Schedule/Sessions
Claims & Litigation Management - Session 1 - Top 10 Steps in Managing a Company Crisis
- Speakers:
Aaron Burton, Sciton
Matt McColley, KW Specialty Insurance Company
Cynthia Randall, Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.
Sam Terzich, GB Specialty (Division of Gallagher Bassett)
Marisa Trasatti, Cipriani & Werner, PC
Join us to review the framework that a company/firm should have in place for when an emergency situation lands on their doorstep. It is important for adjusters to have the knowledge and resources to handle a crisis situation and avoid being unprepared or caught flat-footed. Understand how establishing a crisis management plan is essential so that company personnel are not overwhelmed, and operations are not compromised.
Claims & Litigation Management - Session 2 - When Buildings and Bridges Talk: The Role Forensic Engineering Investigations Play in the Claims Process
- Speakers:
Juan Carlos Araiza, EFI Global, Inc.
Lawrence Bowman, Kane Russell Coleman & Logan, PC
Tracey Dodd, Sedgwick
Brian St. Jacques, AIG
Whether investigating the collapse of a high-rise building, a bridge overpass, or entertainment center, forensic engineers grapple with complex questions while determining what happened in order to avert future failures. Moreover, their findings can have a multi-million-dollar impact in the way insurance coverage is applied and losses are shared.
Learn how these experts attempt to document and collect evidence within hours of structural failures using the accident site as a field of evidence for them to determine what happened. This presentation is designed to demonstrate the role forensic investigations play in the overall claims process, including when to secure a forensic investigation, how the investigative findings will be used, and the key players in the claim’s assessment process.
Claims & Litigation Management - Session 3 - The Gold Standard: Employment Practices Liability Handling
Let’s talk about the nuts-and-bolts discussion of EPL claims handling, from the perspective of the claims handlers and defense counsel. EPL is a growing area, as the number of suits filed by employees against their employers has been rising and is expected to continue to do so. While many suits are filed against larger corporations, businesses of all sizes are targeted and benefit from EPL coverage. As such, the handling of these claims is an area ripe with minefields for the unwary claims handler who is not yet experienced in handling EPL matters.
Back to topEnvironmental - Session 1 - What Would Edison Think? From Light Bulbs to Electric Vehicles
- Speakers:
Joseph Bevis, Chubb
Michael DeLonay, AXIS Insurance
Kimare Dyer, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.
Michelle Kuykendal, Exponent
This session presents an overview of electric and autonomous vehicles. Presenters will address technology and the market and climate forces driving consumer choice to purchase and invest in these transportation modes. A discussion will be teed up to include the risks and claims associated with electric and autonomous vehicles; applicable coverage(s) triggered; risk transfer analysis; contracts and indemnification issues; damages; expert identification and retention; litigation management strategies; and best practices in managing the claim and litigation process.
Back to topEnvironmental - Session 2 - How Will the Biden Administration Affect Underwriting and Claims in the Environmental Arena?
- Speakers:
Thomas Duggan, Ironshore Insurance Company
Brian Margolies, Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP
Catherine Pierce, VERTEX
Presenters will focus on Biden’s executive order on protecting public health and the environment and restoring science to tackle the climate crisis, as well as the focus on clean/green energy and manufacturing, climate issues and how each area will affect underwriting, claims handling, and litigation.
Back to topEnvironmental - Session 3 - Focus: The Environmental Impact of Cannabis
Join this presentation for a multi-dimensional discussion linking two tracks of this Focus Conference, Cannabis and Environmental Toxic Tort Litigation. The expanding legalization of adult cannabis use brings an increasing demand for both legitimate and black market grown marijuana. Water and space needs will significantly impact the environment. Larger and more commercial grows have serious consequences on air quality. Learn of the considerations that must be given to the use of pesticides, natural habitat infringement, farming, and safety practices. The debate regarding marijuana uses and toxicity is not fully closed.
Back to topEnvironmental - Session 4 - Contract Disputes: Multi-Million Dollar Missteps in Alternative Energy Projects
Significant capital investment is forging the development of alternative energy projects both domestically and internationally. In the past decade (2010-2019), $2.6 trillion dollars was invested in solar, wind, biomass, and waste-to-energy projects globally, including $356 billion in the U.S. alone. However, the renewable energy landscape is littered with examples of projects that have failed to meet expectations in terms of execution and production. As a result, contract dispute resolution has become increasingly important in the industry. In this presentation, technical factors related to commonly disputed items in alternative energy contracts will be addressed. Topics will include the importance of feedstock specifications, understanding scope split, defining contract milestones, evaluating performance guarantees, and analyzing warranty versus defect claims.
Back to topInsurance Fraud - Session 1 - The Future is Now: Managing the Risk of Telemedicine
- Speakers:
Vincent Gerbino, Bruno Gerbino Soriano & Aitken
April Mathis Bush, Allstate Insurance Company
William Pratt, Roig Lawyers
Matthew J. Smith, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud
Join us as we update and educate on the background and use of telemedicine as well as the pitfalls and applications. Presenters will cover the basics, benefits, and risks of telemedicine to the insurance industry as well as the current status of administrative regulation of the telemedicine industry.
