Casualty Case Law Update

Curriculum: Casualty Campus

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

Michelle Christensen, Litigation Claims Adjuster, FedNat Insurance
Andrew Lambert, Director-HO Claims Management, FedNat Insurance
W. Lane Neilson, JD, Partner, Neilson & Associates, P.A.

Identify current casualty claim law trends across the nation

Evaluate current issues and improve your abilities to forecast court decisions

Analyze third-party liability factual scenarios

Casualty Fraud & Abuse: Personal Injury

Curriculum: Special Investigations/Fraud

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 10:30 - 12:00

Matthew Gray, CIFI, FCLA, Major Case Investigator, Grange Mutual Casualty Group

Recognize personal injury claim fraud and abuse

Compare medical records to medical bills using consistency, common sense, and credibility

Identify key techniques to effectively interview a claimant regarding medical treatment

List powerful tools available for fair and objective negotiations

CAT Planning & Response to Catastrophes

Curriculum: Catastrophe

Monday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

Kevin McKinnis, , Catastrophe Team Manager, Auto Club Enterprises Group
Craig Sakraida, CPCU, AIC, Claims Director CAT Operations, Citizens Property Ins. Corp.

Prepare for the event with pre-season meetings to identify the resources and protocols needed to respond

Perform initial reconnaissance of the damaged area to evaluate severity and determine how best to deploy your resources

Improve your response by conducting ongoing evaluations and post-mortem sessions to improve the planning and response process

Claim Evaluation with Large Deteriorated Properties

Curriculum: Large Property Losses

Monday 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

Kenneth R. Gilvary, PE, President, Revizion Inc.
Michael Kopsa, AINS, AIC, CCLA/FCLA, Claims Director, American Capital Assurance

Identify the key issues to consider when handling claims regarding a large deteriorated property.

Organize and control large property loss claims while separating sudden damage from ongoing conditions.

Separate multiple causes of damage/loss using appropriate allocation methods

Evaluate risk and resolve complicated claim disputes on commercial and residential properties

Claims Analytics: Insights & Expertise

Curriculum: Leadership

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

Janet Davis, AVP-Analytics Integration Lead, Chubb
Veena Gregoire, Head of Claims Analytics, NA, Allianz Global Corp. & Spec.

Identify strategies for claims examiners to improve outcomes with predictive analytics

Describe the impact of claims outcomes on the company's financial results

Discover how to successfully integrate analytics into the adjusting process

Connect the dots on how claims can work collaboratively through a cross-functional process to drive extraordinary results

Claims with Self-Insured Retentions & High Deductibles

Curriculum: Casualty Campus

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

Dawn M. Gonzalez, JD, Partner, Stone & Johnson Chartered

Compare the differences between a self-insured retention and a deductible

Examine defense and coverage issues such as the insured's duty to defend, pay defense costs, and cooperate

Explain how the insured's exhaustion of its self-insured retention or deductible implicates the insurer's duty to defend

Analyze issues concerning the order of coverage priority and whether a self-insured retention is "other insurance" to determine who is primary and excess

Climate Change: How the Industry is Responding

Curriculum: Underwriting and Claims

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

Steven Bowen, Meteorologist-Impact Forecast., Aon
John A. Lee, , Attorney in Private Practice

Define the underlying science behind climate change

Identify potential future regional impacts related to climate change

Explore efforts by the insurance industry to model and prepare for future impacts

Describe current legal developments related to climate change

Identify insurance policy provisions that could impact coverage

Commercial Roofing, Damages & Investigation

Curriculum: Adjusting Property

Monday 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00

Tom Carlson, Director of Field Claims, North Star Companies
Shannon Pierce, Project Manager, Pie Consulting & Engineering

Identify common types of commercial roofing systems found in the United States and applicable performance considerations

Outline claim investigation procedures and complexities regarding damages to these roofing systems.

