2018 HADA Event Speakers

Alan Lyons

Alan Lyons is partner and chair of Herrick Feinstein’s Insurance Group. Alan has more than 19 years of experience advising carriers and policyholders on insurance and reinsurance issues, including drafting insurance policies, advising on the development and structure of new insurance products, assessing claims and evaluating risks. Alan serves as national coverage counsel for insurers and risk retention groups, evaluating claims, preparing coverage opinions, and handling arbitrations and litigation involving a variety of lines of insurance including general liability, professional liability, directors and officers liability and commercial property insurance. Alan is an accomplished litigator who regularly represents clients in complex coverage litigation in federal and state courts, and in arbitration venues regarding a wide range of coverage issues, including:

• Catastrophic losses arising out of natural disasters
• Pollution exclusions
• Environmental claims
• Toxic tort litigation, including asbestos, lead paint and mold claims
• Priority of coverage among concurrent and consecutive insurers
• Allocation of risk and trigger of coverage
• Number of occurrences
• Late notice
• Coverage under additional insured endorsements
• Coverage under directors and officers liability policies for underlying shareholder class actions and derivative lawsuits
• Coverage under errors and omissions/professional liability insurance policies for underlying claims against broker-dealers
• Excess, bad faith, extra-contractual and punitive damage claims involving both first- and third-party coverage
• Employment discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination coverage
• Construction project builders' risk and liability policies

David Paccone

Currently the Assistant Executive Director and the Director of Development for the Syracuse Housing Authority, David Paccone previously served as Sr. Management Analyst at the Syracuse Housing Authority from 1999-2012. As a Certified Property Manager, a Certified Credit Compliance Professional, proficiency certifications in Low Income Housing Tax Credit Compliance, and a Certified Risk Manager, Mr. Paccone has a high understanding of the public housing, affordable housing, and subsidized housing markets, and the management of those properties. Mr. Paccone is responsible for the planning and development of affordable housing projects including property acquisitions, budget preparation, finance, and public relations and outreach. His intimate knowledge of government is key to navigating governmental policies and procedures throughout the cycle of a project. By seeking various channels of funding, cultivating relationships, and building community partnerships, he is helping in making the Syracuse Housing Authority a valuable developer of additional affordable housing in the Syracuse area. Mr. Paccone is an active participant in HAI Group where he has been the Vice Chair for the Finance Committee and is currently the Vice Chair of the Business Development and Research Committee. He is also very active in PAHRC, NH&RA, NAHMA, NYSPHADA, and NYSAFAH. Locally, Mr. Paccone has served as a consultant for affordable housing in New York with the Town of Skaneateles, Town of Onondaga, and Town of Marcellus, as well as being a member of the Affordable Housing Commission for the Town of Skaneateles. He also currently sits on the Housing and Homeless Coalition Advisory Board in Onondaga County, and on the Zoning Advisory Board for the City of Syracuse. As a professional, Mr. Paccone has presented seminars and sessions on entrepreneurship, risk management, strategic planning, and succession planning at conferences including NYSPHADA Annual conferences and NAHRO National conferences. Mr. Paccone did his Bachelor’s degree work in History and Government at Hofstra University, his Master’s degree work in History at James Madison University, and his Doctoral study in History and Government at Syracuse University.

Mary Ciccaglione

Mary joined the Risk Control and Consulting Department at HAI Group in early 2012.  She has provided risk management services to policy holders throughout the United States.  Mary graduated from Keene State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health Studies.  During her time at HAI Group, she has earned her Connecticut Property and Casualty Insurance Producers license, Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification, Business Continuity Manager Certification, and HCV Housing Quality Standards Certification.  Mary is currently working toward her Associate in Risk Management.

Darius Davenport

Darius Davenport leads the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice Group of Crenshaw, Ware & Martin. His practice focuses on data privacy laws and regulations, helping clients mitigate cyber risk, and dealing with the legal and practical problems resulting from cyber incidents. His cybersecurity counsel to businesses and municipalities includes drafting and review of incident response plans, cybersecurity employee policies, technology contracts and conducting cybersecurity and breach response exercises in accordance with the National Institute of Science and Technology standards.  He is frequently invited to speak on cybersecurity and data privacy issues. Mr. Davenport’s practice also includes complex litigation in state and federal courts with an emphasis on public sector law, employment law and insurance defense. He represents housing authorities, businesses and municipalities across the region. Mr. Davenport has experience handling government administrative law matters including ethics, FOIA, the Privacy Act and use of digital media.  As a former U.S. Army JAG attorney, he drafted regulations, and provided legal advice and counsel to senior government officials on wide variety of legal issues.   Mr. Davenport is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia.

