and sites. The first, Imcera Group v. Liberty Mutual, involved significant issues and resulted in a favorable ruling for her clients. The second trial was a two-week bench trial also involving multiple sites for which coverage for pollution clean-up costs was sought. Ms. Scharrer has also tried to verdict jury trials in the employment discrimination/wrongful termination area and premises liability area.

News + Publications