Back to topInsurance Fraud - Session 2 - The CAT's Out of the Bag: Insurance Fraud in Catastrophic Losses
- Speakers:
Jonathan Colman, Colman Perkins Law Group
Cathy Gicker, Allstate Insurance Company
Jeffrey Rapattoni, Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin
This presentation will address the role of claims adjusters, SIU, and counsel when recognizing and investigating questionable claims that often arise following CAT losses. Presenters will discuss the various "schemes" that may arise involving public adjusters, contractors, and insureds in these circumstances including how different types of CAT losses are ripe for fraud.
Back to topInsurance Fraud - Session 3 - Stay at Home Fraud
- Speakers:
Jeanine Clark, Margolis Edelstein
Stephanie Glickauf, Goodman McGuffey LLP
Stanley Kanterman, Carrier Specialty Services, LLC
During an extended period of either work from home or being out of work, typical fraud patterns may not be as easy to spot. What will the work from home workers compensation claim look like? Will we see an uptick in work related accident claims as workers return to the job and as consumers return to the stores? Was that business interruption claim from COVID or a burst pipe? Objective verification of symptoms and injuries may also be difficult now that everyone can say they did not treat in person for over a year due to the pandemic. Objective testing may have been deferred leaving issues on causation. Investigators too faced challenges during the pandemic and had to rely on technology to fill the gap. What have we learned and what are the new red flags?
Back to topInsurance Fraud - Session 4 - Windshield Defense Litigation Doesn’t Have to Be a Pain in the Glass
This session seeks to provide attendees with an introduction into the law and issues surrounding the defense of windshield litigation. Presenters will identify the type of insurance coverage windshield claims are made under, challenges to the existing law, and strategies for litigating these lawsuits. Attendees will become familiar with utilizing policy language and existing law to successfully defend improper notice and SIU suits, emphasizing available pre-suit options for insurance carriers to investigate claims. Also, learn about the “glass brokers” who solicit the elderly, impoverished, and the unsophisticated customer on why they need to have their windshields replaced quickly. Join this session to learn how to detect and combat this fraud phenomenon.
Back to topInsurance Fraud - Session 5 - The Back Door to Inflated Claims: Additional Living Expense (ALE) Fraud
Property - Session 1 - U.S. Trends in Property Insurance
With ever increasing severe and catastrophic weather systems having an impact on the United States, property insurers are under growing pressure to provide capacity. Panelists will look at some of the recent events that have spawned large losses, explore how insurers and reinsurers are looking at underwriting risks and managing claims, and discuss how some state legislatures are intervening in the marketplace. Insurers are seeing new types of claims, as well as increased severity of claims, with the growing intensity of events. Attendees can expect a well-rounded overview of the current property claims environment, as well as learn more about steps the industry and government are taking to ensure claims are managed properly without jeopardizing solvency.
Back to topProperty - Session 3 - Breaking Bad…. Appraisal That Is!
Property - Session 4 - When Structures Fail: Determining the Damages After the Collapse
Property - Session 5 - Insurance Coverage in the Time of COVID-19: An Overview of Key First-Party Coverage Decisions and Their Impact
Subrogation - Session 1 - Subrogation Metrics: Measuring to Maximize Recoveries
Attendees and the session panelists will discuss ways to measure recovery metrics for subrogation claims. Together, we will evaluate performance metrics for internal and field adjusters, inside and outside counsel, and retained consultants and experts. Claims professionals will learn how to create streamlined standards and processes to measure subrogation performance internally and externally.
Back to topSubrogation - Session 2 - Sophisticated Investigative Techniques
- Speakers:
Michael Driscoll, Envista Forensics
Christopher McCoy, Engle Martin
Samuel Pace, Dugan Brinkman Maginnis & Pace
It is important for claims professionals to understand the current tools available that can add value to a subrogation investigation and pursuit of recovery. Since technology continues to evolve and improve, the depths of these tools are probably unknown to most individuals who have limited exposure yet once you see the possibilities up close, their usefulness becomes clear. Presenters will walk through the various types of investigative tools currently used in subrogation. Together it will make for a very interactive session.
Back to topSubrogation - Session 3 - Catastrophic Loss Scene Preservation and Inspection - Preserving Subrogation Rights
- Speakers:
Robert Howarth, Envista Forensics
Sally Noma, Noma Law Firm
Jerry Provencher, Provencher & Company
Kathleen Schraven, Hanover Insurance
Learn how to successfully protect live scenes in large loss property subrogation cases. When a large loss occurs due to fire, flood, or other peril, it is imperative subrogation rights are preserved in an efficient and economical manner. Participants will leave this session with the skills needed to decide when to preserve a scene, execute a scene preservation plan, coordinate with relevant public agencies, and administer a joint inspection plan. The panelist insights and interactive discussion will ensure attendees are able to successfully preserve subrogation rights when faced with various types of loss and severity levels.
