Practice Areas

Business Litigation
Insurance Defense
Litigation
Product Liability
Professional Liability

Admissions

California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Andrew S. Hollins

Partner

Phone: 949.335.7396
Email: ahollins@messner.com
Office: Orange County

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BackgroundEducation & HonorsAwards

Andy has more than 40 years of experience as a civil trial lawyer defending insurance companies, financial institutions, and other businesses against a wide variety of claims.

With decades of experience litigating insurance bad faith claims, Andy’s capabilities are in high demand. He has successfully tried cases throughout California and in seven other states. He also tries cases before the United States Court of Federal Claims which hears monetary-related claims against the federal government.

Named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Orange County chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Andy is particularly noted for his ability to handle bet-the-company litigation, even when asked to try a case on short notice. He recently helped secure the reversal of an eight-figure verdict for a nationwide insurance company when he took over the case from a prior lawyer.

Andy regularly lectures before professional and trade groups on trial tactics, case preparation, and jury selection. Andy serves as defense team coordinator for ABOTA’s “Masters in Trial” series which teaches lawyers the critical intricacies of how to properly present a case at trial. He also devotes significant time to pro bono matters for which he has been recognized with the California Bar Association’s Wiley W. Manuel Certificate Award.

JD, Woodland University, Mid-Valley College of Law, 1978
BS, University of Tennessee, Dean’s List, 1973

US News & World Report Best Lawyers in America: 2023-2025
Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2009-2020
Trial Lawyer of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates, Orange County Chapter, 2005
Wiley W. Manuel Award, State Bar of California, 1992
Recognized by the State Board of Governors for pro bono legal services
Recognized by the Orange County Bar Association for pro bono legal services
Featured in The Verdict, a publication of the Southern California Defense Counsel, for successive defensive verdicts in a row

Representative Experience

Won summary judgment on behalf of a multinational electronics company in a worker’s compensation case in which an employee of an HVAC subcontractor fell through an access hole cut in the ceiling of the client’s warehouse/office facility. Though no evidence existed, the plaintiff claimed that our client was liable for a subcontractor that allegedly removed the plywood covering the access holes and replaced it with cardboard.
Won summary judgment on appeal on behalf of an insurance company by demonstrating that the truck a teenager was driving when he had an accident was not identified in the plaintiffs’ policies and therefore was not covered. This also put an end to a subsequent bad faith action.
Secured summary judgment on behalf of an insurer in a case where plaintiffs, the family of an elderly man who was hit by a vehicle while walking in a marked crosswalk, sought $1.5 million in damages for wrongful death. The court of appeals upheld the trial court’s motion.
Won summary judgment for an insurance client by demonstrating that the plaintiff’s causes of action weren’t covered under the contractual limitations period.
Won an appeal of a summary judgment motion in which the appellate court upheld the trial court’s decision in favor of our insurance company client by finding that the underlying suit was not covered due to the insurance policy’s assault or battery exclusion.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of multiple insurers when an insurance agent breached a commission sharing agreement, despite the agent’s allegation that our client was liable in numerous alternative causes of action.
Secured summary judgment for an insurance company against a bad faith allegation for denying a theft/vandalism claim by demonstrating that the plaintiff made material misrepresentations during the claim process.
Successfully defended an insurance carrier and its agent against breach of contract and bad faith claims. We prevailed by demonstrating that the policy was properly rescinded when the plaintiff made false statements in the application for coverage.
Won a motion for summary judgment on behalf of an insurer against a third-party creditor that sought to collect on a default judgment obtained against the insured in a civil action from our client by proving that coverage for the civil action was barred by Insurance Code section 533.

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Andrew S. Hollins

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