Edwin T. Lowndes

Edwin T. Lowndes has served as the Executive Director for the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri since 2001.   Mr. Lowndes began his career at the Housing Authority in 1995 as General Counsel.  Prior to coming to the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Lowndes served as a Deputy County Attorney for Douglas County, Nebraska working primarily on civil matters, concentrating on regulatory and governmental issues as well as counsel to the Board of Commissioners.  In addition to his duties as the Executive Director for the Housing Authority, Mr. Lowndes serves as a member of the board of directors for the Housing Authority Insurance Group and its affiliate companies; a member of the board of directors for the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities; a member of the Kansas City Workforce Investment Board; and a member of advisory committee for the Metropolitan Community Service Program of the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission. Mr. Lowndes earned both his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and his Juris Doctorate from Creighton University.

John W. Liguori

John W. Liguori is an Of Counsel Attorney at the Albany, NY based law firm of Towne, Ryan & Partners, P.C.  As a practicing attorney for 25 years, Mr. Liguori focuses his practice in the area of civil litigation with a concentration in municipal, public housing and personal injury law. For over 20 years, Mr. Liguori has represented housing authorities throughout New York State in both state and federal court proceedings.  Mr. Liguori was previously retained as a general counsel for the Albany Housing Authority.  During that time, he handled a monthly eviction calendar of some 200 tenants.  He was called upon regularly to provide guidance on HUD Regulation compliance as it related to evictions, procurement policy, Board of Commissioner functions as well as real property purchase, sale and development issues.  He also represented AHA in connection with mixed finance development and property procurement.  Mr. Liguori is on the list of approved counsel with Housing Authority Risk Retention Group and Housing Enterprise Insurance Company.  In that capacity, he has been assigned to represent housing authorities across New York State on matters including premises liability, labor and employment, discrimination, fair housing and police misconduct. Mr. Liguori has also represented the City and County of Albany in connection with police misconduct matters as well as wrongful termination and discrimination actions.  His practice also includes commercial and personal injury litigation.

C. MICHAEL MCINNISH

Mickey McInnish has practiced law since 1981. He worked as Legislative Analyst for the State of Alabama Legislative Reference Service prior to practicing law. Mr. McInnish currently serves as Senior Staff Attorney for City of Montgomery, Alabama with primary focus on Revenue/Business Licenses, Policy/Procedure Manuals, Personnel Issues, Disciplinary/Administrative Personnel Hearings, and City Investigations. He previously worked as PHA attorney and in a PHA from 1988 through 2007. Mr. McInnish has represented housing authorities in all areas of law; both administrative and in legal proceedings. Additionally, Mr. McInnish has taught courses for Auburn University, Faulkner University Jones School of Law, Rutgers University and Alabama League of Municipalities. Mr. McInnish was a major part of the creative team that developed HADA in 2001. He has consistently presented CLE approved programs for HADA and the Housing Development Law Institute in addition to creating and presenting well over 200 programs for HTVN and housing authority law/issues.

Darice M. Collins

Darice M. Collins is an associate in the Orange County office of Lewis Brisbois and is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice. She represents clients in a variety of employment matters including discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour disputes. Prior to law school, Ms. Collins began her career pursuits within the automobile property & casualty insurance industry. She has utilized her insurance industry knowledge throughout her litigation practice which has included insurance defense and general commercial litigation in automobile and trucking accidents, premises liability, products liability, construction defect, and medical malpractice. Darice began her legal career in Florida and Texas and continued law practice in Arizona and Virginia with local and international law firms. In Northern Virginia, Ms. Collins practiced labor & employment litigation defense with representative clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to municipalities, counties and multi-national corporations. She is experienced in counseling employers regarding reductions in force, employment handbook policies, federal and state labor law compliance procedures, conducting and assisting with independent investigations of workplace harassment and/or discrimination and responding to EEOC and/or state agency investigations and charges of discrimination. In addition to advocating for clients in the courtroom, at mediation or arbitration, Ms. Collins has devoted her time to public service in California, Virginia, Arizona, and Texas. In 2012, Ms. Collins received the Harry L. Carrico Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award from Legal Services Corporation of Virginia for providing over 200 hours of pro bono service in family law, housing law, guardianship and consumer litigation. Prior to joining Lewis Brisbois, Ms. Collins was in-house defense counsel for two national property and casualty automobile insurers. She is licensed in California, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, D.C., and Florida.

Anne Knox Averitt

Anne Knox Averitt is a labor and employment and litigation associate in the Birmingham office of Bradley LLP. She represents governmental and corporate clients in a number of industries, including automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, health care, non-profit, employee staffing, housing compliance, communications, federal contracting, construction, and financial services. She has helped to obtain favorable resolution for matters at all stages, from dismissal on the initial pleadings to a defense jury verdict. Anne Knox handles litigation involving labor arbitration awards, employee benefits, FMLA and FLSA claims, discrimination claims before the EEOC and in federal court, and unfair labor claims before the NLRB. She advises clients in compliance matters, drafts employment policies and employee handbooks, and conducts employee training sessions.

Christopher Cookson

Christopher Cookson is a Claims Examiner Lead at HAI Group. He has worked in the insurance industry handling liability claims for more than 17 years. Chris joined HAI Group in April of 2015 and handles general liability claims for HARRG and HEIC, and automobile liability claims for HARRG. In this capacity, he handles a large variety of claims, including employment practices liability, and civil rights violation claims. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 2007.