Overview

A founding shareholder of the firm, Matthew Ponzi concentrates his practice in insurance coverage and commercial litigation. His experience is in the analysis and litigation of commercial property, liability and reinsurance claims.

Matthew is also an experienced trial lawyer having tried cases in both federal and state courts throughout the country. Among Matthew’s trial successes are a defense verdict for his excess insurer clients on a claim seeking more than $400 million to repair Northridge earthquake damage to prominent municipal buildings owned by the County of Los Angeles (County of Los Angeles v. Aetna, et. al., Orange County, California Superior Court) and the complete defense of a $36 million dollar business interruption claim arising from the flooding of downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Penford Corp. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, 662 F.3d 497 (8th Cir. 2011)).

Professional Leadership

Matthew is a member of the American Bar Association, including the practice sections for Tort and Insurance, Excess and Surplus Lines, and Reinsurance. He is an elected member of the American College of Coverage Counsel. He is the past chair of the Property Insurance Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel.

Honors & Recognition

Matthew has been named to the Illinois Super Lawyer list annually since 2005. This honor is based on nomination, evaluation of professional achievements and selection by a panel of attorneys in the applicable practice area. Only 5% of the total attorneys in each state receive the Super Lawyers designation.

Since 2009, he has been named a Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media, a peer-recommended distinction awarded to fewer than 5% of attorneys in Illinois. He was recognized for his work in Commercial Litigation, Insurance, Insurance Coverage and Reinsurance Law.

More information on awards and rankings can be found here.

Education

Matthew earned his B.A. degree in History from DePauw University in 1985 and his J.D. degree from The National Law Center of The George Washington University in 1988. 

Admissions

Matthew is authorized to practice law in Illinois and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern and Central Districts of Illinois, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Northern District of New York, Eastern District of Texas, District of Colorado, Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma, Southern District of Indiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Circuits. He has also represented clients in matters pending in state and federal courts throughout the country.

Publications & Presentations

• Pollution Coverage-New ISO Forms & Insured Events, ABA Environmental Claims & Property Insurance Coverage Manual
• First Supplement of Bad Faith & Punitive Damages: Annotations to First-Party Insurance Cases, Statutes & Regulations, American Bar Association
• Insurance Coverage for Environmental Claims, Illinois Bar Journal

