Paula K. Villela is a seasoned insurance litigator and appellate advocate, focusing her practice on challenges involving commercial general liability, professional liability and first-party property insurance disputes. Paula is an integral member of BatesCarey’s Opioid Coverage Task Force, monitoring and actively analyzing suits filed by state and local governments nationwide against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and retail pharmacies in order to assess insurance coverage issues and litigate the issues tied to these evolving exposures.
As part of BatesCarey’s insurance appellate team, Paula brings a unique and invaluable perspective, having clerked with the Appellate Court for the First District of Illinois. BatesCarey’s insurance clients derive deeply important insight from Paula’s years of drafting appellate opinions under Justice Joseph Gordon and Justice William H. Taylor, II. This clerkship honed her ability to craft successful written and oral arguments for appellate panels in the multiple jurisdictions across the country in which she practices.
Representative Matters |
Pekin Ins. Co. v. Spiegel et al. Declaratory judgment entered for client determining that it did not have the duty to defend or to indemnify insured for sanctions entered against him under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137. Pekin Insurance Co. v. Spiegel et al. Declaratory judgment entered for client establishing that its CGL policy provided no coverage against the lawsuit by the city of Wilmette for a building owner’s failure to install the required fire alarm for over one year after being ordered to do so. Pekin Insurance Co. v. Christensen et al. Declaratory judgment entered for client establishing that amounts received by all insureds from the at-fault driver were to be offset from the UIM per accident limit under an auto policy and that said per accident limits could not be stacked. Presently handling pending appeal. Pekin Insurance Co. v. Christian Calderon d/b/a Pro Painters & Associates et al. Declaratory judgment entered for client establishing that it did not have the duty to defend insured in an action under the Workers Compensation Act. Pekin Insurance Co. v. Russell A. Clark et al. Declaratory judgment entered for client establishing that it did not owe a duty to defend insureds in connection to a complex action for intentional torts. |
Publications |
“Laying Foundation to Properly Admit Social Media Content,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly, First Quarter, 2020. “Character Evidence: Proper Preparation and Tips,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly, Fourth Quarter, 2019. “Cross-Examining an Expert Witness: Proper Preparation and Tips,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly, Third Quarter, 2019. “Who Knew? Sole Means More Than One,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly, Fourth Quarter, 2018. |