Ben V. Seessel
Associate

Connecticut

Email: bvs@jordenusa.com
Phone: (860) 392-5053
Fax: (860) 392-5058

Ben Seessel is a litigation associate at Jorden Burt LLP and a member of the firm's National Trial, Class Action, Appellate, and SEC/FINRA Practice Teams. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and the defense of financial institutions and other sophisticated businesses. Mr. Seessel has extensive experience in complex motion practice, discovery matters, legal research, and trial preparation and support. He regularly litigates class action cases, punitive damages cases, and other "high risk" matters. Mr. Seessel has helped clients achieve important victories in state and federal courts, and in NASD arbitrations.

Representative Matters

• Bellikoff v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., No. 02-01914, (Fla. Circuit Ct. 2004) (defended putative nationwide class action regarding life insurance premium gap issues).
• Benefit Consultants, Inc. v. Fortis Cos., No. 28611, (Tenn. Chancery Ct. May 26, 2005) (assisted financial services client in obtaining a $70 million dollar jury verdict).
• Hayes v. American Bankers Ins. Group, No. 01-22010, (Fla. Circuit Ct. Dec. 17, 2004) (obtained dismissal (with subsequent award of attorney's fees) on claim for breach of "golden parachute" agreement) aff'd, No. 050113, (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. Dec. 28, 2005).
• Jackson v. American Bankers Ins. Group, No. 04-3083, (E.D. La. June 18, 2006) (obtained dismissal of putative class action involving credit insurance policies).
• Law Offices of David Stern v. SCOR Reinsurance Co., No. 04-60170, (S.D. Fla. 2005) (defended reinsurer in direct action brought by policyholder following insurer's insolvency).
• Leonard v. ReliaStar Life Ins. Co., No. 3:05-cv-01015, (M.D. Ala. 2006) (successful defense of national class action alleging fraud and breach of contract claims involving universal life insurance policies).
• Lloyd/Huskey v. The O.N. Equity Sales Co., NASD Arbitration No. 02-07872, (NASD Southeast Region 2002) (defended broker-dealer against suitability, misrepresentation, and federal and state securities laws claims).
• Novack Living Trust, et al. v. Citicorp Invest. Servs., No. 03-06595, (NASD Southeast Region 2004) (defended broker-dealer against misrepresentation and suitability claims brought by purchaser of mutual funds).
• Oden v. First Floridian Auto & Home Ins. Co., No. 02CA3244, (Fla. Circuit Ct. May 18, 2004) (obtained dismissal of putative class action alleging claims arising out of "tiered" commission rates of automobile insurer).
• Wellman v. Great-West Life Ins. Co., NASD Arbitration No. 03-05363, (NASD Southeast Region Feb. 20, 2005) (obtained dismissal of claims arising out of alleged misrepresentations in the sale of annuity product).

Speeches and Publications

• Frequent Contributor, Expect Focus
• Author: "The Bermuda Reinsurance 'Loophole' A Case Study of Tax Shelters and Tax Havens in the Globalizing Economy," 32 U. Miami Inter-Am L. Rev. 541 (2001).