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Douglas L Christian

Harper Christian Dichter & Sluga PC
2700 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-0001

• dchristian@hcdslaw.com

Practice Areas
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

Introduction
I am a founding shareholder of Phoenix-based Harper Christian Dichter & Sluga and its Las Vegas-based affiliate Christian Kravitz Dichter & Johnson. In my 36th year of practice, I emphasize insurance law, bad faith litigation and personal injury litigation. I maintains an active practice in Arizona and Nevada with full service offices in each state offering a variety of legal services at a reasonable price. My lawyers and I work with insurers, policyholders, businesses and individuals everyday to resolve disputes amicably. When we are unable to do so, we have the knowledge and experience to go to court to make our client’s case effectively, efficiently and ethically. Douglas L. Christian

Education
BS, Arizona State University, 1972
JD, Arizona State University, 1975

Honors & Awards

Honors & Awards Description
Top Lawyers – 2006; Mr. Christian was recognized by Phoenix Magazine as a Top Lawyer in insurance law and personal injury litigation. Best of Bar – 2005; Mr. Christian was selected by his peers and the Staff of the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the three best insurance lawyers in metropolitan Phoenix. Best Lawyers in America 2005-2010; Mr. Christian was selected by his peers for inclusion in this prestigious publication in the insurance law and personal injury categories. Southwest Super Lawyers; Mr. Christian has been listed in the insurance coverage category each year since the inaugural edition in 2007. Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America 2009. Defense Research Institute Exceptional Performance Citation as President of the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, 1996/1997. Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Rating.


Professional Associations and Memberships
American Law Institute, elected member Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, President, 1995-1997 American Board of Trial Advocates American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Council, 1992-95 American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Chair, Professionalism Committee, 1996-1997 Tort and Insurance Practice Section Liaison to ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism, 1996-97 American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Chair, Scope & Correlation Committee, 1991-1992 American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section Chair, Automobile Law Committee, 1987-1988 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Faculty, Litigation Management College, 1997-1998 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Faculty, Law Firm Management Conference, 2001 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Faculty, Corporate Counsel Symposium, 2004 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Chair, Ethics Section, 1999-2000 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Admissions Committee, 1998 – 2002 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, 2006 Defense Research Institute State Bar of Arizona, Certified Specialist, Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation 1991- 2000 National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1992-1995 State Bar of Nevada State Bar of Arizona, Professionalism Course faculty

