Schedule/Sessions
Session 1 - Critical Emerging Fire Claim Management Issues
- Speakers:
David Bridges, Meagher & Geer, P.L.L.P.
John Bull, North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
Terry Ives, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies
Douglas Osborne, Kemper Insurance Corporation
Claims professionals and SIU investigators have responsibilities to their policy holders to maintain awareness and compliance with industry standards, recommended practices, and case law impacting the fire claim investigation and management process. This 60-minute panel will shift the paradigm from insurers defending “bad faith” claims to show how they acted in “good faith” using proactive modern day fire claims methods. The panel will explore ramifications for non-compliance with the scientific method, industry standards and recommended practices, including NFPA 1033 and 921, expert certification, accreditation, and vetting, and the court’s analysis for each to highlight the need to be proactive.
Back to topSession 2 - Emerging and Horizon Technologies in Handling Larger Loss Property Damage Claims
- Speakers:
Jeanine Clark, Margolis Edelstein
Dwight Geddes, Metro Claims & Risk Mgmt
Anne Kevlin, Self Employed
Denise Koval, UFG Insurance
Stuart Mintz, Self Employed
This panel discussion will provide an overview of some of the emerging technologies which are becoming more widely implemented in the investigation and litigation of larger loss property damage claims. In these areas, there will be some discussion about past case/claim handling as well as any available case law relevant to the use of these technologies. For those technologies on the horizon, an introduction to the technology and its potential uses, advantages and pitfalls will be discussed.
This is intended to be in interactive panel which is suitable for near entry level through advanced skill sets.
Session 3 - Trends in Arbitration – Ways to Get There and What Can Happen Next
- Speakers:
Pete Duncan, FCCI Insurance Group
Alison Moore, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons LLP
Patricia Nolan, The Law Office of Patricia A Nolan
Is arbitration a better venue than courts for property claims and coverage disputes? In light of a Texas insurer’s recent request for approval of substantial discounts to insureds in exchange for mandatory arbitration agreements, a claims professional, a defense lawyer and an arbitrator will discuss the pros and cons of arbitration – whether it is agreed to in a policy or after a claim arises. The panel will touch on the legal issues important to whether arbitration agreements are enforceable and against whom, drafting effective arbitration clauses, and special concerns when dealing with consumers. The panel also will offer practical strategies that insurers and defense attorneys can use to minimize the time and expense of arbitration while maximizing its benefits. In this regard, the panelists will cover topics such as strategies for arbitrator selection, negotiating scheduling orders that limit time and expense, solutions to the dispositive motion dilemma, and the effective presentation of evidence.
Back to topKeynote - Influential Listening: Clarify, Connect, Profit
Want to break through the noise and clutter to get heard in today’s marketplace? Kate Delaney will show you the power of Influential Listening.
Kate reveals the secrets and strategies that got her in front of the microphone and into the locker room, captivating millions of listeners nationwide and closing million dollar deals as a Network CEO.
Key takeaways:
Focused Vocal Interaction – How to REALLY limit distractions to pay attention to what’s being said and what you are saying. Missing words and chunks of a conversation can cost you a deal or more meaningful interaction professionally and personally.
Body Language – Whether it’s a meeting in person or through some form of technology like Zoom, or Skype your movement is important. In a virtual meeting it is still easy to tell when someone isn’t paying attention and LISTENING.
Clearing Your Mind – Recent scientific data shows that we all are processing 35 to 48 thoughts a minute. Learn how to push away mental distractions to focus on the conversation and not think about what’s rattling around in your head.
Active Listening – The power of knowing when to ask questions when you’re listening and getting clarification.
Back to topSession 4 - To Pursue or Not to Pursue: Analyzing Property Subrogation Viability and ROI
- Speakers:
Daniel De Luca, de Luca Levine, LLC
Scott Harrar, PMA Companies
Victoria Phillips, AIC, CSRP, AIS, AINS, AIC-M, Erie Insurance
William Walsh, Community Association Underwriters of America, Inc.
Pursuing property-subrogation recoveries often requires substantial investment of time and treasure. Assessing whether such pursuits are wise requires analysis of a case's viability, as well as its likely overall return on investment. This involves considering the insured's interests, expert and other expenses, liability, damages, and recoverability – just to name a few. It also calls for an appreciation of how aggressively the target party will defend, the (un)favorability of the jurisdiction where the case is pursued, the (un)cooperativeness of the insured and other witnesses, statutory and contractual hurdles to subrogation, comparative-negligence schemes, and available liability coverage – again, just to name a few. Such an analysis is therefore a sophisticated one. As such, it is aided by obtaining varied viewpoints from persons of different backgrounds and perspectives within the insurance industry and the legal field. This panel of a claims executive, a high-level claims handler, a subrogation supervisor, and a lawyer specializing in property subrogation will discuss the many aspects of a viability and ROI analysis. It will also draw out input from the attendees in an exercise of mutual discussion and enlightenment. The result will be a thorough airing of relevant considerations when deciding whether to pursue recovery in property-subrogation matters.
Back to topSession 5 - Determining Liability Associated with Fire Sprinkler Systems Failures
- Speakers:
Kellie Caggiano, Moyer Law Group
Steve Halbeisen, Cozen O’Connor
Wendy Knight, Pronto Insurance
Eugene LaFlamme, McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC
Joel Sipe, Exponent
Professionals who handle cases involving fire suppression system water losses and/or fire losses. This panel will discuss key topics related to common failures observed in fire protection sprinkler systems. Panel members will address key facts for documentation at the scene, critical documents to obtain, witnesses to interview, items which may provide evidentiary value, and potential parties who may hold some responsibility either for the incident or the damages resulting therefrom. The discussion will cover the roles and responsibilities of individuals such as the building owner, the system designer, the system installer, the engineer of record, and the inspection testing and maintenance contractor. Panel members will discuss the interaction between NFPA 25 and NFPA 13, and the significance of the requirements in each when considering potential liability.
Back to topNo Learning Objectives Available
