Dale Walls

Period of Restoration in Business Income Losses

Wayne Sowers, CPCU, AIC, Sr. Executive General Adjuster, Sedgwick
Dale Walls, General Adjuster, Enumclaw Insurance Group

Describe the issues that often arise when determining the period of restoration

Identify actions to take to avoid delays in the period of restoration

Evaluate the coverage provided for the period of restoration and the extended period

Develop a plan to handle the challenges that arise during the loss period

Shannon Warren

Household Calamities: Subrogation of Everyday Things

Mark Majewski, PhD, PE, Principal Consultant, Envista Forensics
Dan Nucci, CSRP, Operations Manager, Hanover Insurance Group
Shannon Warren, JD, Member, Cozen O'Connor

Develop an understanding of common failure modes for appliances, everyday consumer electronics and household goods leading to a loss event with significant damages from a variety of perils.

Understand how a subrogation investigation proceeds from loss event to recovery. Appreciate the communication and teamwork required to assess subrogation potential, preserve evidence through a chain of custody and ultimately recover claim dollars paid. This will include explanation of the scientific method, the application of NFPA 921 and other standards as well as common product liability and tort recovery theories.

Recognize the legal hurdles in domestic and international product liability subrogation and litigation, including knowing when to abandon pursuit. Assess nodes within the chain of commerce causing or contributing to the product failure loss, including offshore manufacturing, distributors, component manufacturers and retailers.

Witness examples of failure scenarios using exemplar household products and consumer electronics that have precipitated fire and water damages to property. Case studies to be developed to illustrate concepts above.

Joseph Washington

Minor Auto Accidents: Major Damages

Joseph Washington, PhD, Professor, Biomechanical Eng., CCBC
Richard I. Woolf, JD, Partner, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Recognize third-party minor accidents/incidents that have the potential to become more significant, and examine how to address them early to avoid exasperation of damages;

Evaluate minor injury claims and describe positive claims handling in settling those claims early;

Analyze alleged soft tissue injuries and the viability of certain injuries in low-speed impact accidents;

Examine damages claims that appear inflated based upon the accident/incident and the disconnect between the accident/incident and the claimed injuries/damages.

Mark Watts

Assignment of Benefits: Policy Giveaway

Michael Carver, CPCU, Claims Director, Citizens Property Insurance
Mark Watts, CPCU, Senior Counsel, Citizens Property Insurance

Describe what an assignment of benefits contract is and who benefits from it

Review how assignment of benefit contracts comport with the established law in various jurisdictions

Identify “red flags” for potential fraud involved with assignment of claim presentations

Evaluate various strategies to help navigate your customer's claim through the waters of an assignment of benefits situation

Justin Whedbee

Appraisal: Tracking the Next Normal

Dan Petrilli, JD, Attorney, Horst Krekstein & Runyon, LLC
Justin Whedbee, AIC, CCP, Executive General Adjuster, MAS Solutions
Shawn Zajac-Woodie, CIC, AIC, AIS, Property Claim Examiner, Erie Insurance Group

Evaluate Appraisal demands where there are coverage disputes/partial denials

Explore appropriate means and methods for Appraiser/umpire instruction and communication

Identify timing, cost and competency considerations relative to post-Appraisal court intervention

Address emerging trends following proposed/recently passed legislative changes intended to limit appraiser conduct/umpire selection and potential handling strategies

Kevin Willging

Third-Party Bad Faith Claims: Emerging Issues

Geoffrey J. Repo, , Partner, Gordon & Rees, LLP
Kevin Willging, JD, Executive Counsel, Travelers Companies

Spot warning signs of bad faith exposure in third-party contexts

Review emerging bad faith issues and trends in the third-party claims

Identify warning signs of bad faith "set-ups" by third-party claimants and develop responsive action plans

Jonathan Williams

Continuous Underwriting: Building Continuity Between Risk Management & Claims Settlement

Jeremiah Kiefer, Founder | CEO, The Deft Group
Mark Phillips, Founder, ClaimsGPS
Jonathan Williams, PE, Partner, Grindley Williams Engineering

Understand how a shift away from underwriting has contributed to challenges with claim settlement

Evaluate how claims handling and building science expertise can greatly contribute to closing gaps in coverage

Know why it's the carriers obligation to better understand what they are writing in order to stay profitable and relevant (especially in more challenging markets like Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Illinois)

Understand how superior technology helps us align risk management expenditure appetite (or lack thereof) and the capture of pre-loss data to an extent that it will actually move the needle

Kenneth P. Williams

Autonomous Vehicles: Liability & Coverage Issues

Jacob Carr, Manager Auto Damage, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance
Kenneth P. Williams, JD, Shareholder, Segal McCambridge Singer et al

Identify various parties who may be liable for loss arising out of the use of driverless vehicles such as manufacturers, engineers, designers, and retailers

Examine likely theories of liability that may be asserted against these potentially liable parties

Describe liability insurance coverage available to potentially liable parties

Explore the coordination of insurance coverage among these parties

Lindsay Wood

Leveling the Leadership Field for Women

Amy Mund, MBA, CPCU, Property Claims Manager, Amica Mutual Group
Jenny Pye, CPCU, AIC, API, Dir.-Comm'l Claims Operations, PILOT
Lindsay Wood, Sr. Dir.-Quality Improvement, Liberty Mutual Insurance

Create strategies to level the leadership field

Prioritize flexibility, employee well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) – all in a day’s work

Shift the focus on how you manage

Richard I. Woolf

Minor Auto Accidents: Major Damages

Joseph Washington, PhD, Professor, Biomechanical Eng., CCBC
Richard I. Woolf, JD, Partner, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Recognize third-party minor accidents/incidents that have the potential to become more significant, and examine how to address them early to avoid exasperation of damages;

Evaluate minor injury claims and describe positive claims handling in settling those claims early;

Analyze alleged soft tissue injuries and the viability of certain injuries in low-speed impact accidents;

Examine damages claims that appear inflated based upon the accident/incident and the disconnect between the accident/incident and the claimed injuries/damages.