Schedule/Sessions
Session 1 - To Apologize or Not to Apologize, That is the Question
- Speakers:
Naomi Kinderman, W.R. Berkley Corporation
Angela Kopet, Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell, LLP
Vic Marmo, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation
Ronna Ruppelt, CLM
The successful implementation and execution of an apology requires careful planning and creativity. This roundtable will explore the use of apologies when handling claims and litigation, and how they can diffuse difficult situations. The panel will also discuss Apology Laws and explore different scenarios where an apology helped or could have helped resolve a dispute.
Session 2 - Risk Transfer - Whose Liability is it Anyway?
- Speakers:
Julie A. Freitag, Navigators, A Brand of The Hartford
Sheryl Leichenger, Selman Leichenger Edson Hsu Newman and Moore LLP
Nick Lopuszynski, CNA Insurance
Brenda Radmacher, Akerman LLP
Liability in all types of cases involving multiple parties involves complex analysis and strategies. Determining risk transfer mechanisms in product liability cases, construction defect cases, bodily injury cases and the like is often the key to litigation management. Often the contract language does not match the coverage provided, which further complicates these issues. This panel of attorneys and industry experts will address national trends in risk transfer using contractual indemnity provisions. The panel will evaluate case examples including professional liability, food liability, and property damage/bodily injury matters to discuss how contractual indemnity and additional insured issues impact the liability analysis and management from both the perspective of the insurer and the insured. In addition, ethical issues and obligations of defense counsel in risk transfer will be examined. Finally, the panel will discuss issues of coverage, erosion of limits, and best practices for evaluating and affecting risk transfer.
Session 3 - Increased Use of Drone Technology in the Construction Industry and its Affect on Insurance and on Claims
- Speakers:
Anthony Carolei, Hanover Insurance
Daniel Gmelin, Argo Group US
Wendy Keenan, London Fischer LLP
Rinat B. Klier Erlich, Zelms Erlich & Mack
Mike Smith, Axis Insurance Services, LLC
The seminar will discuss the increased use of technology, mainly in the construction industry by contractors and design professionals. The seminar will focus on the use of drones as an example of one of those technologies, and will discuss how drones are used, what claims can arise from their use (since the technology is new the types of claims are non-traditional), how to approach such claims when they arise and what insurance, if any may be available.
Session 4 - The Florida AOB Crisis: A Case Study in Collaboration
- Speakers:
Timothy Cotton, Olympus Insurance Company
Traci Payne, Administrative Strategies, LLC
Steven Schwartz, The Schwartz Law Group
Hope Zelinger, Bressler, Amery & Ross
The issue of litigation resulting from the Assignment of Benefits, or AOB, has reached epidemic levels in the state of Florida. While there is consensus between carriers, legislators, the defense bar, and even trial lawyers, that this is the largest non-catastrophe challenge facing the industry, unfortunately, there isn't the same level of consensus when it comes to a solution. While many carriers are unsuccessfully battling this wave, some have pooled the resources of their outside counsel and litigation vendor partners to help develop effective strategies. While Assignment of Benefits is currently a Florida specific issue, reinsurers are asking carriers in other jurisdictions what pro-active steps are being implemented to prevent AOBs or a similar plague from infecting their states. This panel will present ideas that can be used as a framework for collaboration between carriers, counsel and vendor partners. The principles are applicable to challenges faced across the country.
Back to topSession 5 - Greatest Recent Hits in the World of Property Coverage
- Speakers:
Paul Aviles, Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd.
Janice C. Buchman, Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP
Mark Katz, Mound Cotton Wollan & Greengrass
Maureen Myre, AXA XL
Stay up to date and ahead of the curve, by joining us to learn and exchange ideas about recent developments from around the country in the world of property coverage decisions. Knowledge of the most recent case law will assist with adjustment practices and litigation of claims as the claim process proceeds from the date of loss through the conclusion of trial.
No Learning Objectives Available