Mr. Closson graduated from Shippensburg State College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Western State University College of Law in 1986. He initially served as a multi-lines claims representative with a major insurance company in San Diego before entering private practice in 1987. 

Mr. Closson joined Clifford Hirsch in 2008. He concentrates his practice in insurance coverage litigation, “bad faith” litigation, coverage related matters, and appeals. His insurance practice has involved the property and casualty fields of commercial and personal lines policies with an emphasis on construction defect, intellectual property, public entity, health care organization, business litigation and environmental claims. His clients have included insurers, contractor and trade associations, public entities, hospitals and captives, businesses, individuals and non-profit entities.

Mr. Closson is admitted to practice before the California state courts and the U.S. District courts for all of the Districts of California, the U.S. District court for the District of Colorado, and the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has litigated and acted as amicus curiae counsel in numerous cases. He has lectured locally and nationally on insurance issues with organizations such as the PLRB/LIRB, MC Consultants, Lorman Business Center, and the West Coast Casualty Seminar. He is a co-author of California Liability Insurance Claims and Practice: Claims & Litigation (Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993-present), Chapter 9, Investigating the Claim; and First Party Coverage in Miller’s California Construction Defect Litigation – Residential and Commercial (2d Ed. 1993 Wiley Publications). He is the recipient of the West Coast Casualty Silver Star Award for best coverage counsel, and has an AV® Rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

Education

Shippensburg State College, B.A., History, 1983
Western State University College of Law, J.D., 1986

Admitted

State Bar of California, 1986
U.S. District Courts of California (Northern, Southern, Eastern and Central)
U.S. District Court of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Reported Cases

Hensel Phelps Construction v. Superior Court [Smart Corner Owners Assn.], (4th DCA Cal. 2020) 2020 WL 370445 (Amicus)

McMillin Albany LLC v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.4th 241 (Amicus)

Employers Mutual Cas. Co. v. Philadelphia Ins. (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 340

Crawford v. Weather Shield Mfg. (2008) 44 Cal.4th 541 (amicus)

Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Superior Court (Century Surety) (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 874

Acosta et. al. v. Glenfed Development et. al. (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 1278 (amicus)

Travelers Cas. & Surety Co. v Century Surety Co. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 1156

SDR v AISLIC (S.D.Cal. 2004) 320 F.Supp.2d 1043

Rosen v. State Farm Gen. Ins. Co. (2003) 30 Cal.4th 107 (amicus)

Rice v. Safeco Property & Cas. Co. (9th Cir. 2003) 78 Fed.Appx. 641 (amicus)

Jimenez v. Superior Court (2002) 29 Cal.4th 473 (amicus)

Maryland Casualty Company v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 1082

Alan O. Aas v. Superior Court (2000) 24 Cal.4th 627 (amicus)

Maryland Casualty Company v. Nationwide Insurance Company (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 21

Maryland Casualty Company v. National American Insurance Company of California (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1822

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company v. Aetna Casualty (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 1621

National American Insurance Company v. Coburn (1989) 209 Cal.App.3d 914

Awards

Award: 2021 – 2024 Super Lawyers Southern California