Fried & Epstein LLP

Attorney Profiles

John W. Fried is a civil and criminal defense trial lawyer.

Mr. Fried began his legal career in 1972 as an assistant district attorney for Frank S. Hogan, the Manhattan District Attorney. In 1975, District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau reappointed Mr. Fried to his position. Thereafter, he prosecuted and tried numerous homicide and other felony cases. In 1985, Mr. Fried became Chief of Trials and supervised 250 assistant district attorneys who prosecuted and tried criminal cases, ranging in seriousness from disorderly conduct to murder.

In 1990, Mr. Fried joined Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., as a partner in its insurance coverage group.

In 1999, Mr. Fried left Anderson Kill and formed the law firm that today is Fried & Epstein LLP.

Mr. Fried’s civil practice is devoted primarily to representing policyholders whose insurance claims have been denied. He currently represents many nationally known corporations seeking insurance coverage for pollution, asbestos, toxic tort, products, property, medical stop-loss, and business interruption claims. Mr. Fried also represents individuals seeking insurance coverage for claims covered by directors and officers insurance, errors and omissions insurance, and disability income insurance.

Mr. Fried has been lead counsel in significant insurance coverage cases: Alabama Plating Co. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 690 So.2d 331 (Ala. 1997) (the Alabama Supreme Court, on reargument, vacated a anti-policyholder decision and held that the “sudden and accidental” form of a pollution exclusion in a CGL policy did not preclude insurance coverage for gradual, unintended pollution damage); MetLife Capital Corp. v. Water Quality Insurance Syndicate, 100 F. Supp.2d 90 (D.P.R. 2000) (a federal district court refused to enforceable a clause in a marine pollution liability policy that required the policyholder’s independent defense counsel to obtain the prior approval of its insurer’s attorney before making any defense expenditures); Brooks v. Zurich-American Insurance Group, 753 N.Y.S.2d 454 (App. Div. 1st Dep’t 2002) (a New York State appellate court held that the policyholder’s failure to provide its insurer with timely notice of loss under a property insurance policy, which in New York usually results in a claim denial, may be excused if the policyholder was not aware that a potentially insured loss had taken place).

Mr. Fried also represents clients in criminal cases in New York courts and in federal court.

Mr. Fried was admitted to practice law in New Jersey in 1971 and in New York in 1972. He also is admitted to practice law in the United States Supreme Court and in many federal courts. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

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Practice Areas

Criminal Defense / Employment Litigation / General Litigation / Insurance Coverage Litigation & Counseling

Our Locations

New York
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 7612
New York, NY 10118
Tel. (212) 268-7111
Fax (212) 268-3110

Philadelphia
Constitution Place
325 Chestnut Street, Suite 900
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tel. (215) 625-0123
Fax (215) 625-0764