People: Rhett E. Petcher, Associate

Rhett E. Petcher

Associate

Washington, D.C.
Direct: (202) 828-3584
Fax: (202) 828-5393
0

Mr. Petcher is a senior associate in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group of Seyfarth Shaw LLP where he represents insurers and other clients in complex insurance and commercial litigation.  In the insurance arena, Mr. Petcher has significant experience in coverage matters relating to toxic torts, property, E&O, commercial liability, and bad faith.  He also has experience with workers’ compensation coverage under the Defense Base Act. 

In addition to his insurance experience, Mr. Petcher has substantial experience representing both commercial landlords and tenants in leasing and other real estate disputes.  He has also represented commercial clients in business torts, commercial licensing, construction, products liability, and intellectual property matters.  Mr. Petcher has also represented numerous creditor-clients in high profile bankruptcy litigation.

Mr. Petcher’s practice spans state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels.  He also has experience with alternative dispute resolution, including contractually mandated arbitration.

Mr. Petcher is a senior associate in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group of Seyfarth Shaw LLP where he represents insurers and other clients in complex insurance and commercial litigation.  In the insurance arena, Mr. Petcher has significant experience in coverage matters relating to toxic torts, property, E&O, commercial liability, and bad faith.  He also has experience with workers’ compensation coverage under the Defense Base Act. 

In addition to his insurance experience, Mr. Petcher has substantial experience representing both commercial landlords and tenants in leasing and other real estate disputes.  He has also represented commercial clients in business torts, commercial licensing, construction, products liability, and intellectual property matters.  Mr. Petcher has also represented numerous creditor-clients in high profile bankruptcy litigation.

Mr. Petcher’s practice spans state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels.  He also has experience with alternative dispute resolution, including contractually mandated arbitration.

Education

  • J.D., George Mason University School of Law (2003)
    cum laude
    Chairman of the scoring committee of the Moot Court Board
    Articles Editor, Federal Circuit Bar Journal, Writing Fellow

Admissions

  • Virginia
  • District of Columbia

Courts

  • All District of Columbia Courts
  • All Virginia State Courts
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Maryland

Affiliations

  • ABA Torts Trial and Insurance Practice
  • Virginia Bar Associate

Representative Engagements

  • In re September 11th Liability Insurance Coverage Cases, 458 F.Supp.2d 104 (S.D.N.Y.)  Result:  Among team of attorneys who obtained summary judgment on behalf of excess liability insurer for the World Trade Center.
  • Shetucket Plumbing Supply Inc. v. S.C.S. Agency, Inc., 518 F.Supp.2d 403 (D. Conn.).  Result:  Achieved total victory on summary judgment with respect to indemnification agreement in an agency contract.
  • Cheeks v. Allstate Life Ins. Co., et al., No. 008973-10 (Sup. Ct. D.C.).  Result:  Obtained dismissal of complaint against insurer and broker with respect to bad faith claims.
  • Cheeks v. Allstate Life Ins. Co., et al., No. 2010 CAB 8973 (D.C. Ct. App.).  Result:  Obtained summary affirmance of appeal regarding bad faith claims against insurer and broker.
  • Softech Worldwide, LLC v. Internet Technology Broadcasting Corp., 761 F.Supp.2d 367 (E.D.Va. 2011).  Result:  Defeated preliminary injunction motion with respect to use of licensed software.
  • In re Circuit City Stores, Inc., 447 B.R. 475 (Bkrtcy. E.D. Va.).  Result:  Brokered settlement on behalf of several landlord clients in one of the countries’ largest commercial bankruptcies.
  • Womack v. Transportation Ins. Co., 2012 WL 883456 (E.D. Va.). Result: Successfully argued for stay of coverage action in order to permit underlying appeal to resolve itself.

 

Publications

  • "A "Flood of Uncertainty": Contractual Erosion In The Wake of Hurricane Katrina And The Eastern District Of Louisiana's Ruling In Re Katrina Canal Breaches Consolidated Litigation," Tulane Law Review, Vol. 81:1277 (2007)
  • "Whose Insurance Is It? Insured Disputes in Construction Litigation” Coverage Magazine, Volume 16, No. 2 (March/April 2006)