Cheryl Castrogiovanni Guz
Practice Areas
- Insurance Coverage
- Bad Faith
- Declaratory Relief
Education
- S.U.N.Y. StonyBrook, Bachelor of Arts, 1991
- Teaching Assistant – Women and the Law; Psychology of Women
- Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D. 1994
- Phi Delta Phi Law Society
After graduating from SUNY Stony Brook in New York, Cheryl Castrogiovanni Guz relocated to San Francisco to attend Golden Gate University Law School. During her time at Golden Gate University Law School, Cheryl under took several internships at the San Francisco Attorney’s Office, including a year in the Family Support Division and a year in the Juvenile Division. Cheryl graduated from law school and became a licensed California lawyer in 1994. Since 1997, she has been part of the insurance coverage group at Hardiman & Carroll.
Cheryl’s practice is centered on insurance coverage, with a minor emphasis on declaratory relief and bad faith litigation. As part of her coverage practice, Cheryl handles insurance claims from inception to completion. This includes conducting examinations under oath, coordinating expert inspections and examinations, and the research and analysis of facts discovered in comparison to the policy language to reach a coverage opinion. Her litigation practice is concentrated in the pre-trial arena. She conducts all aspects of discovery and motion work.
For example, on behalf of Clarendon National Insurance Company and American Claims Management, in 2007, Cheryl authored the winning summary judgment brief in the case entitled Hibbs v. Allstate Ins. Co., et al., Ventura County Superior Court case number CIV233435 [breach of the implied covenant and interference with contract]. Recent successes include writing and arguing the winning summary judgment brief on behalf of Clarendon National Insurance Company in American Safety Risk Retention Group v. Brad Anderson Construction, Inc., and related cross-actions, San Luis Obispo Superior Court case number CV050024 [contribution, subrogation, and indemnity] (Jan. 2009), and preparing the winning briefs seeking summary adjudication and summary judgement on behalf of QBE Insurance Corporation and American Claims Management, respectively, in Solorio v. QBE Ins. Corp., et al., Santa Clara Superior Court case number 107CV100484 [breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, intentional interference with contractual relations, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage] (June 2009).
Cheryl also enjoys crafting pre-litigation resolutions of insurance claims and has participated in dozens of successful mediations in bad faith cases. As an additional service to clients, Cheryl enthusiastically takes on special insurance related projects. For example, she has authored a non-standard auto policy and has prepared a comparison of licensing requirements for adjusters in 25 states.
You may contact Ms. Guz directly at cguz@sflawfirm.com or by calling (415)248-3930.