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Unwavering, dedicated and bold, Jessica Skarin is a Subrogation Attorney who gets things done. She knows that there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” way to handle a file, and clients relish Jessica’s ability to tailor her work to better suit their needs. Jessica’s practice involves large losses of all types including product liability claims, fire and flood damage, and construction defects. Her experience includes unique losses such as a seven figure settlement in a claim involving damages allegedly caused by the improper sale of receivership assets following bankruptcy proceedings. She also works high profile cases and obtained a summary judgment (affirmed on appeal) involving the interpretation of an insurance policy for the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11. Whether it is jumping to investigate a recent loss or preparing persuasive legal arguments, clients believe in Jessica’s ability to handle every element of the case seamlessly.

A young achiever, Jessica always knew she’d become an attorney. She can’t remember a time where she wasn’t questioning the status quo, pulling together a team, or drumming up the perfect strategy to achieve her goals effectively. Equipped with a strong “let’s move mountains” work ethic, Jessica values the client’s partnership and strives to go above and beyond every step of the way.

A seasoned author, Jessica’s work can be found in several publications such as CLM Magazine, The Subrogator, and the Insurance Law Library Edition. She also speaks on several occasions regarding Subrogation topics at conferences for Claims Litigation Management and the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.

Outside of work, Jessica uses her hands-on approach in her neighborhood and community. Her volunteer history includes work at her local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. Recently, she’s helped combat hunger by collecting and sorting food for a Texas food bank. She also has a passion for supporting local libraries and is part of the “Friends of the Library” initiative.

Admissions

  • Florida
  • Texas

Education

  • Florida State University
    Bachelor of Arts
  • Wake Forest University School of Law
    Doctor of Jurisprudence

Memberships

  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • CLM – Chair of the Subrogation Committee
  • Texas Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar

Courts

  • United States District Court – Northern District of Florida
  • United States District Court – Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court – Southern District of Florida
  • Florida State Courts
  • Texas State Courts
  • United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Experiences

Factory Mutual Insurance Company, as subrogee of Briggs & Stratton Corp. et al. v. National Distribution Centers, L.P. et al. – Cause No. 096-256395-11 (96th Dist. Tarrant County, TX) (subrogation lawsuit arising from catastrophic fire that completely destroyed 400,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Grand Prairie, Texas.  Damages exceeded $75 million).

In re: West Explosion Cases – Cause No. 2013-2476-4 (170th Dist. McLennan County, TX) (mass tort litigation and subrogation lawsuit following explosion of fertilizer plant in West, Texas).

World Trade Properties LLC, et. al. v. QBE Int’l Ins. Ltd., et. al. – 627 Fed. Appx. 10 (2nd Cir. 2015) (summary judgment regarding interpretation of subrogation provision within insurance policy).

Media

Fire Effects and Fire Patterns: Impacts in a Subrogation Investigation

Join Partner Jessica Skarin and co-presenters John Bull (North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company), Michael Driscoll (Envista Forensics), and Katherine Sandoval (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.) as they present for the 2021 CLM Annual Conference on August 13, 2021. View the presentation summary below: The NFPA 921, Guide to Fire and Explosion Investigation, has been updated for...

I’ve Heard It Both Ways: A Debate Regarding What Subrogation Practices Really Are “Best” Practices

Partner Jessica Skarin and co-presenters Vivian Conley, Dustin Looser, and Annette Tarquinio presented for the 2020 CLM Virtual Focus Conference. Read a summary of the presentation below: As subrogation professionals, we all work to engage in best practices.  Sometimes though there is a difference of opinion regarding what exactly those best practices should be.  As with most things in life, th...

Who Has Priority Over My Recovery? – An Overview of the Made Whole Doctrine

This article was originally published in the Southern Loss Association (SLA) October 2020 Newsletter. Legal opinions may vary when based on subtle factual differences. All rights reserved. After paying out a claim, insurers often pursue a subrogation recovery from a responsible third party. In evaluating the potential for recovery, subrogation specialists consider many issues including proof of l...

