Jonathan Barger
Jonathan Barger is a Partner working in both the Chicago and Dallas offices of Butler. He is admitted to practice law in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Jon’s primary focus is first-party property claims and related coverage litigation, from large, complex commercial claims to personal lines claims. He has substantial trial and litigation experience both regionally and nationally. He routinely handles all aspects of litigation and has tried numerous jury trials, including as lead trial counsel. He also has significant experience defending third-party liability claims, advising on third-party liability coverage questions, and litigating international commercial disputes. He has worked on claims in excess of $250 million dollars throughout the United States and internationally.
Jon assists insurers with first-party claim issues ranging from legal assistance with claims investigations, conducting examinations under oath, and providing coverage opinions. He defends insurers against allegations of breach of contract, bad faith, and other extra-contractual relief. Jon has significant experience with fire losses and the multiple issues that arise from fire investigation methods and techniques, fire cause and origin determination, fire spread, and fire suppression system performance. In addition to his fire loss background, he has handled cases involving water, mold, wind damage, as well as other types of property damage.
Jon advises internationally-based insurers on claims involving significant liability exposures throughout the United States, including product liability, D&O liability, and financial lines claims. His international experience includes working with European market insurers and defending European companies in U.S. Courts. His international background and expertise places him in a unique position to handle cases with complex jurisdictional issues.
Jon is a frequent insurance industry speaker and educator, providing training sessions and speaking at insurance industry conferences across the country. He has spoken on a wide range of property and other insurance topics.
Jon received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French language and literature from Vanderbilt University. He studied with the Vanderbilt-in-France program in Aix-en-Provence and with the Centre International d’Études Françaises (“CIEF”) at the Université Lumière Lyon 2. He is fluent in French, with full business proficiency. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, along with a Certificate in International and Comparative Law.
Admissions
- Illinois
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
Recognitions
- AV Preeminent
- Martindale-Hubbell
Education
- Vanderbilt University
Bachelor Of Arts In French Language And Literature - Chicago-Kent College Of Law
Doctor Of Jurisprudence
Memberships
- Claims And Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- Western Loss Association
- Dallas Claims Association
Courts
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
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U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
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U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
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U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Media
Causation & Collapse Matters: Wind, Water, Whatever
Join Chicago Partner Jon Barger and co-presenters Nezar Abraham (Thornton Tomasetti) and Brandon Mann (Liberty Mutual Insurance) for the 2023 PLRB Large Loss Conference on November 15-17, 2023, in Atlanta, GA. The program description is listed below. Causation issues with potential covered perils and non-covered perils requiring further investigation Potential additional coverage for collaps...
Property Claims Ethics: Adjusting in Good Faith
Join Partner Jonathan Barger and co-presenter Nanci Smilie (CPCU) at the Western Loss Association Fall Conference on October 18-19, 2023, in Grand Geneva, WI. This presentation will discuss good faith claim handling methods and common ethical challenges when dealing with claims. Visit the Western Loss Association website to learn more....
Property Claims Ethics: Adjusting In Good Faith
Join Partner Jon Barger and co-presenter Nanci L. Smilie (Erie Insurance Group) as they present "Property Claims Ethics: Adjusting In Good Faith" at the PLRB Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo on March 19-22, 2023 in Orlando, FL. The program description is as follows: Describe various challenges that claims professionals face when adjusting property claims Identify good faith me...
Seventh Circuit Affirms Judgment on the Pleadings for Insurer in Covid-19 Business Interruption Claim by Shopping Mall Food Court Restaurant
Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP attorneys Clark Schirle and Jon Barger obtained a victory for their client in the case of Melcorp, Inc. v. West American Ins. Co., No. 21-2448 (7th Cir. June 8, 2022). The Seventh Circuit affirmed yet another trial court decision in favor of an insurer on a Covid-19 business interruption claim. In Melcorp, the insured was a restaurant in a shopping mall food cou...
Partners Clark Schirle and Jonathan Barger Admitted to Texas Bar
Partners Clark Schirle and Jon Barger are newly admitted to the Texas Bar. They are assisting clients with first-party property claim coverage issues and litigation in Texas. Clark and Jon are also admitted in Illinois, and will continue to handle first-party property claims in the Midwest. Jon is also licensed in Wisconsin and Indiana. Clark and Jon will work with their teams in both the ...