Articles
Title Description
Continuing Bad Faith: Theory of Liability or Rule of Evidence? Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Winter, 2001; feature article Insurance Litigation Reporter, November, 2001, feature article, California Insurance Litigation Reporter, December, 2001. Twice Bitten: Violations of Ethical Rules as Evidence of Legal Malpractice; published in The Brief,Volume 29, No. 1; republished in PC SOLO “Best of ABA Sections,” March, 2000. The Law Firm of Tomorrow: 2010 and Beyond, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 1, 2007. Pre-Litigation Advice: Is it still privileged?; Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Winter meeting, Marco Island, Florida, March 2, 2005. Recent Development Affecting an Insurer’s Duty to Defend, Mealey’s Bad Faith Conference, Philadelphia, September 27, 2004. Aggregate Settlement Ethics, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Symposium for Corporate Counsel, Marquette University, September 10, 2004. Settling Without the Insurer’s Consent, Defense Research Institute, Chicago, May 17, 2002. Trials and Tribulations: Professional Liability Arising From Unethical Trial Conduct, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting,Boca Raton, February, 2002. High Stakes Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Cases, Law Education Institute National CLE Conference, Steamboat Springs, CO, January 11, 2002. Defending Against Claims of Continuing Bad Faith, Mealey’s Bad Faith Litigation Conference, Los Angeles, September 13, 2001. Concurrent Causation In First Party Property Claims; American Conference Institute Advanced Insurance Coverage Conference, New York, April 20, 2001. Continuing Bad Faith, American Conference Institute National Bad Faith Conference, San Francisco, March 23, 2001. Ethical Implications of Compliance With Insurer Billing Guidelines and Fee Audits, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility National Conference, New Orleans, June 2, 2000. The Admissibility of Violations of Disciplinary Rules in Legal Malpractice Cases, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting Orlando, Florida, March 2000. Ethical Issues in Handling Bad Faith Cases, Mealey’s Bad Faith Litigation Conference, Boston, May 3, 1999. Managing Bad Faith Exposure; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Litigation Management College, Northwestern University, June 24, 1998. Bench and Bar in Conflict? Alternative Dispute Resolution; Arizona State Bar Program, Phoenix, November 20, 1997. Law Office Economics and Professionalism: Money or Morals; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, August 4, 1997. Avoiding The Excess Judgment; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Litigation Management College, Northwestern University, June 25, 1997. Providing a Defense: Cost Issues Impacting Counsel’s Ability to Represent a Client; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, August, 1997. Crossing the Bad Faith Threshold: Evaluation and Analysis, Mealey’s Insurance and Bad Faith Conference, Philadelphia, May 1, 1997. Insurance Coverage Issues Relating to Allocation of Damages and Reimbursement of Health Maintenance Organizations Under Liability Insurance Policies; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, August 5, 1996. Breaking Up is Hard to Do, The Ethics of Law Firm Dissolutions; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, August 4, 1996. Protecting Your Assets; Arizona Association of Life Underwriters Annual Meeting, Phoenix, April 26, 1996. Professionalism; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Mid-Winter Meeting, Naples, Florida, March 9, 1995. Issues Concerning the Tri-Partite Relationship – The Proposed Restatement Approach; ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section, Insurance Coverage Committee Mid-Winter Meeting, San Diego, California, February 25, 1995. Crossing the Bad Faith Threshold: Evaluation and Analysis; Mealey’s Insurance Fraud and Bad Faith Conference, Phoenix, February 3, 1995. Marketing a Personal Injury Practice; American Bar Association, New Orleans, August 8, 1994. The Tri-Partite Relationship; Arizona Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, Sedona, Arizona, May 14, 1994. Eclectic Insurance Issues: From Auto Accidents to Sex Offenses, Program Moderator; Lorman Business Center, Inc., Phoenix, March 13, 1994. Taking Effective Depositions; Lorman Business Center, Inc., Phoenix, September 30, 1993. Confidentiality, Supreme Court Mandated Professionalism Course, Phoenix and Tucson, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004. The Zlaket Rules: One Year Later, Panel Discussion; State Bar of Arizona Convention, Phoenix, June 25, 1993. Medical Reimbursement Claims and Liens; Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Spring Program, Phoenix, April 3, 1993. Defending Against Hedonic Damages Claims, videotaped trial skills program; American Bar Association, San Francisco, August 10, 1992. Inadequate Limits of Coverage and Other Conflicts of Interest – Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas; South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Advocacy Program, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, April 30, 1992. Inadequate Limits of Coverage and Other Potential Conflicts of Interest – Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas; Defense Research Institute, Eighth Annual Symposium, New York, December 12, 1991. Effective Ideas and Arguments for Holding Down Punitive and Extra Contractual Damage Awards in Bad Faith Cases; Defense Research Institute Seminar, Philadelphia, October 22, 1991. Cross Examining the Medical Witness, videotaped trial techniques program; American Bar Association, Chicago, August 1990. Closing Arguments for the Insurer in Bad Faith Cases; Defense Research Institute Seminar, New York, October 5, 1989. Vehicle Collision Litigation, nationally broadcast satellite program, Program Moderator; American Bar Association, Washington, D.C., March 30, 1989. Current Issues in Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims, Program Moderator, American Bar Association, Toronto, Ontario, August 8, 1988. Insurance Issues in Vehicle Crash Litigation; American Bar Association, National Institute, Boston, April 1988. Insurance Bad Faith Litigation in Arizona; Arizona State University Law School Alumni Association, Tempe, Arizona, October 1986.