Butler’s Thursday Tips #3 | Handling Business Loss Claims

  Partner Jessica Skarin offers some tips on dealing with business loss claims for subrogation attorneys. Stay tuned to find out more helpful tips! [embed]https://youtu.be/-85yzghS2eg[/embed] #ButlerLegal #COVID19 #ThursdayTips #ThursdayThoughts...

Women’s History Month – Dolores Huerta

YES WE CAN! We’re celebrating #WomensHistoryMonth by featuring a fantastic female leader each week. Different clues will be scattered throughout Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Monday through Wednesday, so be sure to follow us on all platforms to see each clue.  This week, we are featuring Dolores Huerta, founder of the Agricultural Workers Association (AWA) and ardent supporter of farmworke...

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Jessica Skarin Appointed Lead Chair for Subrogation Committee

Join us in congratulating Jessica Skarin for being appointed as Lead Chair of the Subrogation Committee for the CLM.  The CLM, a member of The Institutes, is dedicated to meeting the professional development needs of the claims and litigation management industries....

A Sprinkler Activation – Four Viewpoints From Four Perspectives

Partner Jessica Skarin and co-presenters Melissa Brumback (Ragsdale Liggett PLLC), Elizabeth Keller (Engineering Systems Inc.) and Debbie Riley (AXIS Insurance) presented "A Sprinkler Activation – Four Viewpoints From Four Perspectives". This presentation took place on October 3, 2019 in Kissimmee, Florida for the CLM 2019 Southeast Conference. This included a discussion of the potential cause...

Subro Sense Podcast – Made Whole Rule: Lessons Learned from the 9/11 World Trade Center Litigation

The litigation ensuing from the catastrophic events of 9/11 highlighted the importance of addressing “Made Whole” considerations when evaluating subrogation claims. Butler’s Managing Partner, Scott Katz and Partner, Jessica Skarin join host, Aaron Jacobs to share four critical Made Whole Rule lessons to be learned from the World Trade Center litigation. Listen to the podcast below.   ...

International Women’s Day – 2019

In celebration of International Women's Day, Butler's female attorneys came together to discuss important female figures in US history. Watch the video below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTfgnj51So&feature=youtu.be[/embed]  ...

Congratulations to our Newest Partners!

As we move into the new year, please join us in congratulating our firm's newest Partners!...

Paying It Forward In The Subrogation Context: A Discussion Of How Safety, Diversity, And Professionalism Impact Your Business And Your Recoveries

Jessica Skarin will be presenting at the CLM Southeast Conference on the topic "Paying it Forward in the Subrogation Context" on November 8, 2018. The panelists will discuss how to address safety concerns that arise in a variety of different loss scenarios; and, how to protect the well-being of all parties involved in the subrogation investigation....

CTRL Your Future 2018 Laptop

For the third year in a row, Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig has spread some end of the school year cheer to seniors in eight different locations. Butler’s annual CTRL Your Future essay contest was created by the Firm’s Community Service Committee to recognize deserving high school seniors who have exhibited a commitment to their academics. The winners in each city received a brand-new laptop wit...

International Women’s Day

"LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT MAKING OTHERS BETTER AS A RESULT OF YOUR PRESENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT IMPACT LASTS IN YOUR ABSENCE." -SHERYL SANBERG (COO OF FACEBOOK) ...

2017 Clm Southeast Conference – Hot Off The Press: A Look At The 2017 Nfpa 921

Jessica Skarin from Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig presented in Atlanta, Georgia at the 2017 CLM Southeast Conference on the topic of "Hot Off the Press: A Look at the 2017 NFPA 921"....

When Pipes Go Pop

This article originally appeared in the CLM Magazine, a publication of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). Legal opinions may vary when based on subtle factual differences. All rights reserved. It is once again that time of year when calendars are replaced and claims of freeze-induced sprinkler line failures exhaust any leftover holiday cheer. Although we may not see the histo...

Hold On To Your Recoveries So They Don’t Spoil

This article was originally published in Claims Magazine a publication in 2016. © Copyright 2016 by ALM. All rights reserved. Republished by Butler with permission from ALM. The phrase "spoliation of evidence" invokes thoughts of discarded pipes and compromised fire scenes. Even the greenest of first party adjusters and subrogation professionals are quick to ask an insured if the physical art...