Recently Cited Cases

• Indemnity Insurance Co. of North America v. Westfield Insurance Co. and Star Insurance Co., 21-1776, 21-1927 and 21-1928 (7^th Cir., 2023)
• Legend’s Creek Homeowners Assn., Inc. v. Travelers Indemnity Co. of America, No. 21-2196 (7th Cir., 2022)
• Travelers Casualty Insurance Co. of America v. Mudd’s Furniture Showrooms, Inc., CMS Roofing Inc., and Jaron Jaggers, 4:19-CV-186-JHM (W.D. Ky., 2022)
• Travelers Indemnity Company v. Johnson, 2020 WL 1934179, Cause No.: 4:17-CV-86-TLS (N.D. Ind. Hammond Div., April 22, 2020)
• Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Company v. Interstate Underground Warehouse & Storage, Inc., 946 F.3d 1008, No. 18-3448 (U.S. 8^th 2020, rehearing denied Feb. 6, 2020)
• Owners Insurance Co. v. Dakota Station II Condominium Association, Inc, 443 P.3d 47 No. 16, Case No. 17SC583 (Supreme Court of Colo., June 24, 2019)
• David B. and Kathleen E. Williams v. Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, 402 F.Supp.3d 499, Case No. 19-CV-301-JPS (E.D. Wis., Aug. 15, 2019)
• Ravinia Vouge Cleaners v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, 2019 WL 3318144 (N.D. Ill., E.D., July 24, 2019)
• MGN Logistics, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, 2017 WL 3780280, No. 16 CV 4301 (N.D. Ill., E.D., Aug. 31, 2017)
• James McHugh Construction Co. v. Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America — F.Supp.3d —-2016 WL 7374523 (D. Md.)
• Queensridge Towers, LLC v. Allianz Global Risks US Ins. Co., 2014 WL 496952 (D. Nev. Feb. 4, 2014) affirmed — Fed.Appx. —-2016 WL 7384054 (9th Cir. 2016)
• Milhouse v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., 982 F. Supp. 2d 1088 (C.D. Cal. 2013) affirmed 641 Fed.Appx. 714 (9th Cir. 2016)
• Bituminous Cas. Co. v. Plano Molding Co., 2015 IL App (2d) 140292, 33 N.E.3d 658, 392 Ill.Dec. 857 (2015)
• Thomson Inc. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 2014 WL 2772834 (Ind. Ct. App. June 19, 2014)
• Wallis v. Levine, 2013 WL 53896 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 2, 2013) aff’d, 13-1594, 2013 WL 5345502 (7th Cir. June 11, 2013) cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 1759, 188 L. Ed. 2d 596 (U.S. 2014)
• Howard Indus., Inc. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., 2014 WL 978445 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 12, 2014)
• Baillie Lumber Co., L.P. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., 2013 WL 5211470 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 13, 2013)
• Wallis v. Card Servs. Int’l, Inc., 2012 WL 1866374 (N.D. Ill. May 22, 2012)
• Seventy-Six, LLC v. Essex Ins. Co., 2011 WL 4352775 (S.D. Ind. Sept. 16, 2011)
• Penford Corp. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, 662 F.3d 497 (8th Cir. 2011)
• Motorists Ins. Co. v. Thomson Inc., 2011 WL 3806121 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 29, 2011)
• Quality Mech. Contractors, LLC v. Am. Home Assur. Co., 2011 WL 3678803 (D. Nev. Aug. 22, 2011)
• LeBlanc v. Travelers Home & Marine Ins. Co., 2011 WL 2748616 (W.D. Okla. July 13, 2011)
• Howard Corp. v. Indian Harbor Ins. Co., 2011 WL 2582353 (N.D. Ill. June 29, 2011)
• of Los Angeles v. New York Marine, 2011 WL 1195939 (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 30, 2011)
• NDK Crystal, Inc. v. Nipponkoa Ins. Co., Ltd., 2011 WL 43093 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 4, 2011)
• City of Chicago v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 2010 WL 3516066 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 1, 2010)
• Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. Marion T, LLC, 2010 WL 1936165 (S.D. Ind. May 12, 2010)
• Kmart Corp. v. XL Ins. Am., Inc., 2010 WL 367676 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 3, 2010)
• Bernbaum v. Standard Fire, 2009 WL 458615 (N.D. Ill.) (Illinois law)
• Cincinnati Gas & Elec. Co. v. Harford Steam Boiler Inspection and Ins. Co., 2008 WL 1733115 (S.D. Ohio Apr. 10, 2008)
• Sports Arena Management Inc. v. Great American Ins. Co., 2007 WL 684003 (N.D. Ill. 2007) (Illinois law)
• Pure Tech Systems v. Mt. Hawley Insurance Company, 95 Fed Appx. 132 (6th Cir. 2004) (applying Ohio law)
• Detroit Water Team Joint Venture v. Agricultural Insurance Company 371 F.3rd 336 (6th Cir. 2004) (applying Michigan law)
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey v. Affiliated FM et al., 311 F.3d 226 (3rd Cir. 2002) (applying New Jersey law)
• Lexington Insurance Company v. Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois, 21 Fed.Appx.585, 2001 WL 1132677 (9th Cir. 2001) (applying California law)
• Lambros Douskos v. Eden Park Insurance Company 2001 WL699092 (W.D.Tex. 2001)
• United Fire & Casualty Co., et al. v. Arkwright Mutual Insurance Co., 53 F. Supp. 2d 632 (S.D. N.Y. 1999)