Continuing Bad Faith: Theory of Liability or Rule of Evidence? Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Winter, 2001; feature article Insurance Litigation Reporter, November, 2001, feature article, California Insurance Litigation Reporter, December, 2001. Twice Bitten: Violations of Ethical Rules as Evidence of Legal Malpractice; published in The Brief,Volume 29, No. 1; republished in PC SOLO “Best of ABA Sections,” March, 2000. The Law Firm of Tomorrow: 2010 and Beyond, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 1, 2007. Pre-Litigation Advice: Is it still privileged?; Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Winter meeting, Marco Island, Florida, March 2, 2005. Recent Development Affecting an Insurer’s Duty to Defend, Mealey’s Bad Faith Conference, Philadelphia, September 27, 2004. Aggregate Settlement Ethics, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Symposium for Corporate Counsel, Marquette University, September 10, 2004. Settling Without the Insurer’s Consent, Defense Research Institute, Chicago, May 17, 2002. Trials and Tribulations: Professional Liability Arising From Unethical Trial Conduct, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting,Boca Raton, February, 2002. High Stakes Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Cases, Law Education Institute National CLE Conference, Steamboat Springs, CO, January 11, 2002. Defending Against Claims of Continuing Bad Faith, Mealey’s Bad Faith Litigation Conference, Los Angeles, September 13, 2001. Concurrent Causation In First Party Property Claims; American Conference Institute Advanced Insurance Coverage Conference, New York, April 20, 2001. Continuing Bad Faith, American Conference Institute National Bad Faith Conference, San Francisco, March 23, 2001. Ethical Implications of Compliance With Insurer Billing Guidelines and Fee Audits, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility National Conference, New Orleans, June 2, 2000. The Admissibility of Violations of Disciplinary Rules in Legal Malpractice Cases, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting Orlando, Florida, March 2000. Ethical Issues in Handling Bad Faith Cases, Mealey’s Bad Faith Litigation Conference, Boston, May 3, 1999. Managing Bad Faith Exposure; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Litigation Management College, Northwestern University, June 24, 1998. Bench and Bar in Conflict? Alternative Dispute Resolution; Arizona State Bar Program, Phoenix, November 20, 1997. Law Office Economics and Professionalism: Money or Morals; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, August 4, 1997. Avoiding The Excess Judgment; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Litigation Management College, Northwestern University, June 25, 1997. Providing a Defense: Cost Issues Impacting Counsel’s Ability to Represent a Client; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, August, 1997. Crossing the Bad Faith Threshold: Evaluation and Analysis, Mealey’s Insurance and Bad Faith Conference, Philadelphia, May 1, 1997. Insurance Coverage Issues Relating to Allocation of Damages and Reimbursement of Health Maintenance Organizations Under Liability Insurance Policies; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, August 5, 1996. Breaking Up is Hard to Do, The Ethics of Law Firm Dissolutions; American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, August 4, 1996. Protecting Your Assets; Arizona Association of Life Underwriters Annual Meeting, Phoenix, April 26, 1996. Professionalism; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Mid-Winter Meeting, Naples, Florida, March 9, 1995. Issues Concerning the Tri-Partite Relationship – The Proposed Restatement Approach; ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section, Insurance Coverage Committee Mid-Winter Meeting, San Diego, California, February 25, 1995. Crossing the Bad Faith Threshold: Evaluation and Analysis; Mealey’s Insurance Fraud and Bad Faith Conference, Phoenix, February 3, 1995. Marketing a Personal Injury Practice; American Bar Association, New Orleans, August 8, 1994. The Tri-Partite Relationship; Arizona Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, Sedona, Arizona, May 14, 1994. Eclectic Insurance Issues: From Auto Accidents to Sex Offenses, Program Moderator; Lorman Business Center, Inc., Phoenix, March 13, 1994. Taking Effective Depositions; Lorman Business Center, Inc., Phoenix, September 30, 1993. Confidentiality, Supreme Court Mandated Professionalism Course, Phoenix and Tucson, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004. The Zlaket Rules: One Year Later, Panel Discussion; State Bar of Arizona Convention, Phoenix, June 25, 1993. Medical Reimbursement Claims and Liens; Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Spring Program, Phoenix, April 3, 1993. Defending Against Hedonic Damages Claims, videotaped trial skills program; American Bar Association, San Francisco, August 10, 1992. Inadequate Limits of Coverage and Other Conflicts of Interest – Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas; South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Advocacy Program, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, April 30, 1992. Inadequate Limits of Coverage and Other Potential Conflicts of Interest – Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas; Defense Research Institute, Eighth Annual Symposium, New York, December 12, 1991. Effective Ideas and Arguments for Holding Down Punitive and Extra Contractual Damage Awards in Bad Faith Cases; Defense Research Institute Seminar, Philadelphia, October 22, 1991. Cross Examining the Medical Witness, videotaped trial techniques program; American Bar Association, Chicago, August 1990. Closing Arguments for the Insurer in Bad Faith Cases; Defense Research Institute Seminar, New York, October 5, 1989. Vehicle Collision Litigation, nationally broadcast satellite program, Program Moderator; American Bar Association, Washington, D.C., March 30, 1989. Current Issues in Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims, Program Moderator, American Bar Association, Toronto, Ontario, August 8, 1988. Insurance Issues in Vehicle Crash Litigation; American Bar Association, National Institute, Boston, April 1988. Insurance Bad Faith Litigation in Arizona; Arizona State University Law School Alumni Association, Tempe, Arizona, October 1986.


Bar Admissions
State of Arizona, 1975 State of Nevada, 1994 State of Colorado, 1995 United States Supreme Court Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals US District Court, Arizona US District Court, Nevada

Community Leadership
Organization Description
Central Arizona Health Systems Agency, Board of Directors and Executive Committee, 1979-1981 (Certificate of Need review for medical facilities) Valley Big Brothers, Board of Directors 1981-1982 Winner, 2005 Arizona Attorney Magazine Writing Competition for his book of poetry, Pocket Change. First Place, Arizona Authors’ Association Writing Competition, Poetry Category, 2005


Douglas L Christian