Who, What, When, And How Much? Key Questions To Ask When Faced With A Potential Sovereign Immunity Defense

This article was originally published in the Subrogator, a publication by the National Association of Subrogation Professionals, 2016. © Copyright 2016 by NASP. All rights reserved. Republished by Butler with permission from NASP. With each new claim we navigate a myriad of potential obstacles to recovery.  As subrogation professionals, we work to quickly identity these issues and evaluate the ...

Special Delivery: What Type Of “Package” Does The First Party Adjuster Deliver To Your Subrogation Department?

Jessica Skarin was a part of a panel presentation ("Special Delivery: What Type of “Package” Does The First Party Adjuster Deliver To Your Subrogation Department?") that discussed the important role that the first party adjuster plays in the subrogation process. The panel explained the critical nature of early and frequent communication between the first party adjuster and the subrogation spec...

Jessica Skarin Selected as Recipient of the Butler Step Award

Jessica Skarin is the next recipient of the STEP Award for going above-and-beyond. The STEP award goes to Jessica, an attorney in the subrogation department since January 2011, in recognition of her scholarly work on a chapter published in the multi-volume treatise, New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition. The chapter, entitled “Introduction to Insurance Subrogation,” was no small under...

Introduction To Insurance Subrogation

Matthew W. Peaire and Jessica M. Skarin recently authored Chapter 158 “Introduction to Insurance Subrogation” in the New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition.  Published by LexisNexis, Appleman on Insurance has long been considered a comprehensive resource in the field of insurance law.  It is showcased by LexisNexis as an “authoritative analyses of insurance law across the nation wit...

Special Delivery: What Type of “Package” Does the First Party Adjuster Deliver to your Subrogation Department?

This webinar will discuss the important role that the first party adjuster plays in the subrogation process. We will explain the critical nature of early and frequent communication between the first party adjuster and the subrogation specialist while the first party claim is being adjusted. Additionally, we will provide concrete examples of the type of documentation necessary to establish a subrog...

The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Spoliation Itself … And Sanctions: How Spoliation Can Erode, Or Even Destroy, The Potential For Recovery

This article was originally published in the Subrogator, a publication by the National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Winter, 2014. © Copyright 2014 by NASP. All rights reserved. Republished by Butler with permission from NASP. Successful subrogation recoveries generally start with proper documentation and preservation of the relevant evidence.  For this reason, every effort should...

Butler Subrogation & Recovery Webinar

Butler's Subrogation & Recovery practice group hosteda 60 minute webinar entitled "Is Your Claim Undermined Because Your Target is Underwater? - What To Do When Your Recovery Target Files for Bankruptcy". The presentation discussed how to evaluate the recovery potential of a claim against a target that is threatening to file, or has filed for bankruptcy, as well as how to protect your Claim...

The Language Was Not Enough: Florida Supreme Court Holds That The Standard “Transfer Of Rights” Provision Does Not Abrogate The “Made Whole Rule”

The scope of these transferred rights had not been addressed in Florida until the Eleventh Circuit certified the issue to the Florida Supreme Court. In its recent opinion, the Florida Supreme Court clarified that a basic transfer of rights provision, without more, does not give the insurer a right of priority. Under such circumstances, priority of recovery remains dictated by Florida's common law ...

Proving Lost Profits In A Subrogation Case: It’s No Easy Matter

This article was originally published in the Subrogator, a publication by the National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Winter, 2013. © Copyright 2013 by NASP. All rights reserved. Republished by Butler with permission from NASP. As subrogation professionals, it is sometimes easy to overly focus on the liability issues in each case, leaving a thorough damages analysis for another day....

Nasp’s 2013 Annual Conference

Scott Katz and Jessica Skarin spoke at NASP's 2013 Annual Conference November 3—6, 2013.  The presentation was titled, "The Made Whole Rule in Property Subrogation Cases:  Lessons Learned from the World Trade Center Litigation."...

Florida Supreme Court Limits Economic Loss Rule To Products Liability Claims?

State Specific: Florida Florida Supreme Court Limits Economic Loss Rule to Products Liability Claims...

Jessica Skarin