Back to topSubrogation - Session 4 - Navigating Cargo Subrogation Claims
- Speakers:
Fran Brooks, PMA Companies
Ashton Kirsch, Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
Patrick Milone, Claims Administration Corporation
Ready to apply the Carmack Amendment to the handling of cargo claims both for the carrier and shipper? As part of this presentation, we will discuss the amendment in detail, define key terms, as well as highlight how to apply the amendment to the different types of cargo claims i.e., interstate rail and commercial motor transportation of goods, as well as household goods, etc.
Back to topSubrogation - Session 5 - Failure is Not an Option, but it Happens: Avoiding the Subrogation Blindside
- Speakers:
Andy Guerra, Charles Taylor Adjusting & Technical Services
Michael Loiseau, Insurance Subrogation Group
Dan Nucci, Hanover Insurance
Kate Strauss, Galvanize Law
Cannabis - Session 1 - The Forgotten Impact of Cannabis Legalization: Cannabis in Workers Compensation
- Speakers:
LaTanya Gaines, Amazon
Cassandra Gomez, IAT Insurance Group
Matthew Gonder, BerkleyNet
Robbin Hutton, Federal Express Corporation
Julie M. Schum, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.
The focus of this session is on the impact of the legalization of cannabis in the workers compensation arena nationwide. More and more states are legalizing cannabis with federal legalization becoming more likely. Workers compensation is often forgotten or minimally addressed in cannabis legalization laws in the states. This poses great concern for employers on how they will address cannabis as an intoxication defense, as a treatment, and the payout associated with these claims. The presenters will address various aspects of the issue including the policies being used, the issues encountered, how the pioneer states are dealing with these issues, what is being put in place for the future, and more.
Back to topCannabis - Session 2 - Multi-Jurisdictional Update: Cannabis, CBD, Hemp, and Insurance Claims in the Era of COVID-19
- Speakers:
Norman Ives, Worldwide Facilities, LLC
Kimberly Kayiwa, Sedgwick
Melissa Roeder, Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska LLC
Kelly Yates, Topa Insurance Company
Maura Yusof, Cray Huber Horstman Heil & VanAusdal LLC
While COVID-19 and the coronavirus pandemic brought many businesses to a halt, cannabis sales continued to grow with some states deeming cannabis an “essential” business. As the trend for legalization across the Unites States continues, insurance claims follow. Over the last year, cannabis dispensaries became a target for lootings during riots. On the West Coast, wildfires destroyed cannabis and hemp farms. We saw more people growing cannabis at home. We also saw workers requesting reimbursement for cannabis within workers compensation claims. This presentation will provide an overview of insurance claims seen over the last year in cannabis, CBD, and hemp, with a discussion of regulatory updates and anticipated ISO form changes, including the predicted impact on insurance claims going forward. Presenters will discuss how these issues pertain to homeowners’ policies, workers compensation and employment, interstate commerce, product liability, and premises liability.
Back to topCannabis - Session 3 - Can You Get Coverage for That? Insurer Actions and Reactions to Increased Legalization
- Speakers:
Curtis Kochman, Ascinsure
Jennifer Mason, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Fred Perez, McLarens Global Claims Services
Legalization issues abound in the cannabis space. You are likely facing questions like the following in your everyday work. Who is writing cannabis risks? What are the reasons companies are not writing them – is it only the legality issue? How are insurers rating the risks? What types of losses are they seeing? What has ISO developed in terms of policy forms? Have there been any recent coverage decisions? Join us as we seek to sort out answers to these questions and more based on the latest updates in our industry.
Back to topCannabis - Session 4 - Emerging Trends in Civil Litigation Risks in The Cannabis Vaping Industry
As the cannabis industry continues to expand exponentially from state-by-state legalization efforts, industry players have worked to identify new cannabis product categories, in order to increase market share beyond traditional cannabis smokers. Similar to the growth of vaping products in the nicotine e-cigarette industry, cannabis vaping products have proliferated because they are affordable, easy to use, and offer an easy-to-augment flavor experience. However, recent history from the e-cigarette space has taught us that the potential sales growth of vapes comes with increased (and specialized) civil litigation risks. Learn from a panel of presenters that includes civil trial attorneys who have defended products inhalation risks in the flavorings industries, as well as cannabis-focused insurance executives who will explore emerging risks in the vaping industry, both related to the use of vaping ingredients and other risk vectors more broadly.
Back to topCannabis - Session 5 - Riding the Green Wave: Navigating the Intersection of Cannabis, Politics, Medicine and Claims
- Speakers:
Corey Burchman, Acreage Holdings
Ronald A. Mazariegos, Arrowpoint Capital
Neil Willner, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC
2021 has brought a slew of changes to cannabis. With New Jersey and New York leading the charge on legitimizing cannabis as a form of reimbursable medical treatment, other states are following suit. While the grey area of the legality of cannabis still exists, more and more doctors, injured workers, and legal authorities are starting to embrace this alternative treatment. This session will explore the most recent developments in cannabis and claims with a particular emphasis on legal issues, legislation, medicinal value of cannabis, the carrier’s perspective, and real-world practical solutions to dealing with cannabis issues in claims.
