Jonathan K. Barger is an Associate at Butler Pappas. Jon's primary focus is first-party property claims and related litigation, with an emphasis on large and complex losses. He assists insurers with first-party claim issues ranging from assistance with claims investigations, conducting examinations under oath, providing coverage opinions, and defending insurers against allegations of breach of contract and bad faith. Jon also has considerable experience in defending third-party/liability claims related to large property losses. He has tried numerous jury and bench trials, including serving as lead trial counsel. He has worked on claims in excess of $250 million dollars throughout the Midwest and nationally for domestic and international insurers.

Jon has significant experience with fire losses and the multiple issues that can arise from fire investigation methods and techniques, fire cause and origin determination, fire spread, and fire suppression system performance. He volunteers as an instructor for training and continuing education for fire investigators with the Illinois Fire Service Institute at the University of Illinois, as well as the Illinois chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators ("IAAI"). In addition to fire losses, Jon's experience includes claims of water damage, mold damage, sprinkler system malfunction and other plumbing leaks, roof leaks, wind damage, collapse, earth movement, and other types of property damage.

Jon also handles international claims and litigation, which routinely involve complex jurisdictional and procedural issues in defending international companies who are sued in the United States. He works with insurance markets with regard to large property and liability claims. He also counsels internationally-based insurers on claims involving significant excess liability exposures throughout the United States.

Jon is fluent in French. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French language and literature from Vanderbilt University in 1997. 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 received a Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002, as well as a certificate for his studies in International and Comparative Law.

Jon is admitted to practice law in Illinois (2002) and Wisconsin (2010). He is a member of the Trial Bar for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.