Claims Attorney Profiles

Eric J. Steiner, General Counsel and Director of Claims
Eric joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when the Professional Liability Group (PLG) split off in April 2010. At Progressive, Eric joined PLG as the Division’s Director of Legal in 2008 after practicing in both the Litigation and SEC/Corporate Transactions practice groups in Progressive’s Corporate Law Department. Prior to that, he was an associate at Baker Hostetler LLP, where his practice focused on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation. Eric earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame and received his bachelor's degree from John Carroll University.

Laura M. Simmons, Employment Practices Liability Insurance Claims Manager
Laura joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split-off in April 2010. Laura joined Progressive in 1992 after receiving her law degree cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She received her bachelor's degree in English and political science from Wittenberg University. Laura deals primarily with employment-related claims and was involved in the development of Progressive's Employment Practices Liability Insurance Policy. She is a frequent speaker on employment-related topics.

Ann I. Gardiner, Bond Claims Manager
Ann joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when the Professional Liability Group split off in April 2010. Before joining Progressive in 1998, Ann practiced law as a bankruptcy and commercial law associate with the Cleveland law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP. Ann graduated with honors from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1987, earning a bachelor's degree in accounting. In 1990, she graduated with honors from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Ann is a member of the American Bar Association TIPS Fidelity and Surety Law Committee and is the current Chair of the Fidelity Claims Advisory Committee of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America.

Terence Cawley, Liability Claims Manager
Terry joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split off in April 2010. Prior to joining Progressive in 2006, Terry practiced law with Duvin, Cahn & Hutton. He handled complex commercial litigation cases involving securities fraud, shareholders’ rights and class action litigation. Terry previously practiced law with Gallagher, Sharp, Fulton & Norman, where he represented clients on litigation matters involving professional liability, insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and business torts. He also served as Vice President and General Counsel for an animation and website design company. Terry has a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Kenyon College and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Adam D. Cornett, Senior Attorney
Prior to joining ABA Insurance Services in October 2011, Adam was an associate at Taft Stettinius & Hollister where he focused his practice on business litigation, debtor/creditor rights issues, and bankruptcy matters. Adam received his undergraduate degree from the College of Wooster and law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, graduating magna cum laude. While in law school, Adam served as an executive editor for the Cleveland State Law Review and received the ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law.

John L. Cullen, Senior Attorney
John joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split off in April 2010. Prior to joining Progressive, John had a long and diverse career as a trial attorney representing defendants in professional liability cases at Jacobson, Maynard & Tuschman Co., L.P.A., Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder, Co., L.P.A. and then at an AV rated firm that he founded. He tried many jury cases to verdict and argued cases on appeal. He has extensive experience representing parties in employment litigation. These included cases alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, and class action litigation regarding wage and hour disputes. John also has extensive experience with consumer class action litigation. John graduated from Bradford College in 1988 and received his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1993.

Deborah C. Duvin, Senior Attorney
Debbie joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split-off in April 2010. Prior to joining Progressive in 1998, Debbie practiced law as a member of the litigation department for the Cleveland law firm of Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz, P.L.L. Debbie represented a variety of corporate clients in business litigation matters including insurance defense. Debbie received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Denison University in 1987 and her law degree from the George Washington National Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1990. Debbie is currently vice-chair of the TIPS Fidelity & Surety Committee and past President of the Fidelity Law Association.

Otto E. Elkins, Jr., Senior Attorney
Otto joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split off in April 2010. Before joining Progressive in 2004, Otto graduated summa cum laude from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2001 and practiced at the Cleveland office of Ulmer & Berne, LLP where he was a member of the Health Care, Business, and Litigation practice groups, advising physicians and health care institutions regarding regulatory matters; represented and advised corporate entities regarding formation and dissolution; designed strategies to minimize tax realization; and represented clients in all aspects of litigation. Otto handles D&O and Bond claims with a special focus on claims involving electronic/computer systems issues.

Jennifer H. Gorman, Senior Attorney
Jennifer joined ABA Insurance Services in July, 2010 after serving as in-house counsel for a privately held Cleveland-based manufacturing company for 12 years. She was also a founding principal of Warren & Hays LLC, a consulting firm devoted to helping employers with HR and employment law issues. Prior to serving as in-house counsel, Jennifer was a business and employment litigator for the Cleveland firm of Ulmer & Berne LLP. Jennifer has experience advising companies in a wide range of employment and business related disputes. She graduated from Miami University with a degree in political science and received her JD with honors from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Peter G. Hilbert, Senior Attorney
Prior to joining ABA Insurance Services in September, 2011, Pete was a litigation associate at Jones Day focusing on financial institution litigation, complex commercial litigation and regulatory matters. He has extensive experience representing financial institutions in internal investigations and disputes involving fraud, fiduciary liability, and shareholder claims. From 2006 to 2008, Pete clerked for a federal district court judge in the Northern District of Ohio. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1999 from Syracuse University and his law degree in 2003 from the University Of Pennsylvania Law School.

Katharine K. Russum, Senior Attorney
Kate joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split-off in April 2010. Kate came to Progressive in 1997 from the Rhode Island law firm of Vetter & White. With a background in complex commercial litigation and insurance coverage, Kate's first job at Progressive was as Litigation Manager for the commercial auto assigned risk and financial services programs. She has been a Senior Attorney handling D&O, Employment Practices and Fidelity Bond claims since 2004. She has a BS from Johns Hopkins University, an M.A.T from Brown University and her JD from Boston University. Kate is also a certified mediator and evidence-based executive coach, specializing in conflict resolution and career coaching.