Describe methods for working with contractors and managing varying levels of roof repairs and replacement strategies

Explain building code considerations when faced with repairs and replacements

Complex Causation Issues in Disputed Property Claims

Curriculum: Property Coverage

Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

John Eggum, JD, Partner, Foran Glennon Palandech et al
Lisa Seutter, CPCU, Chief Examiner, Liberty Mutual Insurance

Analyze policy provisions addressing causation, such as anti-concurrent causation provisions and ensuing loss provisions, and trends in how courts have interpreted these provisions

Evaluate complex causation issues and problems of proof that can impact outcomes in disputed claims

Identify causation-related coverage determinations, from initial investigation to communicating coverage decisions

Compare multiple causes, proximate cause, anti-concurrent causation and ensuing/resulting loss causation issues

Confronting the “Reptile Theory”

Curriculum: Casualty Campus

Monday 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30

Kenneth Bunn, AIC, AVP, Claims, Builders Mutual Insurance
JD Keister, JD, Attorney, MGC Insurance Defense

Examine considerations for litigation

Analyze the foundations of the Reptile Theory and the teachings of Ball and Keenan

Compare the various ways plaintiff attorneys are putting the Reptile Theory into action across the country

Identify how to spot the reptile and manage a claim before suit is filed

Strategize ways to effectively and efficiently defend against a reptile case during discovery

Contaminated Water Claims: Disinfectants Needed?

Curriculum: Adjusting Property

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

Daniel Bernazzani, Ph.D., SVP Environmental Division, YOUNG & Associates
Steve Daglio, General Adjuster, Vermont Mutual Group
Robert J. Donahue, Jr., AIC, National General Adjuster, Sedgwick

Evaluate appropriate procedures for contractors when using disinfectants

Identify contaminated situations when water or mold damage standards and guidelines are appropriate

Review the importance of coverage issues when contaminated water is present

Describe accurate records needed when dealing with contaminated water claim scenarios

Contents Claims Adjustments that Sizzle

Curriculum: Adjusting Property

Monday 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday 3:30 - 5:00

Todd Breton, Project Manager, Germania Insurance
Deborah Johnson, President & CEO, Contents Adjuster Team, LLC

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of traditional personal property adjustments

Identify the most critical features of contents adjustments

Review ways to increase your expertise in handling contents claims

Explore the differences between customer attention and customer service

Contractors' Equipment Claim Challenges

Curriculum: Adjusting Property

Monday 1:30 - 3:00
Tuesday 3:30 - 5:00

Debra Brickner, Sr. National Claims Director, W. R. Berkley Group
Thomas M. Everette, Jr., Heavy Equip. Truck Gen. Adj., T.M. Everette Claim Service
Tom Fergus, Heavy Equip. Claims Specialist, N.E. Truck & Equipment Claims

Examine and apply policy coverages in a variety of contractors' equipment losses

Evaluate issues with scope of damage and reparability with specialty equipment

Review valuation provisions and settlement strategies with various contractors' equipment claims

Contractual Indemnity & Additional Insureds Liability

Curriculum: Casualty Campus

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

John S. Hanlon, SCLA, Complex Claims Unit Manager, Selective Insurance Group
Dan Kohane, JD, Senior Partner, Hurwitz & Fine, P.C.

Distinguish between an insurer's obligations to those who qualify as additional insureds and those who benefit from contractual indemnity obligations

Evaluate how tenders of defense and indemnity should be made under both policy and trade agreement

Describe the protocols to consider when tenders are received under both insurance policy and contracts

Identify the relevant factors when sending or receiving tenders

Coverage Challenges with Common Property Endorsements

Curriculum: Property Coverage

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

Anthony Antonellis, JD, Attorney, Sloane and Walsh, LLP
Nicholas J. Macera, AIC, AINS, Sr. Claims Examiner, Amica Mutual Group
Mark E. Wilson, CPCU, Head of Claims-Marine & Surety, Hanover Insurance Group

Dissect critical provisions contained in common property endorsements, such as sewer and drain backups, mold/fungi, cosmetic damage, and hurricane deductibles, among others

Evaluate new and emerging commercial and homeowners property endorsements and their implications for established claim adjusting practices

Identify frequent and unique coverage issues arising from common property endorsements

Describe recent court rulings impacting the application of common property endorsements